Robocalls are on the rise, with Americans receiving just over 4.4 billion in April, according to a recent report.
While not all these calls were harmful — some were linked to telemarketing campaigns, such as political campaigns, and others were public service or payment notifications — a huge portion were made by scammers, often promising to eliminate your taxes.
I discuss the dangers of robocalls in detail and outline several ways to protect yourself.
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A woman frustrated by robocalls (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
What you need to know
US consumers were hit with over 4.4 billion robocalls in April, up 3.4% from March, according to a report by the YouMail app. On average, there were 146.9 million robocalls a day and 1,700 every second, an increase from March’s 137.6 million a day and 1,592 a second.
Scam calls really shot up, jumping 73% from 345 million in March to over 710 million in April. This was especially noticeable because all other types of calls stayed flat or even dropped. With the surge in scam calls, unwanted calls hit 2.25 billion in April, making up more than half of all robocalls that month.
Even with the increase, YouMail says we’re now five months in a row with fewer than 150 million calls a day and six months straight with a year-over-year drop in robocalls. So, things were actually worse in 2023.
“Robocall volume has been relatively steady now for almost six months despite some month-to-month fluctuations,” said YouMail CEO Alex Quilici. “This suggests that the efforts of regulators and industry are helping to bring calls down to a significantly lower level than they were even a year ago.”
Illustration of a scammer at work (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
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Most scam calls were tax-related
The most troublesome robocalls in April were all about taxes. One campaign left pre-recorded messages claiming it could make your tax debts disappear like magic.
“Hey there, I guess I missed you. It’s Angie over at US Tax Experts. So, I tried you last week as well, and this is a follow-up notification regarding the new zero tax program that’s open for you. It looks like you possibly have some past money that’s due, which we can squash with this new deal. So, basically, it becomes non-collectible, but you must select to enroll this month,” said one robocaller, before leaving a number to call back.
Another scam claims that all past-due tax debt has been put into a non-collectible status through some “economic recovery program,” meaning you won’t have to pay back any of your overdue taxes.
This robocall campaign is huge, with tens of millions of calls each month from thousands of different numbers. The scammers behind it are breaking telemarketing rules, and based on countless spam reports, they’re targeting people who never asked for a call.
To make matters worse, the calls are made to sound like personal voicemails instead of pre-recorded messages. When you call back the number they provide, they hit you with demands for upfront fees and personal info, only to deliver nothing in return. These scams prey on people with tax debt, offering false hope for a quick fix.
Illustration of a scammer at work (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
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4 ways to protect yourself from robocall scams
Below are some tips to reduce your chances of falling victim to robocall scams.
1. Invest in data removal service: Scammers get a hold of your contact number and other details because it’s readily available on the internet. While no service promises to remove all your data from the internet, having a removal service is great if you want to constantly monitor and automate the process of removing your information from hundreds of sites continuously over a longer period of time. Check out my top picks for data removal services here.
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2. Be cautious with unknown calls: If you don’t recognize the caller, let it go to voicemail. Scammers often use spoofed numbers to make it seem like the call is local. Use call-blocking apps to block suspicious numbers and reduce the number of robocalls you receive.
3. Never share personal info: If you accidentally answer a scam call, never give out personal or financial details. Legit companies won’t ask for that information over the phone.
4. Report the call: Report any robocalls to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or your country’s equivalent authority. The more reports they get, the better they can target these scams.
5. Add your number to the National Do Not Call Registry: This is a free service that prevents telemarketers from calling you. Once you register your phone number, telemarketers must stop calling you within 31 days. There are several ways to do this. You can call the Registry at 1-888-382-1222 from the phone number you wish to include in the “do not call” list. Alternatively, visit donotcall.gov and click the “Register Your Phone” button. Enter the phone number you want to register.
You can register up to three phone numbers at a time. Be sure to provide your email to acknowledge the confirmation and begin eliminating robocalls. Remember that the Do Not Call Registry does not stop all unwanted calls, such as those from political organizations, charities and debt collectors.
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Kurt’s key takeaways
With the rise in robocall scams, especially around tax debt, it’s crucial to stay alert. If you get a suspicious call, don’t share any personal or financial information. Use call-blocking apps and report unwanted calls to the FTC or other relevant authorities. These steps can help you avoid falling victim to these scams. Despite the surge in April, overall robocall volumes are still lower than last year. While scammers are evolving, ongoing efforts by regulators and telecom companies are starting to pay off.
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