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About Robocall Telephone Scams

We understand the annoyance of receiving unwanted robocalls. You’re probably wondering “are robocalls even legal?”; the answer is yes, but only with your permission. Let us explain further. A robocall trying to sell you something is illegal unless a company has your written permission to call you that way. To get your permission, the company has to be clear it’s asking to call you with robocalls, and it can’t make you agree to the calls to get a product or service. If you give permission, you have the right to change your mind later. Of course, there are a few types of robocalls allowed under FTC rules without your permission, such as political calls about candidates running for office or charities asking for donations.
 
It is very important to note that the bank wouldn’t reach out that way or ask for personal information over the phone. Also please keep in mind that scammers have the technology to fake the name and number on your caller I.D.. Even if it looks like it’s coming from a local number, it could be a scam. 
 
Here’s what you should do next time you get an illegal robocall:
 

• Hang up. Don't press any numbers. The recording might say that pressing a number will let you speak to a live operator or remove you from their call list, but it might lead to more robocalls, instead.

 

• Report the call to the FTC at donotcall.gov. Report the number on your caller ID and any number you’re told to call back, which helps the FTC track down the scammers behind the call. Even if you think the number on your caller ID is fake, report it. The FTC analyzes complaint data and trends to identify illegal callers based on calling patterns.

 
The FTC takes the phone numbers you report and releases them to the public each business day. This helps phone carriers and other partners that are working on call-blocking solutions. Your reports also help law enforcement identify the people behind illegal calls. Check out the short video below illustrating how easy it is to report calls to the FTC or your phone carrier.