Kelvin Chan, Associated Press
London (AP) – Unwanted phones are out of control. Whether it’s a robo call trying to sell you something, a spam call from a scammer, or a call from a scammer trying to rip you off, it’s enough to make you want to stop answering your phone. So, what can you do to stop them?
The unwanted phone tragedy has been branded as a trend by consumer groups, but the Federal Communications Commission says it is the biggest consumer complaint. The call is a nuisance to many ordinary people, some of whom complain about the Associated Press.
“We need help to stop spam calls,” one reader said in an email. She makes up to 14 calls per day despite the measures she employs.
As the name suggests, Robocalls is an automated call to deliver recorded messages to many phones. Robocalls to purely deliver messages or collect debts are permitted under US regulations, but the Federal Trade Commission says that robocalls are illegal in recorded voices trying to sell you unless you give them express written permission to receive them. Many robocalls are probably scams, the FTC warns.
If you’re overflowing with unsolicited calls, there are a few ways to fight back.
Phone Settings
Smartphone users can turn on some built-in settings to combat unknown calls.
Apple advises iPhone users to turn on the unknown caller feature in Silence. Go to Settings, scroll down to Apps, then go to Phones, which appear under the Phones section. When this is turned on, calls from numbers not saved in contacts and contact lists will not ring. Instead, they are sent to voicemail and appear in the list of recent calls.
Android has a similar setting, allowing you to block calls from private or unconfirmed numbers, but you will receive calls from numbers that are not stored in your contact list.
After this story was first published, readers wrote down workarounds for the issue. Do not interfere with your Android phone.
Keep in mind that important calls may not be visible.
If an unnecessary call passes, both Android and iPhone users can block individual phone numbers by tapping it in the Recent Caller or Call History list. You can also enter your number directly into the phone block list.
Please don’t call
Sign up for the National Do Not Call Registry. This is a list of numbers that have opted out of most telemarketing calls. The Federal Trade Commission, which runs the registry, says it only contains telephone numbers and does not hold personally identifiable information. The registry also doesn’t know if the numbers are for landlines or mobile phones.
The FTC says there are several exemptions, including political calls, calls from nonprofits and charities, and legal investigative groups that don’t sell anything. You are also allowed to call companies up to 18 months after you’ve done or tried to do business with them.
However, having your number in the registry warns that reducing unnecessary sales calls will not stop scammers from making illegal calls.
There are similar registrys in other countries. Canada doesn’t have its own call list, but the UK has phone preferences.
Carrier filter
Check if your wireless carrier has a call blocking service. Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T, all three largest US networks have their own call filters for customers to block robocalls and report spam. There are usually free basic versions and advanced versions that require a subscription fee.
Try the app
If your phone company filters aren’t enough, try third-party apps to rule out unwanted callers.
There are plenty of smartphone apps that promise to block spam calls such as Nomorobo, Youmail, Hiya, Robokiller, Truecaller, and more. Many charge monthly or annual subscription fees, while some offer free basic options. Some can only be installed on landlines if you use VoIP technology rather than copper cables.
The Associated Press has not tested any of these apps and has not made any specific recommendations. We recommend reading user reviews and trying them out for yourself.
According to Apple, the app works by comparing caller numbers with a list of known numbers and labeling them with spam and telemarketing, for example. You may then automatically block the call. “Incoming calls will not be sent to third-party developers,” the company says.
Report call
Did you know that you can file a complaint with the FCC about a particular spam call? It’s easy to do using the online form. While that may not be satisfied with you anytime soon, the National Consumer Law Centre says data on complaints is the best tool to determine how big a problem robocall is.
I just say no
The business you have done can make robocalls for you, but the National Consumer Law Center says it’s probably because you agreed – perhaps hidden in the fine print. However, you may also withdraw your consent at any time.
Tell the company representatives that they are “revoking their consent,” and if that doesn’t stop them, contact customer service and tell them they don’t agree to receive the phone and want to add a number to the company’s “do not call” list, the center says.
hang up
You may be tempted to engage in a call by trying to get numbers from a call list or leave it to a real person. The FTC warns against doing this and recommends hanging up.
“Pressing numbers to talk to someone or removing you from the list will probably only lead to more robocalls,” the agency said on its advice page. “And you can’t trust the caller ID number, probably not the real thing. Caller ID can be easily forged,” he says.
Cybersecurity company Kaspersky advises not to say anything when you receive something you think is a robocall. We all got fraudulent calls that started with something like, “Hello, can you hear?” You probably answered “Yes” without thinking about it.
Scammers “can keep a record of confirmation and use it for fraud,” Kaspersky says. “So, avoid saying yes if possible.”
