Does it seem like your phone is ringing off the hook with robocalls this year? If so, you are not alone.
Lois Greisman, associate director of the Federal Trade Commission’s division of marketing practices, recently testified to Congress about progress that has been made against these illegal calls.
Over the past eight years, the FTC has brought lawsuits against 144 corporations and 102 individuals tied to robocalls. But these successes haven’t stopped an explosion in the illegal calls dialed from computers.
In fact, the number of robocall-related complaints filed with agency has doubled — to more than 600,000 a month — since the beginning of the year.
Greisman testified that improving technology has made robocalling easier and cheaper than ever before.
How to stop robocalls
If robocalls are driving you nuts – or simply interrupting dinner a little too often – you can fight back. As we explain in “8 Tips to Stop Annoying Robocalls,” free services are available that can block incoming robocalls.
One of them — Nomorobo — is now available for the iPhone. Check the Nomorobo website to see which carriers are supported.
Another tip is to avoid pressing any numbers in response to a robocall. As we note in our story:
In the past, many people have recommended certain number combinations or the pound key to delete yourself from a robocall registry. But does pressing the right numbers really take you off the list?
The Better Business Bureau says no, you’re actually making it worse: “By pressing a number, you are confirming that someone is actually responding to the call, and you will likely receive more of them.”
For more tips, read the rest of our story about avoiding robocalls. You can also learn more about robocalls in the following stories:
- “The Top 5 Cities for Robocalls — and How to Stop the Pesky Messages“
- “12 Effective Weapons for Stopping Robocalls“
Do you have tricks for stopping robocalls? Share them by commenting below or on our Facebook page.
Add a Comment
Our Policy: We welcome relevant and respectful comments in order to foster healthy and informative discussions. All other comments may be removed. Comments with links are automatically held for moderation.