A lot of times, robocalls are just scammers trying to steal your information. Read to learn more about how to tell the difference between legitimate robocalls and fraudulent ones.
What are robocalls?
A robocall is an automated call that arrives on one or more of your devices, delivering a recorded message. You might be listening to a robocall if you hear a voice on the other end that is computer-generated, fake sounding, or indiscernible. They are also able to leave voicemails as well.
You can receive robocalls for a few different reasons. Some are well-intentioned, like calls from the pharmacy reminding you to pick up a prescription, charity messages encouraging you to donate, or even informational calls updating you on your flight status. These calls are harmless.
Other calls are hackers trying to steal your information to put on the dark web for sale. Many scams also encourage you to give money or hand over your information, like a social security number or credit card number. These types of robocalls are illegal.
Unless a specific company has your express written consent to call you to ask for money, these are calls from scammers. To stop robocalls, you can use call-blocking features on your phone or a call-blocking app.
Many smartphones have built-in call-blocking features, and you can also find apps that can block robocalls. You can also add your phone number to the National Do Not Call Registry, which is a do not call list managed by the Federal Trade Commission.
This registry is designed to stop telemarketing calls, but it may also help reduce the number of robocalls you receive. Additionally, you can ask your phone company for call-blocking services; some companies offer it for free, others for a small fee. Verizon and AT&T both have call-blocking apps that come with your phone plan.
What To Do If You Receive A Robocall
When you know you are receiving a spam call, the best action is not to answer the phone. However, you cannot always tell when an incoming call is a spam call and when that spam is a robocall. Here are a few tips on what to do when you answer a robocall.
- If you answer a call and realize that it is an illegal robocall, hang up immediately. Do not listen to the instructions the bot is giving you. Report the call to the Federal Trade Commission- this will help the FTC track down the scammers and stop the calls. It is also a good idea to block any numbers that frequently send unwarranted robocalls.
- Contact your phone provider and ask if they have proprietary phone-blocking software. Verizon and AT&T both offer call filters that keep robocalls from contacting you.
What will happen if the robocall gets my information?
Many times these robocalls will try to scam you for your information. They could try to steal your identity or your money. If your information ends up on the dark web, you and your family could be at risk.
Agency’s enterprise-grade cybersecurity helps to protect you and your family’s information from ending up on the dark web. Agency offers a free dark web scan to determine if your or your family’s information ends up on the Dark Web, as potential vectors for a cyberattack. We also offer a personal identity removal service, so websites like Spokeo will not show results about you if searched.
