How to Beat Robocallers at Their Game

How to Beat Robocallers at Their Game

Robocalls can be an absolute nuisance, and often, they are a telltale sign of potential scams. You might receive a call claiming to be about renewing an extended car warranty (even if you don’t have one), or an offer for a debt relief service with an unbelievably low interest rate. These calls not only quickly become irritating but also pose a significant risk of being part of a scam operation.

In the United States, unwanted calls are the most common consumer complaint filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). A major reason for this is that scammers have mastered the art of using spoofing technologies. These technologies allow them to display phony caller ID numbers, making it difficult for people to distinguish between legitimate and fraudulent calls. Just because a phone number looks familiar or innocent doesn’t mean it actually is.

Whether the voice on the other end of the line is a pre-recorded message or a real person, the intention behind these robocalls is usually the same: to deceive you into giving away your personal information, money, or both. Scammers often impersonate well-known entities such as banks, government agencies, or insurance companies. They use these false identities as an excuse to pressure you into providing payment details, financial information, or identification numbers.

Some of these scammers are incredibly convincing, while others may resort to being aggressive or threatening. One of their most effective tactics is to create a sense of urgency and fear. They’ll tell you that there’s an immediate problem that requires your personal information right away to fix a fabricated issue. When you encounter such a situation, it’s crucial to take a step back and carefully assess what’s really going on before responding or taking any action.

Effective Ways to Avoid and Halt Robocalls

Regardless of the form these unwanted calls take, there are several measures you can take to safeguard yourself and even prevent them from reaching you in the first place. Here are some practical tips to get you started:

1. Don’t Answer, and If You Do, Refrain from Saying “Yes”

This seemingly simple advice can sometimes be challenging to follow. As mentioned earlier, spoofing can be quite sophisticated. Advanced spoofing techniques can make a call appear to be from someone you know, while more common forms, like “neighbor spoofing,” use a local area code or the same prefix as your phone number to create a sense of familiarity. There’s a chance you might answer one of these calls by mistake. If that happens, under no circumstances should you say “yes.” Sophisticated scammers may record your voice and use it for other malicious purposes, such as attempting to hack into your credit card accounts through the company’s phone system. With the advancement of AI-driven tools, voice cloning can be achieved with as little as three seconds of audio in some cases, reaching up to 70% accuracy.

2. Leverage Your Phone’s and Carrier’s Call-Blocking Features

Both Apple and Android phones offer features that allow you to silence calls from unknown numbers. Apple provides instructions on how to enable call silencing, and Android users can also configure their devices to block spam calls. However, it’s important to note that these settings may also silence legitimate calls from places like your doctor’s office or a service provider notifying you that your car is ready. In addition to phone features, cell phone carriers offer call blocking and filtering services. These services are often included as a basic offering by default, but if you’re unsure whether you’re covered, it’s advisable to contact your carrier.

3. Avoid Returning Calls to Unknown Numbers

Suppose you let an unknown call go to voicemail, and the message sounds like it’s from a bank or a business with an urgent matter. Instead of calling back the number that appeared on your phone or was left in the voicemail, which could potentially play into the scammer’s hands, obtain a legitimate customer service number from a bank statement, bill, or the official website of the business. This way, you can verify the situation independently and avoid falling victim to a scam.

4. Resist the Pressure

Scammers frequently pose as imposters, claiming that there’s an issue with your taxes, account, or bank statement. Some of them can be very persuasive. If you find yourself in a conversation where you feel uncomfortable with the content or the way it’s being presented, don’t hesitate to hang up. Then, follow up with the relevant bank or business using the proper channels as described above. Always be on the lookout for high-pressure tactics or scare tactics and keep your personal information to yourself.

5. Register with Your National Do Not Call Registry

Many countries offer a do not call registry service. Legitimate businesses and telemarketers typically refer to these lists before making calls. While this won’t guarantee that scammers won’t call you, it can significantly reduce the number of unsolicited calls you receive. For example, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom all have their own do not call registries that you can sign up for.

6. Cleanse Your Personal Data Online

Scammers and spammers somehow manage to obtain your phone number, and there’s a good likelihood that they got it from a data broker site. Data brokers collect and sell the personal information of countless individuals, gathering data from public sources, public records, and third parties, such as information from smartphone apps and shopping habits tracked through supermarket club cards. Phone numbers are often part of the data they handle. Tools like Personal Data Cleanup can be helpful. It scans some of the riskiest data broker sites and reveals which ones are selling your personal information. It then guides you through the process of removing your data and, in some plans, can even handle the removal for you.

Considerations Regarding Call Blocker Apps

The app stores are filled with various call-blocking apps, some available for free and others at a low cost. While these apps can effectively block spam calls, they may come with privacy concerns. Ironically, you’re using these apps to protect your privacy, but they might end up collecting information such as your contact list, usage data, and other details about your phone. As with any app, the key lies in carefully reading the user agreement. It should clearly state what information the app will collect, why it’s being collected, and whether it will be shared with or sold to third parties.

What’s at stake? If the app developers experience a data breach, the information they’ve collected could be exposed. In cases where the data is sold to analytics companies, it might end up with online data brokers. Special attention should be paid to free apps. Since they don’t charge a fee, they may generate revenue by collecting and selling user data, which could come at the expense of your privacy. If you’re considering using a call-blocker app, proceed with caution and weigh the potential benefits against the privacy risks.

Taking Control Against Scammers and Their Calls

A phone that rings less frequently with unwanted robocalls is a more pleasant one. While it may be impossible to completely eliminate all robocalls, the steps outlined above can significantly reduce their occurrence. Fortunately, businesses, lawmakers, and regulatory agencies have been taking measures to make it more difficult for scammers to operate. A combination of technological advancements and stricter penalties is working in your favor. By implementing these strategies and staying vigilant, you can outsmart robocallers and protect yourself from their scams.