Q. We are so frustrated with telephone robocalls, and now they are calling my smartphone. Is there any protection and elimination of robocalls?
A. If you own a phone, you are not immune to robocalls. These unsolicited autodialed telemarketing calls are often inconvenient, annoying and unwanted. They are often a source of telemarketing fraud as well. In fact, more than 217 million numbers have been added to the National Do Not Call registry to avoid them. The number is staggering given that the U.S. population totals about 319 million.
But in spite of the DNC registry, data from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) shows that robocalls are increasing. Telemarketing fraudsters, in particular, ignore the list. Most evade detection by frequently changing phone numbers. Others are located outside the U.S., in countries such as the Philippines and India, which are beyond the reach of U.S. governmental regulations.
Robocalls do not appear to be going away anytime soon, but there are some steps you can take to reduce them and ensure you don’t become victimized by scammers. BBB offers these tips:
‘ Educate yourself on the methods commonly used by robocallers, including:
Phishing: Where fraudsters pose as a legitimate company to trick you into revealing private information to be used for identity theft.
Smishing: A phish using fake text messages.
Spoofing: Hijacking a known number, such as that of your spouse or child or even your own number, to fool caller-ID systems. The current active IRS scam callers spoof a number with a 202 area code, making the call appear all the more convincing.
‘ Be advised that robocalls about a political candidate running for office or from a charity, are allowed, but it’s still important to vet the caller. This is especially true for charities. BBB offers a charity review program that utilizes 20 standards to review charities and ensure your charitable dollars go to the cause. Visit www.give.org for more information and to review the standards.
‘ Sign up both your landline and mobile phone on the Do Not Call Registry at www.donotcall.gov to cut the amount of legitimate telemarketing calls. File complaints to the Federal Communications Commission and the FTC at www.donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222. To learn more about illegal robocalls, visit www.ftc.gov/robocalls. You may also file a complaint with your local BBB at www.bbb.org.
‘ If you get a robocall, hang up the phone. Do not press 1 to speak to a live operator or press any other number to remove your number from the list. If you respond, it will probably just lead to more robocalls.
‘ Never give your credit or debit card information, bank account information, user name or password to anyone who asks over the phone. If you think you were scammed, call your credit card company or bank immediately, using the number on the back of your card or bank statement.
Jim Winsett is president of the Better Business Bureau in Chattanooga.