list
BLOCK THAT CALL
What you can do to stop, or at least limit, robocalls
WRITTEN BY KIM KOMANDO
I
5
f robocalls are so universally
disliked, why do they contin-
ue to exist? Obviously, they
work, and someone out there
is gaining from them. But are
they really effective enough
to merit billions of cold calls every
year?
Whatever their future, you have
a right to fight back. Here are three
reasons robocalls keep working,
followed by five things you can do
to stop them.
DON’T ANSWER CALLS FROM UNKNOWN
NUMBERS The vast majority of robocalls come
from random-seeming area codes. If you don’t
know anyone in Nebraska and you weren’t
expecting a call from someone traveling there,
don’t pick up. You can also ignore “Unknown”
or “Unlisted” numbers. These days, if someone
wants to get ahold of you, they can leave a
voicemail or just text.
ANSWERING THE PHONE
TRIGGERS MORE CALLS
The phone rings, you answer it.
What could be more natural,
right? The problem is, answering the
phone can signal to robocallers that
this number works, and someone
will respond. Imagine some stranger
putting a checkmark by your name.
Now you’ve been added to the
“call all the time” list.
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ROBOCALLERS ADAPT,
SPOOF NUMBERS AND
MIMIC VOICES
A skilled human telemarketer
uses sales tactics to coax strang-
ers into spending money. This kind
of sales requires persistence, and
sometimes a telemarketer will call a
prospect back, over and over, using
new tactics. Because robocallers are
basically just computers, they don’t
have this human ability. However,
they use artificial intelligence to
adapt: Robocalls can “spoof” phone
numbers, tricking your caller ID into
thinking it’s a local area code
or even a known number.
Worse, robocallers have started to
collect voice recordings of the peo-
ple they call. Culled together, these
recordings can be used to imitate a
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FALL 2019 MONTCLAIR MAGAZINE
familiar friend or family member.
Such limitations can make you think
that an emergency or time-sensitive
opportunity is coming from a trusted
source. The technology is still new,
but scammers are testing this
ability… well, as we speak.
3
MOST ROBOCALLS ARE
PERFECTLY LEGAL
Telemarketers have avoided
serious penalties for decades
because all they’re doing is making
a phone call. Unless they threaten
you or misrepresent themselves, tele-
marketers have a lot of legal leeway.
The Do-Not-Call Implementation
Act helped consumers cut down on
telemarketers in 2003, and there
have been basic rules in place since
the early 1990s, but calls still get
through — especially from preda-
tory callers whose operations aren’t
exactly legal.
The real quagmire is when robo-
calls come from overseas; such inter-
national calls can be hard to track
and nearly impossible to litigate. So
even if a robocall isn’t “legal,” you
may never know its origins. ■
JOIN THE NATIONAL DO NOT CALL
REGISTRY In theory, signing up for the Do
Not Call Registry should protect you from
telemarketers and robocalls, and stop those
telephonic solicitations for as long as you live.
It’s an imperfect solution, of course; calls still go
through, mostly from dubious or international
sources. But it should radically cut down on your
intake. To join the list, go to donotcall.gov, or
call 888-382-1222.
USE THE BLOCKING SERVICES PROVIDED
BY YOUR CARRIER Telephone companies have
generally treated telemarketers and robocall-
ers with kid gloves. But each cell carrier also
provides tools that can help you block known
fraud and spam. Each carrier calls this something
different, and some services cost a little extra,
but if you’re serious about ending robocalls, this
is a handy defense. AT&T’s “Call Protect,” Verizon’s
“Call Filter Free” and Sprint’s “Premium Caller ID”
are all examples of anti-spam services.
BLOCK INDIVIDUAL PHONE NUMBERS Most
smartphones make it easy to block a number.
Once that call comes in, you can press a button
that says “Block this Caller” (iPhone) or “Block/
Report Spam” (Android). You can go through
your call log and block the number retroactively
as well, or unblock it if you realize you actually
want to receive calls from that number. You can
also set “Do Not Disturb” on both iPhone and
Android phones, which will prevent people from
calling you at certain times.
USE AN APP Okay, downloading an app is
probably the last resort, especially if you have
to pay for it. Nobody wants to subscribe to
something that prevents ongoing harassment
that shouldn’t be happening in the first place. But
many of these apps, such as the well-reviewed
Nomorobo app, are also very useful. The apps
Truecaller, Hiya, and Call Control all have versions
that are free to download and use.
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THINGS YOU
CAN DO ABOUT IT