Due to a dramatic increase in unsolicited cell phone telemarketing and scams, you need strategies for reducing junk calls to your iPhone or Android phone.
Telemarketers are calling mobile phones more frequently because of the greater availability of low-cost tools and resources (like VoIP). For the most part, it is perpetrated by bad-actors outside of the US who can escape our laws.
In 2017, Americans fielded 76 percent more robocalls than they did in 2016 -- for a total of 18 billion calls. The first half of 2019 was significantly worse than the same time period in 2018.
What can you do?
Be Aware of Caller ID Spoofing - Caller ID can be tricked! Calls can appear to come from the Chinese Consulate, the SFPD, the IRS, yourself, or (most common) numbers that match the same first 6 digits as your own number.
Stage 1 response: Don’t give them anything. If somebody calls you, regardless of what they say, do not give them any information at all. Not even your name.
Stage 2 response: Blocking: Install NoMoRobo from the App Store, 2 week free trial, $20/yr, it sends known-bad-callers directly to voicemail. Wanna take it a step further? Stop them from leaving you a voicemail by changing your outgoing message to be very very long. (With instructions to press pound to skip the wait).
Stage 3 response: Fight back: File a report with the FTC., give them a 1-star review on Yelp, finally, just for fun waste their time.
