This article was co-authored by Mitch Harris and by wikiHow staff writer, Eric McClure. Mitch Harris is a Consumer Technology Expert based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Mitch runs his own IT Consulting company called Mitch the Geek, helping individuals and businesses with home office technology, data security, remote support, and cybersecurity compliance. Mitch earned a BS in Psychology, English, and Physics and graduated Cum Laude from Northern Arizona University.
There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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There’s nothing more obnoxious than being barraged with unwanted calls at all hours of the day. If you’ve finally had enough of vehicle warranty offers and fantastical sales pitches, there are a handful of great solutions that will put an end to these telemarketing calls. Just keep in mind that scammers rarely play by the rules, and you may continue to get the occasional unwanted call regardless of the steps you take.
Steps
Community Q&A
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QuestionHow come my number has been registered since 2012 if I didn't get it until 2017?wikiHow Staff EditorThis answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Staff AnswerwikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerIt's possible that someone else had your number way back in 2012. Even if it was a new number for you, it's possible that someone else had that number in the past. -
QuestionHow are the telemarketing able to call you from someone else’s number?wikiHow Staff EditorThis answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Staff AnswerwikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerThere are a few ways to do it, but most scammers use a computer program to make outgoing calls with a fake number. It's important to note that legitimate companies don't do this. If you keep getting calls from someone and their number is changing all the time, they're trying to scam you. -
QuestionI'm getting calls from people who hang up if I ask for their address or call back number. I get as many as 40 calls a day. What can I do?wikiHow Staff EditorThis answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Staff AnswerwikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerOne of the reasons you're getting so many calls is that you keep picking up! Once you answer the phone, the scammer or telemarketer knows that your phone number has a person on the other end of it. They flag your number and then everyone else they're working with knows they can call you. So step one is to stop picking up. Then, you can use apps, call blocking, or do not disturb mode to keep them from reaching you in the first place.
Tips
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If you change your number, you’ll need to re-register it on the FTC’s Do Not Call Registry.[16]Thanks
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Some scammers record their calls and try to trick you into saying “yes.” Then, they edit the audio of the call and use your “yes” to make it sound like you’re agreeing to be charged for some kind of service. If you ever get a call from a random number and they start off with, “Can you hear me?” just hang up the call.[17]Thanks
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Never give out any kind of personal information over the phone if you don’t know who you’re talking to with 100% certainty.Thanks
Tips from our Readers
- I think the U.S. government only has jurisdiction over national telemarketers. Unfortunately, this means telemarketers in other countries can call all they want. You can still try to block them though.
- If you do answer the phone to a scammer, don't speak or they will know the number is active and they may also record your voice and use it to scam you.
Warnings
- The IRS will never call you and ask for money. If they’re going to contact you about a missing tax bill or irregularity, they’re almost always going to send you mail.[18]Thanks
- Those vehicle warranty calls are all nonsense. Some of those warranty calls are from legitimate companies, but the services they offer are either already free or they’re so bad that you don’t want them anyway.Thanks
References
- ↑ https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0108-national-do-not-call-registry
- ↑ https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/how-to-stop-telemarketers-from-calling-your-cell-phone-041515.html
- ↑ https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0108-national-do-not-call-registry
- ↑ https://www.wcnc.com/article/life/former-telemarketer-shares-secrets-to-stopping-the-constant-calls/275-9013eaf1-172b-43c0-b1f2-14a580129b03
- ↑ https://www.michigan.gov/consumerprotection/Protect-Yourself/consumer-alerts/id-theft-telemarketing/do-not-call-list
- ↑ https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/how-to-stop-telemarketers-from-calling-your-cell-phone-041515.html
- ↑ https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/komando/2019/02/07/no-more-robocalls-how-block-unwanted-calls-iphone-android/2778059002/
- ↑ https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/komando/2019/02/07/no-more-robocalls-how-block-unwanted-calls-iphone-android/2778059002/
- ↑ https://www.foxnews.com/tech/top-iphone-android-apps-for-blocking-robocalls
- ↑ https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/komando/2019/02/07/no-more-robocalls-how-block-unwanted-calls-iphone-android/2778059002/
- ↑ https://www.theverge.com/21327304/spam-calls-how-to-stop-block-robocalls-robots-scam-iphone-android
- ↑ https://www.theverge.com/21327304/spam-calls-how-to-stop-block-robocalls-robots-scam-iphone-android
- ↑ https://www.businessinsider.com/do-not-disturb-android
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204321
- ↑ https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/stop-unwanted-robocalls-and-texts
- ↑ https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0108-national-do-not-call-registry#report
- ↑ https://abcnews.go.com/Business/fcc-warns-consumers-phone-scam/story?id=46405703
- ↑ https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/how-to-know-its-really-the-irs-calling-or-knocking-on-your-door
About This Article
To stop telemarketing calls, don't answer unwanted telemarketing calls since answering will encourage them to keep calling back. You should also block specific numbers as soon as you see them come up on your caller identification. If you want to take direct action, sign up for the National Do Not Call Registry online at donotcall.gov or by calling the Federal Trade Commission. You can also see if your state offers its own Do Not Call list for double protection. If you receive a call from a live telemarketer, you should also request to be removed from the company’s calling list. To learn how to report telemarketers who do not remove you from their call list, keep reading!
Reader Success Stories
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"I learned to know how to stop the unwanted calls and how to report them if they keep coming."