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5 Things to know about robocalls

In this photo taken April 3, 2015, Jeri Vargas takes a phone call at her mother's home in the Sherman Oaks area of Los Angeles. Jeri Vargas put her elderly mother on the “Do Not Call” list years ago. So why is the 88-year-old woman with Alzheimer’s disease still getting several recorded phone calls a day pitching her everything from vacation cruises to medical alert devices and fire extinguishers? (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) In this photo taken April 3, 2015, Jeri Vargas takes a phone call at her mother's home in the Sherman Oaks area of Los Angeles. Jeri Vargas put her elderly mother on the “Do Not Call” list years ago. So why is the 88-year-old woman with Alzheimer’s disease still getting several recorded phone calls a day pitching her everything from vacation cruises to medical alert devices and fire extinguishers? (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

By Associated Press April 8, 2015 2 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Federal Communications Commission has been asked to look into the issue of robocalls, the automated phone messages favored by political campaigns, charities and scammers. At issue is whether phone companies can do more to protect consumers from fraudulent calls.

Here are five things to know about robocalls:

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SALES ROBOCALLS ARE ALMOST ALWAYS A SCAM. Robocalls are never allowed on cellphones, unless you give them prior written consent or it’s an emergency. Robocalls to your landline are only allowed from political campaigns, charities, debt collectors, survey takers and information services such as your pharmacy or school. So if you get a robocall selling a product or claiming that a product has been purchased for you, hang up immediately.

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