Some scammers just don’t quit. They’ve called you on multiple occasions pitching you the same message after you have repeatedly asked to be put on the do-not-call list. You’ve tried blocking them, but they call from all sorts of different numbers! What can you do?
According to BBB Scam Tracker, over 5,700 scams involving phone calls have been reported to BBB across the U.S. and Canada since January of this year. This number seems to be growing, seeing as only 1,000 more phone scams were reported during the entire year before.
“Blocking one number won’t stop scammers from calling you once your information is out there,” says Paula Fleming, spokesperson for the local BBB. “As soon as you pick up the phone, your number is registered as active and can be sold for other scammers to contact.”
Better Business Bureau Serving Eastern MA, ME, RI & VT (BBB) is here to tell consumers what they can do to stop these calls for good:
First and foremost, do not answer calls from numbers you do not recognize. If it’s a legitimate contact, they will leave a message. Even if a scammer leaves a message, this will give you time to think about what is being asked of you.
Be cautious of those automated messages asking you to “Press 9” to be taken off of their call list. It’s best to just hang up. Pressing your keypad is another way to alert the caller that they have reached an active number, and they will continue to call and sell your number to other scammers as well.
Be aware that scammers are calling and impersonating legitimate businesses, organizations, and charities. The best thing you can do to prevent yourself from falling victim is to hang up, find the appropriate phone number, and call them directly to speak to a representative.
Join the Do Not Call Registry (DoNotCall.gov) to cut down on legitimate telemarketing and sales calls. Although it won’t stop scammers, you’ll get fewer calls, making it easier to spot the fraudulent ones.
Write down the phone number of those callers violating the Do Not Call Registry and file a scam report with BBB Scam Tracker and the FTC’s Do Not Call List.
There’s an app for that! Nomorobo.com takes you off any phone call that comes in as a robo call (an automated or machine-made call). The best part? Nomorobo is free for your landline and only $1.99 for cell phones.
