Tavares, FL June 8, 2018
Updated June 26, 2019
Robocalls - 10+ Consumer TIPS to Resist, Prevent and Act on Robocalls
by Vance Jochim
FiscalRangers.com ( A Fiscal Watchdog Blog in Lake County, FL )
This is a collection of tips and action advice I have collected on dealing with Robocalls.
The short link to this page for sharing is: https://www.fiscalrangers.com/robocalls-10tips.html
Updates after initial publication on June 8, 2018:
Jan 2, 2020 - President Trump signs new Pallone-Thune TRACED Act to control Robocall abuse
https://techcrunch.com/2019/12/31/traced-act-signed-into-law-putting-robocallers-on-notice/
June 26, 2019 - Good News - FTC sues Kissimmee, Florida man for making millions of robocalls. Read the Orlando Sentinel article here: Download 2019-06-26 OS Robocalls
March 25, 2019 - Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody announced efforts to get the TRACED Act, S.3655 passed. HERE is an Orlando News 13 video report about it.
Nov. 15, 2018 - The US Senate introduced a bill, S.3655, the "TRACED" Act to crack down on Robocalls - but as of March 3, 2019, it has not gone anywhere. The TRACED Act stands for Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act. Here is the bill's page. HERE is the actual S.3655, TRACED ACT as initially proposed.
June 30, 2018 - PC Magazine published an article about dealing with robocalls and spam HERE.
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Our original list of 10+ Tips:
1. Register all your phones with the National Do Not Call list
Read their information also.
Here is the message I received:
"Thank you for registering your phone number with the National Do Not Call Registry. You successfully registered your phone number ending in 3578 on February 18, 2010. Most telemarketers will be required to stop calling you 31 days from your registration date."
2. Report Robocalls to the same website but listen enough so you know who is calling and their number, and time:
2b. Do a Google search on "How to stop Robocalls" to get updated info. Be skeptical of apps that want access to your info to report or block Robocalls unless they are from a trusted provider.
3. Find out how to BLOCK phone numbers of Robocallers on your cell phone.
- If I see an unknown or out of state number calling, I either cancel it to see if they leave a message, or I answer and if a Robocall, listen long enough to take the details to know who they are so I can then block them, AND report them to the FTC complaints line below.
4. For Robocalls, I always add them to my phonebook as "Robocall XXX" where the XXX defines they type of call. THEN I use my AT&T feature to BLOCK that number, especially the spoofing calls (using fake numbers with my area code).
5. Report cell phone robocalls to the FTC via :
6. Look the Robocall number up at:
If you see other comments it is a robocall source, then you know.
7. Enter number only in Google search, will get 800notes.com with info from others.
Leave comments.
8. COMPLAIN to your elected STATE and FEDERAL Elected officials. THEY need to get off their duff and fix this.
9. RESEARCH a SPAM CALLER
10 . For SPAM text messages - AT&T users - report SPAM TEXT messages by FORWARDING it to 7726. Other phone providers may have a similar feature.
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Case Study - Marriott Hotels - Feb. 26, 2018
- Got Robocall claiming to be from Marriot from 352-637-5279. I listened long enough to hear to press 2 to be added to their do not call list. I did that. I blocked the number on AT&T. I posted a complaint on Feb. 26 on Twitter and Facebook pages for Marriott.
Beware - Robocalls may lie about who is calling, so be skeptical, but complain on their website anyway:
I got an unwanted Robocall saying it was from Marriott. "Thanks for using us..." - I haven't used them in 15 years. I don't appreciate robocalls from 352-637-5279 and reported them to the FTC plus blocked them on AT&T. I also complained on the Marriott website.
Got a reply from Marriott on Facebook on Feb. 26 saying:
I responded: " Well, I gave you the number they are using. Track them down. Ask your Federal lobbyists how these guys can continue to do this, and where is enforcement by the Feds or AT&T to stop them. I get these type of calls almost daily. This is the first one claiming to be from Marriott."
