What Is a Blocked Call?
A blocked call is a phone call where the caller deliberately hides their phone number so it does not display on your caller ID. Instead of a number, you see "Blocked," "Private," "Restricted," or "Unknown" on your screen. The caller has used a feature (like dialing *67 before the number in the US) to prevent their number from being transmitted. People block their numbers for legitimate reasons: doctors calling patients from personal phones, law enforcement conducting investigations or individuals protecting their privacy when returning calls from classified ads.
However, scammers and telemarketers also block their numbers to avoid being identified or blocked by spam filters. If you receive frequent blocked calls that you suspect are spam or harassment, your phone carrier and third-party apps offer tools to automatically send blocked numbers to voicemail or screen them before your phone rings.
Why Do Some Calls Show as Blocked or Restricted?
Calls show as blocked for several reasons:
The caller dialed *67 (in the US) or a similar code before your number, which tells their carrier to suppress their caller ID for that call.
The caller's phone is set to always hide their number in the device settings or through their carrier's privacy options.
The call originates from a business phone system configured to withhold outbound caller ID, common for medical offices, legal firms and government agencies.
The caller is using a VoIP or internet calling service that does not transmit caller ID information by default.
