A Robocall is a phone call that uses a
computerized auto dialer to
deliver a pre-recorded message,(as if from a robot). Robocalls are often associated with political and telemarketing phone campaigns. They can also be used for public-service
or emergency announcements. Some Robocalls use personalized audio messages to simulate an actual personal phone call.
Have Robocalls happened to you? The number of frustrating Robocalls is increasing
regularly. U.S.
telephones were besieged by 2.88 billion Robocalls in January of 2018, a 27%
increase in national Robocalling volumes, and a 3.4% increase over the prior
month's results in December 2017.
The good news is that there are ways
to stop, or minimize the annoyance of these calls and potential of being
scammed by them. While it’s not possible to prevent every Robocall from getting
through to you, there are steps that can be taken to reduce the number of Robocalls
you receive.
1.
Block anonymous
calls: Another option available from some phone companies and
call-blocking equipment is to automatically reject anonymous calls. The
downside is that this may prevent you from receiving legitimate calls from
doctor offices, friends, relatives, or others who for privacy reasons don't
want their number and other information showing up on caller identification
(ID).
Check with your
telephone provider or search the web to explore your call-blocking options.
(One option is Nomorobo's smart phone app, which sends every call from a
certain area code and exchange to voicemail if it's not in your phone's contact
list.)
2.
Don't answer
unfamiliar calls: An effective way of dealing with all types of Robocalls is
to not answer a call from anyone you don't recognize on your caller ID. If the
call is to your landline, use an answering machine to screen it. Otherwise,
wait to see if the caller leaves a voicemail message.
If you decide
to return the call, but are uncertain about its legitimacy don't use the number
that shows up on caller ID, or that was left in the message. It could lead you
back to a scammer. Instead, try to find the number on your own. Perhaps by
searching the web for the name of the caller or (if it's a company you do
business with) by checking a prior bill.
3.
Don't blame
your neighbors: If you receive what appears to be a local call with a
telemarketing message or no message at all, it's likely a case of neighbor
spoofing. Resist calling back to inquire or complain. The person who owns the spoofed number is
also a victim. If someone calls you because a Robocaller spoofed your number
when contacting them, be ready to calmly explain the situation.
4.
Don't engage: No
matter how angry or frustrated you become when you get a Robocall, hang up
immediately. Calling back or following the instructions to talk to a
representative (even if it's to complain) may only invite more calls. The same thing can happen if the message
invites you to press a number to stop future calls.
5.
Require caller
input: You can set up some call-blocking technology, such as the
Sentry Active Call Blocker or CenturyLink's "No Solicitation"
service, to greet callers with a message requiring them to enter a number such
as 0 or 1 before the call can proceed. (Nomorobo does this by default for
suspected Robocallers.) The technique won't necessarily stop live
telemarketers.
6.
Use call
blocking: One of the best ways to reduce Robocalls is to use Robocall-blocking
technology that intercepts Robocalls
before they reach you. Several technologies are available, including services
from your phone company or a third-party, equipment that you purchase and
connect to your landline phone system as well as apps that you install on your
cell phone.
With many
systems, the technology automatically intercepts calls that appear on
blacklists of known numbers that Robocallers use. Depending on the system, it
may block the calls entirely, or send them to voicemail. Some systems also let
you create a "white list" of numbers that you don't want blocked.
The best
systems update their list of numbers frequently as Robocallers change the
numbers they spoof. If a Robocall gets through, you often can add it to the
block list manually and report it to the system provider. Some call-blocking
services and apps are free or have a one-time cost of just a dollar or two.
You can pay
more than $100 for blocking equipment, such as the Call Control Home device,
that you connect to your landline phone.
That may be your only option if you have old-fashioned copper-line phone
service instead of Internet-based digital phone service.
“Who (other than a crazy
person) does anything besides hang up on a robocall? Any call, any person,
anywhere, under any circumstances.” (P. J. O'Rourke)[i]
[i] Sources used:
· “Robocall” from
Wikipedia
· “Robocalls
Spike 27% Year-Over-Year to 2.88 Billion Calls Nationwide in January” by YouMail, Inc.
· “The Newest Ways to Deal
with Robocalls” by Anthony Giorgianni
Inspired by the article, “FCC Approves Rules to Block
Robocalls from Fake Phone Numbers” on NBC4i.com
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