6 Easy Ways to Stop RoboCallers (and Regain Some Sanity)
October 12th, 2022 by admin
Robocalls: The mosquito of the technical landscape. They’re annoying, seem to be everywhere, and can be downright dangerous. Here are some steps to take to keep the swarm away.
Robocalls are now responsible for 60% of all calls made. According to the TNS 2022 Robocall Report, in 2021 alone there were an estimated 78.9 billion robocalls made in the United States. They aren’t just pesky, they can be downright malicious — 40% of those calls were scam calls, with the aim of identity theft, or receiving scam payments.If you want the onslaught of calls to stop or, more realistically, slow down, it’s really up to you. Thankfully, there are simple actions you can take to take back your phone, and maybe finally be able to turn your ringer on.
- Check with your Cellular Provider
The major phone carriers (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint) have tools and apps you can enable to monitor, filter and block these calls. All of the listed providers except Sprint have free options available, with extended features and options costing from around $2.99-$3.99 per month. These apps are a great first line of defense. - Don’t answer the phone
The FCC recommends ignoring any unknown number. Answering calls from such numbers lets Robocallers know that yours is an active line, which can increase the volume of calls sent your way. If you do happen to answer, don’t respond to any answers or requests, as simple as they may seem. Just hang up. Even pushing a button that claims to “take you off the list” makes you more of a target by confirming your phone number. - Block recurring callers
Though this won’t prevent more from calling, you can block any spam number and keep them from calling again. - Enable Spam Filtering on your Android Device
If you are an Android user, you can enable a setting under Caller ID & Spam that will filter spam calls. It may not catch everything, but may as well add one more line of defense. - Put your number on the national Do Not Call Registry
This won’t necessarily stop scammers, as they are not marketers and do not follow the same rules, but you can at least weed out some telemarketing calls. Visit donotcall.gov to register your phone number, or call 1-888-1222 from the number you’d like to register to take this quick step.
The fight against these seemingly endless calls can feel futile, but doing these simple actions can allow you to take back control and show those Robocallers who’s boss.