Further answer from my reply:
Marriott Hotels "Efforts have been made to stop this misrepresentation of our brand. Similar to your experience, the calls often appear to be placed from different telephone numbers.
We have learned that the callers are utilizing a practice, commonly referred to as “spoofing”, to misrepresent the telephone number from which the call was actually placed. "
My further response:- 5:10 pm on Feb 26 - " I once was an anti-corruption manager in Iraq and a certified fraud examiner. I would think you should collect case reports, along with others like Hilton hotels, then use a lobbyist to demand that the FTC or a Congressman have hearings and force the phone industry to enact processes to detect and prevent the robocalls. I report some of them to the FTC website as well as block them in the AT&T app."
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More examples of numbers I reported:
Dec. 15, 2016 - submitted a report for a 407 call to National Do Not Call list
https://www.donotcall.gov
Mar. 22, 2017 - Verified my 352 phone is on national do not call list.
"Thank you for registering your phone number with the National Do Not Call Registry. You successfully registered your phone number ending in 3578 on February 18, 2010. Most telemarketers will be required to stop calling you 31 days from your registration date."
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Dec. 15, 2016 - submitted a report for a 407 call
Mar 20, 2017 - submitted report for resort caller - 352- 638-7227 - also blocked via S7 block feature
Mar 20, 2017 - reported 202-969-1619 - also blocked via S7 block feature
Mar 22 - reported "junk caller" 321-392-3057
- reported bank loan scammer 321-465-7007
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How to Block Robocall or spam calls on AT&T Samsung S7
Select the Phone app from the home screen.
Note: The call blocking feature may not affect phone calls made or received via third-party apps installed on your device. Please contact third-party app developers for assistance with such applications.
Select the Menu icon from the keypad.
Select Settings.
Select Block numbers.
Enter the desired Number to block, or select the Contacts icon to select a number from your contacts.
Select the Add icon.
To unblock a previously blocked number, select the Remove icon next to the desired number.
To automatically block anonymous calls, select the Block anonymous calls switch.
AT&T - to report spam TEXT messages:
How to report spam text messages
Don't respond directly to a spam message, doing so alerts the spammer that your number is genuine. Instead, report the spam message. Forward the TEXT message on your wireless phone to 7726 (SPAM) so that we can start an investigation.
Messages forwarded to 7726 are free. They don't count toward your text plan.
Don't answer 866 calls.
How to setup Call Blocking for AT&T phones online
Log in to myAT&T. ...
From Home Phone at the top of the page, and select Manage Features.
From the Call Filtering section, click the arrow next to Call Blocking.
Select On or Off to set up Call Blocking.
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In the Add Number field, enter up to 20 phone numbers you wish to block.
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Bonus: We received this junkmail query on June 11, 2018 from a political campaign robocall business - this is what we are up against. I think the FCC grants exeptions for political robocalls.
The Campaign Solutions Group
|
Dear Friend,
Our paid phones have helped thousands of candidates win. Persuade, identify, push early ballot voting and Get Out The Vote.
TCSG's suite of services include:
* LIVE AGENT CALLS
* GOTV
* ROBO-CALLS
* IVR-POLLING
* PATCH-THROUGH
* TELE-TOWNHALL
* RINGLESS VOICEMAIL DROPS
Leave the heavy lifting to us. We make calls to both mobile phones and landlines in English and Spanish - all compliant with the FCC's rules and regulations.
Call or text me (760-522-8782) to talk through our process and services or click here for our rate card. Our shop is highly streamlined and efficient, making it super easy on you every step of the way. Check out our updated portfolio here
All the best to a great start of summer!
Victoria Mabie
We are a proud and active member of the AAPC
|
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Permission granted to share these tips as long as you don't edit them, give credit to Vance Jochim of FiscalRangers.com and include this link (so they can see updates): http://www.fiscalrangers.com/robocalls-10tips.html
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