Report Confirms: We Get a Lot of Robocalls

Privacy, Wireless 101

The phone rings: “Hello, you’ve just won $1 million!” We’ve heard it before… another spam robocall.

A recently released report confirms what we already know: We get a lot of robocalls. In fact, Americans received 26.3 billion robocalls in 2018.

While some robocalls might be helpful, like from your child’s school or your doctor’s office, others are just SPAM.

Here are a few helpful tips to stop those intrusive rings:

Download blocking features: Did you know most smartphones have tools to stop spam built into your phone? Check to see if your cell phone or carrier offer blocking tools. Next time you get an unwarranted robocall simply block them using your device. Check out these helpful steps for blocking individual numbers and for robocall blocking apps: AndroidiOS (Apple) and Windows.

Do Not Call: While some spammers are still finding a way to get around it, it’s still worth registering for the Do Not Call list. This is still a good way to stop unwanted sales calls from telemarkers.

File a complaint: Sometimes filing a complaint online with the Federal Trade Commission or the Federal Communications Commission might be the best path forward. They also have help lines: You can call the FTC at 1-877-FTC-HELP or the FCC at 1-888-CALL-FCC.

Do not text? If your issue is with a text spam message, forward the spam message to 7726 (or SPAM). This free text exchange with your wireless provider will report the offensive number, and you will receive a response thanking you for reporting it.

Hopefully, these tips will help you stop those pesky unwanted robocalls. Have other useful tips that have worked for you? Or success using our helpful tips? Tweet them to us @ACTwireless with the hashtag #stoprobocalls.