People. Stop answering robocalls and calls from unrecognized or unknown numbers. If everyone stopped answering these calls, they would become less effective and all of the telemarketers and scammers would have to find another way of separating you from your money.
The term “robocall” is often associated with unsolicited and unwanted calls, such as telemarketing calls, surveys, scams, and fraudulent activities. Most people find robocalls intrusive and annoying, especially when they receive a high volume of such calls. In response to this problem, regulatory authorities in various countries have implemented rules and regulations to limit and control the use of robocalls. For example, in the U.S., the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and the Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) provide guidelines and restrictions on the use of robocalls for telemarketing and other purposes. Do the scammers care about consumer protection acts? No, they don’t. If they cared, they wouldn’t be trying to rip you off in the first place.
Some robocalls are legal and serve legitimate purposes, like automated reminders from your doctor’s office, while others are illegal and designed to defraud or simply annoy individuals. The distinction between legal and illegal robocalls often hinges on factors such as consent, compliance with relevant regulations, and the nature of the call’s content.
Automated appointment reminders are great, but these types of calls aren’t really what we are talking about here. Unfortunately, a significant number of robocalls and calls from unrecognized or unknown numbers are used for fraudulent purposes, including scams related to fake IRS calls, lottery winnings, and various other schemes designed to defraud individuals. Some robocalls are used to trick individuals into revealing personal information, such as Social Security numbers or credit card details, as part of identity theft or phishing scams. In some cases, robocalls may direct individuals to malicious websites in an attempt to compromise their devices or steal information. Trusting seniors are the most vulnerable.
Efforts to combat unwanted and illegal robocalls include the development of call-blocking technologies, the establishment of “Do Not Call” lists, and the implementation of call authentication standards like STIR/SHAKEN to verify the authenticity of caller IDs. These measures aim to reduce the prevalence of fraudulent and nuisance robocalls while allowing legitimate uses of the technology to continue.
The bottom line is that robocalls and the like are not going to go away any time soon. If you want to avoid them, stop answering your phone when they call. If you get a call from an unknown or unrecognized number, and you are not expecting to get a call from an unrecognized number, then don’t answer. If it’s someone you need to talk to, they can leave a message or send you a text. It’s really that simple. If you answer the call, your number is considered ‘good’ by the scammers, even if you don’t necessarily fall for the scam. The more you answer these unsolicited calls, the more of them you (and the rest of us) are going to get.
