Unable to add blocked contacts on iPhone despite showing over 17,000 blocked

FLAGIRLFROMCALI wrote:

HELP please... I go to settings, privacy/security, blocked contacts and it says I have 17,423 unknown blocked. I am trying to add 3 SCAMMER numbers to my blocked list but when I try it says I have reached my limit of blocked contacts and that I have to remove A blocked contact in settings (meaning 1, I guess). So, I have been deleting about 30 a day then I try to block these 3 SCAMMERS and it keeps telling me the same thing. QUESTION: I thought there was only a max of 1000 blocked contacts before you have to start deleting some, to add others. In other words REPLACE. How is it that my phone says I have over 17 THOUSAND blocked contacts AND why does it tell me to DELETE 1 to ADD 1, yet it won't do it???

There is now a limit to the number of blocked contacts, which is now 3000. At over 17,000, you'll need to delete more than 14,000 blocked contacts before you can block new contacts. But and this is a BIG BUT, blocking spam callers is an act in futility. You're not blocking spammers. The number you see they called from ISN'T the actual number they called from. They spoof their numbers and have literally thousands of numbers the call could have come from, so blocking the number you see is completely a waste of time.

If you own a Mac, you can delete your blocked call list easily. On iPhone, you have to delete these contacts one at a time.

Instead of blocking spammers, use the new call screening software you have --> Screen and block calls on iPhone - Apple Support

FLAGIRLFROMCALI wrote:

I guess I have my work cut out for me.

If you have a Mac, you can delete the blocked contacts en masse, which would be a lot faster than deleting them one by one on the iPhone. (Apple really needs a way to delete many blocked entries at once to the iPhone.)

it's weird that my iphone allowed over 17 thousand blocked numbers

Other threads here suggest that iOS used to accept more "blocked number" entries than it actually enforced. So you could enter a ton of numbers, thinking you were doing something, when you weren't.

Can you help me understand the spoofing.... I get what it means but these 3 people (who I call spammers) keep calling me, and have for about 4-5 months, from their same number (they all 3 have different numbers). But I named them 1: scammer michelle, 2: scammer robert and 3: scammer michael.

If they consistently call from the same few numbers, block them. But for a lot of spam calls, maintaining your own personal list of blocked numbers is a losing game of Whack-a-Mole. Your list just grows and grows, and the jerks who are calling you just keep changing the real or fake calling number to get around it.

Hi Lobster, ok I guess I have my work cut out for me. it's weird that my iphone allowed over 17 thousand blocked numbers, I never really named them a "contact" but it's just strange it let me do that many (I just blocked the numbers without creating a contact, not sure if that makes a difference). And I assume there's no easy way to unblock all of them at the same time? I do really appreciate your help!! Can you help me understand the spoofing.... I get what it means but these 3 people (who I call spammers) keep calling me, and have for about 4-5 months, from their same number (they all 3 have different numbers). But I named them 1: scammer michelle, 2: scammer robert and 3: scammer michael. Sometimes they'll leave me a message, sometimes not (what's weird is none of them call me on a Sunday). I just found that strange. Anyway, not sure if because I haven't created a "contact" for the over 17,000 blocked numbers or not?? I do so much appreciate your help, any words of advice would be appreciated. Also if it helps, I did just unblocked and deleted all the "contact blocked numbers" and only have the "unknown" and "unnamed" numbers as blocked, but still over 17,000.