Spam calls, also known as robocalls, have become a pervasive nuisance in modern life. These unwanted calls not only interrupt our daily routines but also pose a significant threat of scams and fraud. It’s crucial to understand how to protect yourself and regain control of your phone lines. This guide provides actionable consumer tips and comprehensive information to help you effectively stop spam calls and avoid phone scams, drawing upon expert advice and official resources.
Understanding the Spam Call Problem
Robocalls are defined as calls made with an autodialer or that deliver a prerecorded message. Technological advancements have unfortunately made it easier and cheaper for scammers worldwide to initiate illegal and spoofed robocalls. This ease of operation has led to a surge in unwanted calls, making it a complex and evolving problem for consumers and regulatory bodies alike.
While many robocalls are illegal, some are legitimate. The challenge lies in distinguishing between the two in real-time to block the illegal ones without hindering lawful communications.
Legal Framework and Regulations
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has established rules to protect consumers from unwanted robocalls. Key regulations include:
- Prior Written Consent: For telemarketing robocalls to your home or wireless phone, callers must obtain your prior written consent, which can be through paper or electronic means, including website forms or telephone keypress.
- Consent for Wireless Calls: For autodialed or prerecorded calls or texts to your wireless number, callers need your consent, either oral or written. Exceptions exist for emergency services involving danger to life or safety.
- Identification Requirements: All prerecorded voice message calls must clearly state:
- The identity of the business, individual, or entity initiating the call at the beginning of the message.
- If a business, the official business name must be clearly stated.
- The telephone number of the calling party, provided during or after the message.
- An automated opt-out mechanism for telemarketing calls.
- AI Voice Calls: The FCC has declared that calls using artificial intelligence (AI) or AI-generated voices are considered “artificial” voice calls, making their use in robocall scams illegal without prior consent.
Alt text: Downloadable tip card graphic for unwanted calls and robocalls, offering consumer tips to stop spam calls.
Telemarketing Robocalls to Wireline Home Phones
Telemarketers must have your prior express written consent before making telemarketing calls using a prerecorded or artificial voice to your wireline home phone. Such solicitation calls to your home are prohibited before 8 am or after 9 pm. An “established business relationship” is no longer sufficient grounds for telemarketers to make robocalls to your landline.
Robocalls to Wireless Phones
For wireless phones, written or oral consent is required for autodialed, prerecorded, or artificial voice calls or texts. Telemarketing robocalls require written consent. Similar to landlines, an “established business relationship” does not permit telemarketers to robocall your wireless phone.
Permitted Autodialed Calls
Not all robocalls are illegal. Permissible robocalls include:
- Market research or polling calls to home wireline numbers.
- Calls from tax-exempt non-profit groups.
- Informational messages like school closings or flight information to your home phone. (These still must identify the caller and provide a contact number).
- Emergency calls regarding danger to life or safety to wireless phones (without prior express consent).
Effective Ways to Stop Spam Calls
Taking proactive steps is essential to minimize and stop spam calls. Here are several consumer tips and methods you can implement:
1. Don’t Answer Unknown Numbers
A fundamental rule is to avoid answering calls from numbers you don’t recognize. If you accidentally answer, hang up immediately. Even if the caller ID shows a “local” number, it could be spoofed and not genuinely local.
2. Resist Pressing Buttons
If you answer and a recording or live caller asks you to press a button to stop receiving calls, do not comply. This is often a tactic used by scammers to identify active phone numbers. Simply hang up.
3. Avoid Responding to Questions
Do not answer any questions, especially those that can be answered with “Yes.” Scammers may record your “yes” responses to use for fraudulent purposes.
4. Protect Personal Information
Never give out personal information such as account numbers, Social Security numbers, passwords, or mother’s maiden names in response to unexpected calls. Legitimate organizations will not request sensitive information in this manner.
5. Verify Suspicious Inquiries
If you receive an inquiry from someone claiming to represent a company or government agency, hang up and independently verify the request. Call the official phone number listed on your account statement, in a phone book, or on the organization’s official website. Government agencies and reputable companies typically send written correspondence before making important phone calls, especially if payment is involved.
6. Be Cautious of Pressure Tactics
Exercise caution if a caller pressures you for immediate information or action. Scammers often use urgency to rush victims into making mistakes.
7. Secure Your Voicemail
If you use voicemail, set a password. Some voicemail systems are preset to allow access from your own phone number. Hackers can spoof your number to access your voicemail if it’s not password-protected.
8. Utilize Call Blocking Tools
Contact your phone company about call blocking tools they offer. Many providers have built-in features or apps to help block unwanted calls. Explore and activate these services.
9. Download Call Blocking Apps
Numerous mobile apps are designed to block or filter spam calls. Research and download reputable call-blocking apps for your smartphone. These apps often use community-sourced data to identify and block spam numbers.
10. Report Numbers to Blocking Technology Companies
If you already use robocall-blocking technology, report unwanted call numbers to the company. This helps them improve their blocking services for you and other users.
11. Register on the Do Not Call List
Register your phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry (donotcall.gov). Legitimate telemarketers are legally obligated to consult this list and refrain from calling registered numbers. While this won’t stop illegal scammers, it significantly reduces calls from legitimate telemarketing companies. You can register online or call 1-888-382-1222 (voice) or 1-866-290-4236 (TTY).
12. Block Numbers Directly on Your Phone
Most smartphones have built-in features to block specific numbers. After receiving a spam call, manually block the number on your phone to prevent future calls from that particular source.
13. Explore Wireless Device Solutions
Check with your wireless device manufacturer about built-in call blocking features in your phone’s settings. Many modern smartphones offer robust options for managing and blocking unwanted calls.
