Hang up and find the number for yourself (online or off a bill you have from the company) and call them directly to see if there really is any issue to sort out.ĭon’t be fooled by a number that looks similar to one you know: as mentioned, these scammers use call spoofing to misrepresent where they’re calling from as a number close to your own.ĭon’t answer calls from unknown numbers: if someone is legitimately calling you, they’ll leave a message. Lots of personal information is available online, so even if someone knows details about you like your address or the names of your family members, it does not mean they are legitimate. Verify any supposed “problems” yourself: if you get a call from someone claiming to be an agency or a company you deal with (like your electricity company, for example), don’t trust it. So don’t be tricked into giving out or confirming any of your personal info to someone over the phone. Never give out any personal information over the phone: government agencies like the IRS will never call you out of the blue (instead, you’d receive an official letter in the mail).
Hang up on the robots: don’t let them waste any more of your time. Instead of taking yourself off the list, you’d be telling the robocaller that your number works and they can keep calling. You should particularly try to avoid answering any question with “yes,” because scammers could record your voice and later use it to approve something (a purchase, a new credit card, anything).ĭon’t press any numbers: even if the recording says something like, “press 1 to remove your number from the list,” don’t do it. (If you’re already well-versed in these tips, skip ahead for information on specific settings, apps, and services you can use to take your protection to the next level.)Īvoid answering them: we’ll get into some tips that will allow you to avoid receiving spam calls later on, but if one gets through, don’t answer.ĭon’t engage: if you do accidentally answer a robocall, you should not say a single word. The best way to prevent getting scammed by robocalls is to follow a few easy principles. Robocall protection 101: Mount your first line of defense
How to get rid of robocalls in 5 stepsĬan robocalls be stopped? While we can’t promise you’ll never get a single robocall again, there are some proven strategies that can help you get some relief. It’s time to fight back against these threatening robocalls. Essentially, these incessant calls are a form of phishing - an attempt to trick you into paying money or revealing personal information.Īnd, scarily, many robocallers can have information on you, like the names of your family members or even your address. Robocalls can even use call spoofing so they show up on your caller-ID as a local number, attempting to trick you into picking up for what you think might be a neighbor. Others masquerade as private firms (like Equifax “verifying” your information, or fake opportunities such as how to reduce credit card debt or get help with online marketing for small businesses). Some shady bot calls pretend to be government agencies (like the IRS, a grant office, or the Chinese consulate). Using an autodialer, companies are able to place hundreds or even hundreds of thousands of calls practically instantaneously.
What is a robocall?Ī robocall is any kind of automated call, usually placed with automated dialing software and including either a robot voice speaking or a pre-recorded voice. Read on for some tips and tricks you can use to stop unwanted calls on your cell phone and landline as well. There are ways to reduce those pesky (or perhaps infuriating would now be a more accurate descriptor) robocalls. It’s dangerous, too: Americans lost a staggering $10.5 billion in phone scams over the past 12 months.īut, the deluge isn’t inevitable.
The robocall problem is more than just annoying. And the flood isn’t stopping anytime soon - estimates indicate that 85 billion robocalls were placed in 2018 alone. Whether it’s IRS fraud, a sketchy “debt relief” opportunity, or any number of other scams, robocalls have risen to almost tsunami-esque numbers. If you haven’t heard this exact call, dollars to donuts you’ve heard something like it.