What Can I Do About Robocalls? - Directions Credit Union

If robocalls are getting to you, you’re not alone. Those super-annoying automatic calls have recently exploded, and it’s enough to make anyone go bonkers. More than 30 billion robocalls were made in the United States in 2017. Unfortunately, those numbers are only rising.

If you feel like your phone is ringing off the hook from robocalls, read on.

How do they have my number?

Robocallers are becoming increasingly more sophisticated because the internet is making their job easier. In addition, scammers and telemarketers can scrape almost anyone’s phone number off the web.

Robocallers buy phone numbers from popular companies or websites that require visitors to log in by submitting necessary personal information including their cellphone numbers. Or, robocallers may be dialing thousands of numbers at random, with no rhyme or reason at all.

Who’s on the other end of the line?

Robocalls come in many forms. Sometimes they’ll be trying to sell you a product. Other times they’re urging you to sign up for a service. They’ll even try to scam you by appearing to represent a government agency, like the IRS. Even if just a few people are taken in by the scam, the minimal cost of running the calls is more than worth it.

Here’s how the robocalls try to appear authentic:

Spoofing. Using software, the robocaller can tweak the way their number shows up on caller ID. They can make it look like the IRS is on the phone or that your electric service company is calling you. Recently, scammers have been using neighbor-spoofing, in which their caller ID looks like a local number. This throws victims off and can help robocallers gain their misplaced trust.

Disguised identity. Robocallers may appear mysterious and show up on your caller ID as “private number,” “unavailable” or “unknown.”

Steps you can take

Here are several steps you can take to keep most robocalls from reaching your cellphone:

Don’t answer calls from unknown numbers – Don’t recognize the number on your caller ID? Let it go to voicemail. If the ID shows a local number, ignore it as well.
Block unwanted numbers – If there’s a specific number that calls you persistently, use your phone to block it. Enlisting the help of a robocall-blocking app can offer you a stronger defense against unwanted calls. Consider downloading a robocall-blocking app, such as Nomorobo, RoboKiller, Hiya, or TrueCaller.
Require caller input – To keep all automatic calls from reaching your phone, you can set up a call-blocking technology. Sentry Active Call Blocker greets all callers with a message requiring them to enter a number before the call can proceed. That’s something robots can’t yet do.
Don’t share your number – Never share your phone number on your social media profiles or pages. If a business asks for your number, do not give it out unless you absolutely must.
Sign up for the Do Not Call Registry – Visit www.donotcall.gov to add your number to the list. Scammers won’t pay much attention to this list. However, companies that ignore the listed numbers risk being fined and usually abide by the registry’s rules. This service is free, plus your number will never be taken off the list.
File a complaint – If you’ve signed up for the Do Not Call Registry and, after a month, you are still receiving robocalls from specific companies, file a complaint with the FTC at ftc.gov.