Register with the National Do Not Call Registry
The first and most important step is to get your phone number(s) registered with the Malaysia Phone Number Do Not Call Registry, which is operated by the Federal Trade Commission. This free service allows you to opt out of receiving sales calls from legitimate national companies. Once your number is on the registry, telemarketers have 31 days to stop contacting you.
Signing up is quick and easy - you can do it online at donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222 from the phone number you want to register. It's worth noting that the registry doesn't block calls from political groups, charities, companies conducting surveys, or companies you already do business with. But it's incredibly effective at stopping many types of unwanted telemarketing calls.
Utilize Call Blocking Apps and Services
In addition to the National Do Not Call Registry, there are now a variety of apps and services that can automatically identify and block known telemarketing and spam numbers from reaching your phone. Some top options include:
Truecaller: This free app uses a crowdsourced database to identify and block spam calls, while also providing caller ID information.
Hiya: Similar to Truecaller, Hiya maintains an updated blacklist of spam numbers. The basic app is free with premium features available.
RoboKiller: For $4.99/month, this service uses "answer bots" to waste telemarketers' time and discourage them from calling your number again.
Nomorobo: For $1.99/month, this service automatically identifies and blocks spam calls before they reach your phone.
These tools can be highly effective at reducing telemarketing interruptions, though they may not be able to stop every single unwanted call. They're a great complement to getting your number on the National Do Not Call Registry.