Understanding Robotexts and How to Avoid Them
Robotexts, or spam text messages, are also a growing problem. FCC rules prohibit commercial text messages sent via autodialer to mobile phones without your prior written consent. Non-commercial informational texts may require oral consent. This ban applies even if your number is on the National Do Not Call Registry.
Tips for Avoiding Unwanted Texts:
- Don’t Respond to Suspicious Texts: Do not reply to unwanted texts from unknown sources. Some providers allow you to report spam by forwarding the text to 7726 (SPAM).
- Be Careful Sharing Your Number: Limit where you give out your mobile number and personal information online and in forms.
- Review Privacy Policies: When submitting your phone number on websites, carefully read commercial web forms and privacy policies. Look for opt-out options for receiving texts, often found as checkboxes.
- Check Company Policies: Inquire if companies you do business with sell or share your information, which could lead to spam texts.
Action Against Unwanted Texts:
File a complaint with the FCC (consumercomplaints.fcc.gov) if you receive:
- Unwanted commercial text messages.
- Autodialed texts without prior consent (unless for emergencies).
- Autodialed texts from or advertising telecommunications companies without your consent.
Spoofing and Caller ID Deception
Caller ID spoofing is when callers deliberately falsify the information displayed on your caller ID to hide their true identity. Often used in scams, it can also have legitimate uses, such as a doctor displaying an office number instead of a personal cell number.
Neighbor Spoofing
Scammers use neighbor spoofing to display numbers similar to your own, increasing the chance you’ll answer. The FCC is combating this by requiring the phone industry to implement caller ID authentication systems.
When Spoofing is Illegal
The Truth in Caller ID Act prohibits transmitting misleading or inaccurate caller ID information with the intent to defraud, cause harm, or wrongly obtain something of value. Illegal spoofing can result in penalties up to $10,000 per violation.
If Your Number is Spoofed
If people report receiving calls from your number when you haven’t made them, your number is likely being spoofed. Inform callers that your number is being spoofed and that you did not initiate those calls. Leave a voicemail message explaining the situation. Scammers typically change spoofed numbers frequently, so it’s usually a temporary issue.
Call Blocking and Labeling
Blocked or labeled numbers on caller ID as “potential scam” indicate possible spoofing or fraudulent activity. Phone companies and app developers use call-blocking and labeling services to detect and flag suspicious calls based on various patterns and consumer complaints.
Political Calls and Texts During Elections
Expect an increase in political campaign calls and texts during election seasons. While exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry, they must comply with the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).
Political Robocall Restrictions:
- Political autodialed or prerecorded calls and texts to cell phones, pagers, and mobile devices require prior express consent.
- These restrictions also apply to protected lines like emergency, toll-free, hospital, and similar facility lines.
- Political autodialed or prerecorded calls to landlines are permitted without prior express consent.
- All political calls with artificial or prerecorded voices must include identification information (caller identity, business name if corporate, and phone number).
Political Robotexts:
Political robotexts are treated as calls and must follow similar rules. Texts sent via autodialer to mobile phones require prior express consent. Manual texts can be sent without consent. Campaigns should honor opt-out requests if you reply “STOP.”
Reporting Non-Compliant Political Calls and Texts:
Report political robocalls or texts that do not comply with FCC rules by filing a complaint at fcc.gov/complaints.
Call Blocking Resources
Call blocking is a vital tool to stop unwanted calls. Phone companies, partnering with analytics firms, block billions of unwanted calls annually. Many providers offer automatic enrollment in call blocking services, which you can usually opt out of if concerned about missing legitimate calls. Call labeling services also help identify potentially unwanted calls.
Contact your phone company for available blocking and labeling solutions and explore mobile apps designed for this purpose.
Web Resources for Blocking Robocalls:
Numerous resources are available to help you find call blocking and labeling tools. These resources are categorized for Wireless/Mobile, Landline/Wireline/VoIP, Third-Party Analytics, Wireless Device Solutions, and Trade Association Consumer Resources. Consult online for up-to-date lists and reviews of these tools.
Do Not Call Registry: Further Protection
The National Do Not Call Registry is a free service protecting landline and wireless numbers from telemarketing calls. Register your numbers by calling 1-888-382-1222 (voice) or 1-866-290-4236 (TTY) from the number you wish to register or online at donotcall.gov.
Registered numbers remain on the list indefinitely unless removed or service is discontinued. Telemarketers must update their lists within 31 days of your registration.
Even if on the registry, you can still tell unwanted callers you do not consent to be called and request placement on their internal do-not-call list. Record the caller’s details and report non-compliance to the FCC.
FAQs on Spam Calls and Robocalls
What is a telephone solicitation?
It’s a telephone call acting as an advertisement. Some are permitted, such as calls with prior express permission or from tax-exempt non-profits (with limits). However, an established business relationship is no longer sufficient for unsolicited landline calls. Telemarketers need express permission to call.
Are there state-level do-not-call lists?
Yes, many states have their own do-not-call lists. Contact your state’s public service commission or consumer protection office to check for a state list and registration procedures.
What if I continue receiving unwanted calls?
File a complaint with the FCC (consumercomplaints.fcc.gov) if you believe you’ve received a telephone solicitation violating FCC rules. The FCC can issue citations and fines but does not award individual damages. For complaints about fraud or Do Not Call list violations, also file with the FTC (ReportFraud.ftc.gov). For IRS scams, report to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) at www.tigta.gov or 1-800-366-4484.
By understanding the nature of spam calls, utilizing available tools and resources, and staying informed about regulations, you can significantly reduce unwanted interruptions and protect yourself from phone scams. Stay vigilant and take action to control your phone lines.
