Most Americans receive at least one robocall per day. The maddening calls bring thousands of complaints to your phone carrier and now to the Federal Communications Commission who is taking them very seriously! The FCC Chairman states, “Addressing Scam Robocalls is now my top consumer protection priority as the President of the FCC.”
Business strategist Daren Martin says they're bad for us - and worse for older consumers. The fraud potential of getting someone in their upper years on the phone and saying, “you need to send us this money now – we’re investigating you” is really puts the senior population particularly at risk.” Martin goes on say, “There’s technology available to know whether it’s a scam call or a friendly call --- but it seems the scammers are staying one step ahead of whatever we’re able to throw at it.”
He says the callers' technology has improved so much that they can mimic your number as their number and call people on your contact list - who will think you're calling them and pick up.The FCC is now encouraging phone carriers (like Verizon and T-Mobile) to offer blocking services by default. Right now, you have to call the carrier and request it.
The calls range from debt collectors to impostor scams and happened over 26 billion times in the U.S. last year. The numbers are higher this year. By far, the most common topic identified was debt reduction, with more than 641,700 calls discussing it. Calls related to medical care or medical bills, impostor callers, vacations and timeshares, computers and technical support, and warranties and protection plans were also leading topics when it came to spam calls in 2018.
And remember - if it's a number you don't know, don't answer. If it's a legitimate call, you'll have a voice mail waiting.
Click here to read the FCC report on Robocalls