Besides being very annoying, and I think we can all agree on that, robocalls can also harm your finances. Read on and find out how to stop robocalls from ever happening!
“Robocalls work for two reasons,” Galak explains. “First, they can separate the diligent consumers from the less diligent (aka suckers). If you pick up a robocall and talk to the automated system, the caller now knows that there is a human on the other end of the phone and can sell that information to others who might try and call with some kind of sales promotion or, far worse, call with a scam of some sort. The second reason is that they are a fast way to get information—and sometimes disinformation—out to many people quickly. This is particularly true for older demographics who tend to rely more on phone calls than other forms of communication like emails, text messages, or social media.”
According to Julia Campbell, a cybersecurity expert, a robocall procedure that reaches 10 to 15 million robocalls a day can lead to a $200.000 profit per year. “If a robocall operation goes undetected for over a year, its profit can soar into the millions,” she adds.
Learn how to put an end to robocalls forever!
Don’t forget to sign up on the do not call list
“The first step in stopping robocalls if you’re in the U.S. is to use the FTC [Federal Trade Commission]’s solution and register your number with the Do Not Call Registry. You can call 1-888-382-1222 to register (just make sure you’re calling from the number you want to be added), or visit donotcall.gov and add each number manually.” —Dan Bailey, president of WikiLawn Lawn Care.
You can block numbers on your phone
“To get fewer robocalls, start blocking them on your phone. Most smartphones have a feature where you can click through in the settings and block calls from a number. Try doing this consistently for a week or two, and you should see a drop in the number of calls coming through.” —Michael Alexis, CEO of TeamBuilding
Just don’t answer the phone
“A good tip is to stop answering any unknown numbers. This way, your line won’t be seen as ‘active,’ and they will stop calling.” —Grant Aldrich, CEO of OnlineDegree.com.
You can use apps that can block robocalls
“Two I’ve used with success have been Mr. Number and Hiya. Hiya comes with caller ID, custom blocking, and an automatic robocall blocker, but it also has a massive database of user-reported robocalls in addition to the FTC list, making it very comprehensive. I’d definitely recommend it as a way to cut down on the number of robocalls that plague you. It won’t avoid them entirely, but the app will block the ringer and inform you that it was spam.” —Rex Freiberger, CEO of Gadget Review
Set your phone to the “do not disturb” mode
“Activate the Do Not Disturb setting on your mobile device. This will prevent any incoming unknown number from reaching you and allow you to customize which calls you want to receive.” —Julia Campbell, cybersecurity expert
You can ask your wireless carrier for help
“Verizon has implemented new services to help its customers avoid illegal robocalls. The new Call Filter service offers spam alerts and new protections from robocalls for its wireless customers. Samsung’s SmartCall informs you if the call you are receiving is from a known robocaller. Google also has a spam blocker that will warn you when you are receiving a robocall and your screen will turn red.” —Steven J.J. Weisman, identity theft and cybersecurity expert.
Try not to answer questions
“Often, scam robocalls hope to create a sense of urgency and fear. Examples include pretending you owe the IRS and you’ll be arrested if you don’t settle your debt, or pretending to be your bank warning you about fraud so that you’ll provide your card info in order to stop the fraud. If you think you’ve received a call about a legitimate issue, hang up and research the company, organization, or individual’s official number, then call that number yourself and ask about the issue mentioned on the initial call.” —Greg Mahnken, credit industry analyst at Credit Card Insider.
You can send every unknown call to voicemail
“On iOS and Samsung devices, it’s possible to silence all unknown numbers, simply sending them to voicemail. This will allow you to ignore the robocalls while adding the important numbers to your contacts so you’ll receive their next call.” —Phil Strazzulla, CEO and founder of Select Software Reviews
Don’t let COVID-19 fake scams fool you
“Nearly 5,000 coronavirus-related scams were reported to the FTC through May 18—costing Americans more than $35 million in losses to these frauds,” says digital expert Dave Dykes, representing research conducted by Transaction Network Services (TNS).
