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Consumer Resources
How to Stop Robocalls .
Although some automated calls from pharmacies, airlines and schools are useful, many automated calls are intrusive and illegal. The wireless industry works to minimize the negative impact of robocalls, collectively stopping more than a million illegal calls every day. To report and block unwanted robocalls, you can:
- Check out your provider’s tool’s and services: The major wireless providers offer various tools and solutions that you can engage or may be built into your device to block or flag calls.
- Download and activate robocall blocking apps: Third parties offer additional apps to help you identify and block unwanted robocalls. Media outlets regularly recommend and review apps—check out the following articles to learn more.
- “In 2019 Here’s How To Stop And Block Robocalls, Spam, And Unknown Calls On iPhone, Android,” Forbes
- “How to stop robocalls, block numbers on your iPhone, Android and even landline,” USA Today
- For more apps, check out our lists for Android, BlackBerry, iOS (Apple) and Windows.
- Engage device features: Use features built into your phone to block unwanted calls. To learn more, check out guides for iOS and Android or visit your device manufacturer’s website.
- Take extra precautions with unknown callers: Don’t engage with robocallers. Don’t give out personally identifiable information or send money to a third party without verifying the authenticity of the caller. You can double check the authenticity of caller by looking up their phone number on their website, or in a phone book and calling them directly.
- Add your number to the Do-Not-Call Registry: Add your wireless devices and/or landline numbers to the National Do Not Call Registry, which prohibits telemarketers from calling your registered numbers.
- Tip: Before giving your phone number to any business, read their privacy policy ahead of time. Some policies may imply that by giving your phone number or agreeing to a business’s terms and conditions, you gave them permission to contact you and possibly to share your contact information with others.
- Report robocalls and spam text messages:
- File a complaint online with the FTC or FCC. Alternatively, call the FTC at 1-877-FTC-HELP or the FCC at 1-888-CALL-FCC.
- Forward SPAM text messages to 7726 (or SPAM). This free text exchange with your wireless provider will report the SPAM number, and you will receive a response thanking you for reporting it.
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Legitimate callers can register their phone numbers with the companies listed below, and work with their providers and aggregators to help ensure that their calls are labeled and treated correctly, as well as to report any issues.
| AT&T | Verizon, U.S. Cellular | T-Mobile |
| https://hiyahelp.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/requests/new | http://Reportarobocall.com | http://www.calltransparency.com |
| Analytics Provider: Hiya | Analytics Provider: TNS | Analytics Provider: First Orion |
Legitimate callers can also email Nomorobo (reports@nomorobo.com) and YouMail (TNissues@youmail.com) about planned autodialing calls.
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For more information on fighting robocalls, visit fcc.gov and ftc.gov.
For more information on how the wireless industry is fighting illegal robocalls, visit https://fightingrobocalls.ctia.org/