We’ve all had the experience of answering the phone when we don’t recognize the number and discovering it’s a robocall. For many of us it happens over and over during the day. The good new is there are ways you can stop robocalls.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has compiled a list of recommendations to help put a stop to robocalls. First, don’t answer calls from unknown. If you do answer and the caller or recording asks you to punch in a number to stop getting calls, hang up as this could be a trick to help scammers identify possible targets.
Furthermore, do not respond to any questions and never give out personal information. Some scammers may call under the guise of representing a company or government agency but rather hang up. In most instances, you will get a written correspondence from legitimate sources, not phone calls.
It is recommended that you also look into call-blocking tools and apps that can help stop robocalls from coming through to you. The four major wireless carriers do offer customers some call blocking features but not all are free, CNET noted.
The AT&T's Call Protect app, which is available for iOS and Android, allows users to block calls from a list of numbers that can be updated, while the automatically enabled Android app Verizon's Call Filter can detect and filter spam. Another built-in Android app is Call Filter, which can be purchased for iOS users in the App Store. All customers can make use of T-Mobile's Scam ID for free and it includes Scam Block, which alerts the user of suspicious incoming calls.
There are also dozens of third-party apps that can help stop robocalls. Look out for something that offers automatic call blocking as well as spam alerts for incoming calls. Free apps like Hiya for Android and iOS and the Firewall app, available for iPhone, are good options, according to CNET.
One last piece of advice from the FCC is to look into registering your number on the Do Not Call List. Legitimate telemarketers do consult this list and it can go a long way in helping to avoid them from calling your landline and wireless phone numbers.