Article Summary
Nobody likes robocalls. The TRACED Act signed into law in late 2019 looks to make it easier for robocallers to be caught and stopped. Carrier services also help shield customers against these annoying calls.
Third party apps like Hiya, Nomorobo, Robokiller, and Truecaller are also great tools you can use to stop robocalls from disrupting your life.
In a divided world, we should remember that there is at least one thing we all can agree on: robocalls are just the worst.
Nobody likes to be interrupted by pesky robocalls. With recent action taken by the government and cell phone carriers, we might be a step or two closer to discovering how to stop robocalls forever.
How to Stop Robocalls
In this modern world, robocalls are one of the most common annoyances of life. Here are some steps you can take to help stop robocalls:
What Are Robocalls?
You can be forgiven if the term confuses you. “Robocalls” sounds like something out of a futuristic sci-fi movie. Unfortunately, robocalls aren’t that cool.
A robocall is a call you get wherein a pre-recorded message plays back when you answer the phone. Usually, the “caller” reaches you by using autodialing technology, meaning there is little to no human involvement when you get a robocall.
Robocalls are often used for telemarketing purposes but are also notoriously used for certain scams aiming to steal your personal information and/or your hard-earned money. Oftentimes, these scammers use number spoofing technology that makes it look like a familiar phone number is calling you when you check caller ID.
Aren’t Robocalls Illegal?
Robocalls are incredibly annoying, nobody likes them, and they often involve scams and fraud. Clearly, they must be illegal. Well, as with many things in life, when it comes to robocalls and legality, things aren’t so black and white.
Simply put, robocalls are illegal if they are from any other person, company, or organization that doesn’t have your permission to call you. However, they’re legal if they come from:
- Companies that have your explicit consent to contact you for sales purposes.
- Calls from charitable organizations seeking donations.
- Calls related to political campaigns.
TRACED Act
The definition of an illegal robocall is pretty broad, and you may be thinking that all the robocalls you get definitely fall under that illegal category. So, why do you still get so many? The biggest hurdle hindering enforcement of robocall laws is the massive volume of them. There are continuous attempts to crack down on illegal robocalls, but there are just so many.
Before 2019 drew to a close, the Pallone-Thune TRACED Act, a bipartisan bill, was signed into law. This new law aims to give the FCC more of a fighting chance to stop illegal robocalls. Some major stipulations of the TRACED Act include:
- Higher fines and penalties for those caught number spoofing
- A longer statute of limitations, giving the FCC more time to find and charge robocallers
- A requirement for telecommunication companies to adopt technology that better identifies callers and prevents spoofing
The TRACED Act is a step in the right direction towards ending robocalls, but don’t expect them to completely stop anytime soon. More steps will probably need to be taken in order to totally eradicate robocallers.
How to Stop Robocalls
While the overwhelming volume of robocalls may be too much for the FCC to quickly stop, there are some things you can do to avoid these awful nuisances.
Register Your Number on the Do-Not-Call Registry
The Do-Not-Call Registry isn’t perfect, as it’s not going to stop robocalls from those who already show a disregard for the law. Registering your number, however, could cut down on telemarketing calls from businesses that do follow the law.
Be Careful about Consenting to Calls
It’s possible you may have given a company permission to call you without realizing it. When you make purchases online, for example, you may have forgotten to uncheck the box that gives the company permission to contact you for sales and marketing purposes. Remember, if you did give permission, you have the right to contact the company and rescind it.
Take Advantage of Your Carrier’s Services
You may not know this, but many cell phone carriers, big and small, offer services and add-ons to help stop robocalls and other types of phone related fraud. Oftentimes these tools are offered free with premium paid versions also available. Here’s a look at the major carriers and their call protection services.
Carrier Robocall Blocking
| Carrier Services | Caller ID | Reverse Number Lookup | Spam/Robocall Alert | Automatic Spam/Robocall Block | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Call Protect | - | - | Free | ||
| AT&T Call Protect Plus | $3.99/month | ||||
| Sprint Call Screener Basic | - | - | Free | ||
| Sprint Call Screener Plus | - | $2.99/month | |||
| All T-Mobile Plans | - | - | Free w/ plan | ||
| T-Mobile Name ID | $4/month | ||||
| Verizon Call Filter | - | - | Free | ||
| Verizon Call Filter Plus | - | $2.99/month |
You should be able to activate your carrier’s call protection features by signing into your account online or through the carrier’s mobile app.
You should be able to activate your carrier’s call protection features by signing into your account online or through the carrier’s mobile app.
Report Robocalls
With the daunting task of trying to control the very big problem of illegal robocalls, the FTC can use all the help it can get. You can help by reporting the robocalls you get to the FTC.
Block Numbers on Your Phone
Blocking numbers on your phone might not stop new robocalls from getting to you, but it will stop the same robocallers from reaching you multiple times.
You can block callers on an iPhone under Settings>Phone>Blocked Contacts>Add New.
On Android phones you can block numbers in the Phone app. Click on “…” at the top of the app and follow to Call Settings>Reject Calls>+.
Learn how to block text messages on iPhone and Android to keep yourself protected from robotexts, spam, scammers, or annoying relatives!
Use a Third-Party App
There are several apps made specifically to help you avoid robocalls and other unwanted calls. These third-party apps use crowdsourced data as well as data from the FTC to alert you of potential robocalls or block them entirely. Robocall and spam blocking apps are usually free with the option to pay for a premium version.
Here are some of the best robocall blocking apps:
The Most Common Types of Robocalls
Until we can put a stop on robocalls for good, they are going to continue to be bothersome and even dangerous. Here are some of the most common types of robocalls.
Neighbor Spoofing
These are calls that come into your phone with numbers that look a lot like your own. They’ll typically have the same area code as yours and can even go as far as having all the same numbers as yours except for the last. Scammers behind these types of calls are hoping the familiarity will make it more likely that you answer.
IRS Scam
With this scam, you’ll be greeted by a prerecorded message explaining that you owe the IRS money and you are in danger of immediate penalties and punishment if you don’t pay as soon as possible. This scam has been around for a while, but robocalling technology has helped increase its frequency.
Remember, the IRS typically communicates via mail. If you receive a call from the IRS and you aren’t sure if it’s valid, don’t rely on the caller to verify if it’s real. They may have tricks to make it seem like they are actually the IRS. Hang up the phone and contact the IRS yourself.
Health Insurance Calls
This one is tricky because it could be a scam or just spam. Either way, it’s troublesome.
Health insurance scam calls offer to help you find health insurance but are really just looking for you to give them your personal information. Spam robocalls may be from companies that really will help you find new insurance, but they will hammer your phone with calls until you finally find a way to tell them to stop. You may have given them permission to call you if you filled out an online health insurance quote form.
Credit Card Scams
You might get robocalls offering you lower rates on your credit card. This is scam is aimed at taking your money by asking for an initial fee for the lower rates. It’s also aimed at getting your personal information by asking you to verify your credit card number and more.
Keep in mind, your bank is probably going to extend any offer to you through the mail or in person.
Angelo Ilumba
Senior Writer
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