Rising Spam Call Complaints and How to Protect Yourself

Your phone rings with a local number. It could be the doctor, school, or a delivery driver. But there’s a pause, the kind that introduces a robocall. Spam calls have made answering calls a guessing game. Are they real or scams?

Spam Call Statistics

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports over 2.6 million Do Not Call complaints. Robocalls make up the majority. These calls cause distress with topics like debt reduction and imposter scams.

Worst Affected Areas

The FTC’s latest report shows Arizona has the highest complaint rate, with 1,028 per 100,000 people. Tennessee comes next, with 1,017. Nevada, Illinois, and Florida follow.

Understanding Robocalls

Robocalls use recorded messages. Some are legal like school alerts. Sales robocalls are not without written permission. Yet illegal robocalls thrive because they are cheap and can spoof caller ID to appear local.

Limits of the Do Not Call Registry

The Do Not Call Registry helps reduce legal telemarketing calls, not scams. Scammers ignore it. However, being on the Registry means legal sales calls breaking rules stand out more.

Warning Signs of Spam Calls

Spam calls create urgency. They demand immediate money, often through gift cards or cryptocurrency. Be wary of calls claiming to be from familiar organizations.

Protecting Yourself from Spam Calls

• Send unknown calls to voicemail. Legitimate callers will leave a message.
• Avoid pressing numbers to opt-out during a robocall. This could lead to more calls.
• Enable spam call blocking tools from your carrier.
• Use phone settings to block unknown numbers or suspicious calls.
• Consider a data removal service to keep personal information private.
• Register with the Do Not Call Registry to reduce legal telemarketing calls.
• Report unwanted calls to help authorities identify illegal callers.
• Never share personal information with unexpected callers.

Staying Safe Online

Join a free online class to protect your phone data. Learn how to improve privacy settings and avoid scams.

The takeaway: Caller ID is not fully reliable. Treat unknown numbers with caution, let them go to voicemail, and never share personal details unexpectedly.