Robocalls: Why they are increasing and how to help stop them.
There has been a dramatic increase in the number of robocalls coming out to our phones in the last year. The FTC number of complaints has doubled since 2013. Up to 4.1 million from 2 million in 2013.
The surge for me began in late November 2017. It was bad before, and is still bad even though I have blocked every single number.
Why is there such a drastic increase in robocalls?
What changed?
Two things really:
First technology improvements have made auto-dialing and robocalling EXTREMELY easy. You could set this up in a matter of minutes on your telephone. Modern computers enable telemarketers (I would use scammers but some are legitimate, just using unethical/illegal practices) to make 10,000 calls a day on a single line. If 1 person in a million picks up the phone and buys a $20,000 time share or $600 home security system, or $800 extended car warranty, all their costs are recuperated and they make money. That's better than the lottery odds. Who cares if it inconveniences 999,999 others? What is the cost? If the average person wastes 15 seconds per call, that is 1,111 HOURS of WASTED productivity.
Second: Regulation unfriendly "Pro Business" administration in the White House. Trump rolled back Obama presidency regulations to make it more difficult on Robo callers and has appointed anti-consumer members to the FTC and FCC. The owners of multiple telemarketing companies reported that they feel the current US administration is not going to pursue them for infractions so they feel they have nothing to lose.
The Do NOT CALL list might as well be the (OMG SPAM ME) list for all the good it does. It is however, the one major weapon in then arsenal. Being on the DO NOT CALL list allows the FTC to enforce and go after VIOLATIONS when it can prove it and there are enough complaints.
HERE IS WHAT YOU AND I CAN DO TO HELP!
If you get a ROBOCALL, and you are in front of a computer, go to DO NOT CALL and report the call. GET the COMPANY NAME, and if you can, the persons "name". (Note, the name is probably fake but get it anyway.) If 30 people report unwanted calls from Fred, the reports will be taken more seriously.
I reported so many from various home security companies the FTC has been calling me to gather additional data. If you can report enough of them, then the FTC will do something. It's a long slow process but may eventually help.
HOW TO DEAL WITH THE SPAM.
Don't Answer. (This is hard.)
So most phones today have provider options to block calls. You can add the number to a block list.
There are apps like Blacklist, Trucaller, RoboKiller, Nomorobo
If you have the time (most of us don't) WASTE THEIR TIME. Keep them on the phone as long as possible. Make a game out of it. See how long you can string them on until they start cussing at you. What are they going to do, report you for their violation of the rules? (NOTE, I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advice). I take it as a personal offense if they have not cussed me out at least twice before they hang up or I get pulled away for something useful.
OR
You can sign up for this. http://www.jollyrogertelco.com/ This guy is a long time communication specialist and hates robocalls. He created a bot that will engage telemarketers and cost them time. It is at a cost to you, but might be worth it just to fight back. I discovered it researching for this post.
The surge for me began in late November 2017. It was bad before, and is still bad even though I have blocked every single number.
Why is there such a drastic increase in robocalls?
What changed?
Two things really:
First technology improvements have made auto-dialing and robocalling EXTREMELY easy. You could set this up in a matter of minutes on your telephone. Modern computers enable telemarketers (I would use scammers but some are legitimate, just using unethical/illegal practices) to make 10,000 calls a day on a single line. If 1 person in a million picks up the phone and buys a $20,000 time share or $600 home security system, or $800 extended car warranty, all their costs are recuperated and they make money. That's better than the lottery odds. Who cares if it inconveniences 999,999 others? What is the cost? If the average person wastes 15 seconds per call, that is 1,111 HOURS of WASTED productivity.
Second: Regulation unfriendly "Pro Business" administration in the White House. Trump rolled back Obama presidency regulations to make it more difficult on Robo callers and has appointed anti-consumer members to the FTC and FCC. The owners of multiple telemarketing companies reported that they feel the current US administration is not going to pursue them for infractions so they feel they have nothing to lose.
The Do NOT CALL list might as well be the (OMG SPAM ME) list for all the good it does. It is however, the one major weapon in then arsenal. Being on the DO NOT CALL list allows the FTC to enforce and go after VIOLATIONS when it can prove it and there are enough complaints.
HERE IS WHAT YOU AND I CAN DO TO HELP!
If you get a ROBOCALL, and you are in front of a computer, go to DO NOT CALL and report the call. GET the COMPANY NAME, and if you can, the persons "name". (Note, the name is probably fake but get it anyway.) If 30 people report unwanted calls from Fred, the reports will be taken more seriously.
I reported so many from various home security companies the FTC has been calling me to gather additional data. If you can report enough of them, then the FTC will do something. It's a long slow process but may eventually help.
HOW TO DEAL WITH THE SPAM.
Don't Answer. (This is hard.)
So most phones today have provider options to block calls. You can add the number to a block list.
There are apps like Blacklist, Trucaller, RoboKiller, Nomorobo
If you have the time (most of us don't) WASTE THEIR TIME. Keep them on the phone as long as possible. Make a game out of it. See how long you can string them on until they start cussing at you. What are they going to do, report you for their violation of the rules? (NOTE, I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advice). I take it as a personal offense if they have not cussed me out at least twice before they hang up or I get pulled away for something useful.
OR
You can sign up for this. http://www.jollyrogertelco.com/ This guy is a long time communication specialist and hates robocalls. He created a bot that will engage telemarketers and cost them time. It is at a cost to you, but might be worth it just to fight back. I discovered it researching for this post.
Thank you for reading.
Have a question or comment? Please ask or leave feedback below. I'm here to help you.
Please follow and share this blog for more posts like this.
Have a question or comment? Please ask or leave feedback below. I'm here to help you.
Please follow and share this blog for more posts like this.
Comments
Post a Comment