FCC Scam Dodging Tips
3 SIMPLE STEPS TO OUTSMART ROBOCALLERS & SPOOFERS
The Federal Trade Commission is encouraging consumers to follow these three key steps 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. (That could result in even more calls.) Hang up.
- Block. You can reduce the number of unwanted calls you get by using call-blocking technologies. Visit www.ftc.gov/calls for advice, depending on the type of phone service you have. Ask your service provider about blocking services.
- Report. After you hang up, report the unwanted or illegal call to the FTC at www.ftc.gov/complaint. The more information we have about the call, the better the FTC can target their law enforcement efforts.
- Report the number on your caller ID and any number you're told to call back, which helps us track down the scammers behind the call.
Even if you think the number on your caller ID is fake, report it. The FTC analyzes complaint data and trends to identify illegal callers based on calling patterns.
The FTC takes the phone numbers you report and releases them to the public each business day. This helps phone carriers and other partners that are working on call-blocking solutions. Your reports also help law enforcement identify the people behind illegal calls.
Learn more about robocalls and the mitigation services we offer here.