During the pandemic robocalls dropped 50%, but now they're roaring back with a vengeance. The FCC has been working with companies to develop tech that'll stop robocalls before they're made, but until that happens, we're sort of on our own.
Andrew Barlow with the Texas Public Utility Commission says Texas has a do not call list, but it's on the honor system.
"If somebody is not a registered telemarketer in Texas and they come after you the do not call list really doesn't work very well with that."
But Barlow says you don't have to answer the phone.
"If you don't recognize the number it's best to let it roll to voicemail and then check it and then go ahead and make a call back."
Barlow says just answering can be a mistake, because that confirms your number for the bad guys and you'll be targeted again.
He says just don't answer calls you don't recognize.
"If you pick up you've essentially validated your phone number in their database which makes it even more valuable, so it's always a good practice, if you don't recognize the number, to let it go to voicemail and then check the message and respond if you have to, but otherwise you've saved yourself some trouble."
Barlow says the problem with do not call lists is crooks simply ignore them.