Milwaukee, Wis. – Robocalls are an annoying epidemic for both consumers and businesses. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) cracked down on the scam callers, and creative, tech-savvy individuals are coming up with ways to block the calls using call-blocking apps. Cell phone providers are also offering blocking services. The United States passed legislation to tackle the problem. Americans’ phones ring an approximate 2,000 calls per second.
What’s a robocall?
If you answer the phone and hear a recorded message instead of a live person, it’s a robocall. Calls use a computerized autodialer to deliver a pre-recorded message to a home landline or wireless number. Many different scams use robocalls, from bogus companies claiming to lower utility bills or credit card rates, government grants, extended vehicle warranties, vacation packages and calls from individuals posing as IRS agents.
What types of robocalls are allowed?
2020 is an election year in the United States, and recorded messages regarding candidates running for office are allowed, as are messages from charities asking for donations. Messages that are solely informational, for example a reminder from your doctor’s office, are permitted. Prerecorded messages from banks and telephone carriers also are exempt from these rules, if the organizations make the calls themselves.
Canadian laws differ slightly. Robocalls from charities and political candidates are also allowed; however, calls from telemarketers are only allowed if you have an existing business relationship, such as having recently made a purchase or inquired about a product. Read Canada’s detailed regulations here.
How do I know if a robocall is illegal?
In the U.S., an immediate red flag is if the recording is trying to sell you something. If the recording is a sales message and you haven’t given your written permission to get calls from the company on the other end, the call is illegal.
A telemarketer must have your written consent, whether through paper or electronic means, to receive a call or message. Simply buying a product, or contacting a business with a question, does not give them legal permission to call you. Telemarketers must also allow you to opt-out of receiving additional telemarketing robocalls during a prerecorded telemarketing call through an automated menu.
How to avoid robocall scams:
The Federal Trade Commission recommends three key steps consumers can take to help reduce unwanted calls: Hang up. Block. Report.
- Hang up. If you pick up the phone and get a recorded sales pitch, hang up. The call is illegal. Don’t speak to them. Don’t press a button to supposedly remove your name from a list, as that could result in even more calls. Hang up. Furthermore, alert your employees that if they see a call that says it’s from the IRS or Social Security Administration, don’t trust it. Scammers know how to fake the Caller ID information.
- Block. You can reduce the number of unwanted calls you get by using call-blocking technologies. Your options differ depending the model of your phone, service provider and whether you use a traditional landline or internet phone service. Visit ftc.gov/calls for advice.
- Report. After you hang up, report the unwanted or illegal call to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint. The more information they have about the call, the better they can target our law enforcement efforts.
What you can do to stop robocalls:
Consumers can help the government combat robocall scams by reporting the calls they receive.
Follow the FCC guidelines and advice regarding robocalls.
In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission initiative provides telecommunications companies and other partners with known robocallers’ telephone numbers every day. The FTC collects scammers’ telephone numbers from consumer complaints, and the more consumers who report numbers, the faster it can develop its blacklist database. Report a scam call here. In Canada, residents can also report illegal robocalls. Go to the National Do Not Call list to file a complaint.
Consumers can also report robocalls to BBB.org/ScamTracker. BBB shares Scam Tracker information with government and law enforcement agencies, so every piece of information is helpful in tracking down scammers.For more information or further inquiries, contact the Wisconsin BBB at www.bbb.org/wisconsin, 414-847-6000 or 1-800-273-1002. Consumers also can find more information about how to protect themselves from scams by following the Wisconsin BBB on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
