According to research done by the communications security firm First Orion, from 2017 to 2018, the amount of spam calls placed jumped from 3.7% to 29.2%. In 2019, it’s expected that almost half of all cell phone calls will be spam calls if this trend continues.
The first step you can take to minimize the amount of robocalls you receive is to put your number on the National Do Not Call Registry, which is maintained by the Federal Trade Commission. However, since there are many marketers who will ignore the registry, another way to filter these calls is to let an app screen your calls. Some apps that carriers offer for free include T-Mobile Scam Block, Sprint Premium Caller ID, Verizon Call Filter, and AT&T Call Protect. Additionally, there are third-party apps which are designed and widely used to smartly block spam calls such as YouMail, Truecaller, Hiya, and RoboKiller.
If a specific spam caller continues to reach you after taking these steps, the good news is you can easily block that number. However, if several robocalls continue to get through after taking these steps, you can take advantage of your iPhone’s “Do Not Disturb” feature. This will allow you to change your settings so that you are only notified of calls and texts from the contacts you choose, sending any unknown numbers directly to voicemail.
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) generally regulates advertising over the phone in-cluding robocalls and the sending of text messages. Unsolicited robocalls and text messages are harassing and annoying, and they can cost you by using your wireless-plan minutes or by having you incur other charges. The TCPA allows consumers subjected to prohibited conduct to file a lawsuit to recover statutory damage amounts of $500 to $1500 per violation.
If you believe you have received an illegal advertising call or text, please call us today at 818-630-7280 for a free consultation.
