Jim Winsett of the BBB. Q. What advice does BBB provide on eliminating Robocalls? The number I receive is steadily increasing.
A. You are not alone in the number of robocalls you are receiving. In 2018, 48% of the calls received on cell phones were a robocall. In 2019 that number is projected to increase to 52%. Nearly 2.4 billion robocalls are made every month, according to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The number has increased significantly in the past few years because internet powered phone systems have made it cheap and easy for scammers to make illegal calls and display fake caller ID information.
What’s a robocall?
If you answer the phone and hear a recorded message instead of a live person, it’s a robocall. Calls use a computerized autodialer to deliver a pre-recorded message to a home landline or wireless number. Many different scams use robocalls, from bogus companies claiming to lower utility bills or credit card rates, government grants, vacation packages and calls from individuals posing as IRS agents.
What types of robocalls are allowed?