Unsolicited robocalls and mobile spam calls have been a nuisance to many people. Survey shows that most Americans get an average of four to six robocalls each day.
With the advancement of technology, robocallers now mask their shaddy activities with genuine-looking phone numbers. Fortunately, you can file a lawsuit for unwanted robocalls if you’ve been receiving unsolicited phone calls and text messages from a telemarketer without prior consent.
Robocalls Statistics Research shows that the number of robocalls stood at over 50 billion in 2019. The Federal Communications Commission and Federal Trade Commission are doing their best to protect people from unsolicited contact, such as robocalls and bulk SMS. For instance, the FCC requires all US carriers to adopt a technology that can combat spam calls. However, we have a long way to go. Unsolicited contact can be through robocalls, spamming, or fraud calls.
Robocalls Robocalls refer to automated or prerecorded phone calls and messages.
Spammers
These are the unwanted callers that call people indiscriminately. They target many recipients; sometimes they can include people or companies you’ve given consent to.
Fraud Calls
Fraud calls occur when the caller uses fake identity or claims to be someone they’re not. Fraudulent callers often have malicious intent.
How to Avoid Robocalls and Spamming
The following are some of the ways of combating robocalls
1. Blocking Spam Callers
This will not deter telemarketers and spam callers from contacting you. However, the method can be used to block numbers that keep calling you without prior consent. It’s fairly easy to block such callers from your phone forever. On your mobile phone, navigate to your recent calls, long press the number you want to block and click “Block this Caller.”
2. Request for Protection from your Carrier
Most major mobile providers can act as a barrier between themselves and their clients. For instance, your provider allows you to verify legitimate and weed out unwanted callers and spam messages. In most cases, robocalls and spam messages come from across the globe thanks to the ever-advancing technology that allows spammers to impersonate legitimate phone numbers.
3. Utilize Third-party Apps
You can use third-party apps to protect yourself against robocalls and spammers. Popular apps for this purpose include: Nomorobo, RoboKiller, Hiya, and more. These apps are designed to prevent robocalls from contacting your phone. However, most of those services require a monthly or annual subscription. Those apps use a constantly-updating database of blacklisted robocallers, spammers, and fraudsters. When calls come through, the service runs them against the saved list of blacklisted numbers. If the incoming number is in the list of blacklisted numbers, the call is automatically rejected and blocked before it gets through.
More Tips to Avoid Robocalls and Spam SMS
1. Add your.Number to the Do Not Call Registry
Law abiding telemarketers should not contact numbers that appear in the National Do Not Call Registry. If you’ve been receiving unsolicited phone calls and text messages, you can visit the Do Not Call Registry and add your phone number. According to the FTC, you’ll stop getting calls from legitimate telemarketers after 31 days. The best part is that your registration will never expire once you sign up, meaning you won’t need to keep re-adding your number to the list.
2. Always Hide Your Identity
Never let robocallers know that you’re a real human. While it may be tempting to cuss at robocallers or scammers, it would be best if you left them guessing. Never say anything and avoid pushing buttons — even when the caller says that pushing a button will prevent further calls. Let the call go to the voicemail or hang up immediately if you pick a spam call by mistake.
3. Lodge a Complaint with the FTC
When you’ve tried all ways to stop robocalls in vain, it’s time to lodge a complaint with the FTC. Although the agency does not pursue all complaints, it’s important to notify the commission for safety reasons. of the magnitude of this problem.
How can a Lawyer Help?
You can lodge a complaint with the FTC or pursue legal action to recover damages from rogue telemarketers and robocalls. A skilled attorney who specializes in robocalls can offer the following services:
Free initial consultation; Legal counsel; Legal representation; Negotiating and appealing unfair verdicts;
Ensure your legal rights are not violated;
Shield you from the defendant’s legal team; Investigate the situation independently;
Hire expert witnesses and other professionals, such as investigators.
Before hiring an attorney, ensure they have the right skills, experience, and qualifications required to handle your case.
Even after doing everything to avoid robocalls or unsolicited calls and text messages, it’s impossible to avoid all robocalls or spammers. The good thing is that you can pursue legal action and recover damages from telemarketers and unwanted callers who make calls without prior consent.
