NexusScam calls, answered
Short, honest answers to the questions people ask most about scam calls and robocalls, plus how Nexus handles each one.
How scam calls work
Why do scam calls come from my own area code?
It's called neighbor spoofing. Caller ID is just information the caller sends along, and scammers can set it to anything, including a number that matches your area code and first three digits. People are more likely to pick up a local-looking number, so the trick works. The call is usually coming from somewhere else entirely.
Why is there silence or a short pause when I answer?
That's usually an automated dialer. It places many calls at once and connects you to a person or a recording only when it detects a live answer. The pause means you may have been dialed by a machine. Answering also tells the system your number is active, which can lead to more calls.
What is the "can you hear me?" call, and should I say yes?
The call opens with a harmless-sounding question to get you to say "yes". The worry is that a recording of your voice could be used as fake proof that you agreed to something. Confirmed cases of this causing losses are rare, but there's no reason to chat with an unknown caller. The simplest habit is to not answer questions from a stranger and hang up.
Why do I keep getting calls about my car's extended warranty?
These are some of the most common robocalls because they're cheap to run and they work on enough people. The caller usually knows nothing about your car. Real manufacturers and dealers don't cold-call you with a "final notice".
What should I do when someone says they're from the IRS, Social Security or Medicare?
Hang up. Government agencies don't call to demand immediate payment, threaten arrest, or ask you to pay with gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency or a prepaid card. No legitimate agency asks for gift cards. If you're worried, contact the agency yourself using the number on its official website.
What about calls saying my bank account is locked or there's fraud on my card?
Don't trust the caller ID and don't read out any codes. Scammers copy a bank's real number to look genuine. Hang up and call the number printed on the back of your card. If it was a real problem, the bank will see it there.
What is the fake tech support or "your computer has a virus" call?
A caller claims to be from a company like Microsoft or Apple and says your computer is infected. They want you to install software that gives them remote access, or to pay for a fix. Real tech companies don't call you out of the blue about viruses. Hang up, and never let a caller control your computer.
What is the family emergency or grandparent scam, and can voices be faked?
A caller pretends to be a relative in trouble, often crying or rushed, and asks for money right away. Voice cloning tools can now copy a voice from a short recording, so a familiar voice is no longer proof. Hang up and call your relative on the number you already have. Many families agree on a code word that only they know.
What works and what doesn't
Why doesn't blocking numbers work?
Scammers rotate through many numbers and spoof new ones constantly, so a number you block today is not the one that calls tomorrow. Blocking only deals with calls you've already received. It's a game of catching up that you can't win by hand.
Does the National Do Not Call Registry stop scam calls?
It reduces calls from legitimate telemarketers, which are required to respect it. Scammers don't follow the rules, so the registry doesn't stop them. Joining is still worthwhile, and a call from a company that ignores it is a warning sign.
Should I press 1, or press a key to be removed from the list?
No. Pressing any key confirms that a real person answered, which can mean more calls, not fewer. The safest response to an unwanted automated call is to hang up without pressing anything.
What should I do if I already gave out information or money?
Act quickly. Contact your bank or card company, and consider placing a free fraud alert or credit freeze with the credit bureaus. Change any passwords you shared. Report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. For scam texts, you can forward them to 7726 (SPAM). Don't be embarrassed. These calls are designed by professionals to fool smart people.
How can I tell if a call is really from my bank, doctor or school?
You can't reliably tell from caller ID. The safest move is to let it go to voicemail. Real callers leave a message, and you can call back using a number you already trust. If it's urgent and real, they will wait for you to verify it.
How Nexus handles it
What is Nexus?
Nexus is a call-screening service for Android and iPhone. People in your contacts ring your phone like normal. Numbers on the spam list are refused, and most callers you don't know are asked who they are before your phone rings: an automated assistant asks who's calling and why. Real callers get put through or leave a voicemail.
How does Nexus tell a scam from a real call?
The assistant asks who is calling and why, and an AI (Anthropic's Claude) reads what the caller says to decide what to do. Robocalls usually don't respond to a question the way a person does, and scam scripts tend to give themselves away. A number caught as spam is remembered, and numbers from public FTC complaints are blocked too. Only the number is shared, never what was said. No call screening catches every scam, so glance at your call history now and then.
Will Nexus block my doctor, school or a delivery driver?
People in your contacts always ring, and Nexus never blocks them. Real callers who aren't in your contacts can explain who they are and be put through, or leave a voicemail that's turned into text so you can read it. One thing to know: calls with no caller ID, shown as "No Caller ID" or "Unknown", are refused. Some doctors' offices and hospitals call that way, so ask them to call from a number that shows, or add them to your contacts.
Are callers told the call is being screened?
Yes. Callers are told the call is being screened and may be transcribed.
What does Nexus cost and how do I get it?
Nexus is $6 a month, billed monthly, and new members can usually try it free for 7 days. You can cancel yourself at any time. It's invite-only while it grows, so you join the wait list and get an email when there's a spot.
Sources
The advice on this page draws on these official pages. More about how Nexus works is on the About page.
Last updated 2026-11-09. This page is general information, not legal or financial advice. To report a scam, visit reportfraud.ftc.gov.