Landline or mobile, every phone customer has gotten a robo-call at least once. The automated phone messages play once the recipient picks up the phone, and the messages range from scams and spam to a helpful reminder.
"There are some robo-calls that are indeed lawful," said Better Business Bureau Vice President of Sales Mike Boynton. "If you're a candidate running for office, or perhaps you're a charity asking for a donation, robo-calls are permitted. Those are prerecorded messages for non-profits, those are acceptable. Also, informational-type robo-calls - it could be from your doctor's office, it could be from a bank, it could be your telephone carrier or charities - all of those are permitted to be done as far as a pre-recorded message."
However, there are plenty of robo-calls that are not legal. Boynton said if the robo-call is trying to sell you something, that's a red flag. "If it's a sales solicitation with a for-profit company, that is illegal."
A popular scam robo-call recently involved what sounded like a real person on the other end who had to adjust her headset and then asked if the caller could hear her. "It's prerecorded, and all you have to do is indicate yes, and they capture that, perhaps sign you up for a particular product. Then they'll send the product and start charging you for it or billing you for it."
Boynton said that's just one form and that there are numerous scams, not just seeking a "yes" response, but maybe your confidential information. "There are many different forms and shapes, but with technology and internet phone systems, it's cheap and it's easy for scammers to make billions of calls every month."
Boynton said the key is to be aware of scams and dangers, but also know who can call you. Boynton said a telemarketer must get permission to make contact with a consumer.
"Perhaps you bought a product or service, and then you checked the box that they can communicate with you. Or 'do you agree to receive email or communication messages from us, yes or no' and if you click 'yes' that gives them permission to communicate with you via email, via recorded calls, and that could be very legitimate, but you also have - even though it is a legitimate company - you also have the right to opt out."
Boynton said some companies, like retailers, provide prompts, either on their website or through the phone call itself. However, Boynton said to watch out for fake prompts on spam calls.
"If you press any kind of a key, on a prompt, it could put you in jeopardy," Boynton said about the fake prompts. He said even answering the phone for a spam caller could escalate the problem. "If you pick up the phone, they will even track that information and then sell your phone number as a potential phone number that a marketer could call in the future."
He encouraged consumers to screen their calls and not answer unknown numbers, as well as be aware of phone number spoofs - when a legitimate number is recreated to make a spam call look legitimate. Boynton said if you're unsure, don't pick up, but if you do, the simple way out of a sketchy call is to just hang up.
Adding yourself on the Do Not Call registry is also an option, as it helps prevent telemarketers from calling. "Not a guarantee, but it will help." He also suggested reaching out to the Federal Trade Commission if a telemarketer continues to bother you and of course, report spam robo-calls and telemarketers to the BBB Scam Tracker.
Tuesday
May 7th, 2024
8:38AM
