DUPONT – According to the Federal Trade Commission’s Do Not Call Registry Data Book, more than 2.2 million complaints about recorded message calls were filed in fiscal year 2012. These days, robocalling spammers use cheap automated dialers to place thousands of calls to random numbers and spoof caller IDs to escape detection. With more people staying indoors near phones during the winter months, Better Business Bureau serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington offers insight on robocalls.
- Don’t talk or press buttons. Saying anything or pressing buttons will alert automated calling systems that they have reached working numbers, prompting future robocalls.
- Never give out personal information. Avoid revealing personal or financial information—like bank details, credit card numbers or Social Security numbers—to unsolicited callers.
- Verify callers. Legitimate human callers will be willing to provide verifiable contact information like company addresses and phone numbers.
With the holidays approaching, consumers should be aware of potentially fraudulent phone solicitors and charities. Add phone numbers to the National Do Not Call Registry at donotcall.gov and visitbbb.org for other marketplace tips.