Helpful Tips To Stop Annoying Robocalls to Your Smartphone
Many of us have noticed the uptick in those annoying robocalls from telemarketers over the last several months. I know it drives me nuts!
What's particularly frustrating is that they have learned to tap into local numbers so you think it's someone from your home neck of the woods that's calling.
According to the Federal Communications Commission, there are nearly 2.4 billion robocalls per month. That's more than seven calls per person.
It's time we all fight back. Here are some tips to combatting the robocalls.
1) Google your own number
We must ask ourselves: "how are these criminal-callers getting our numbers in the first place?" Apparently there are "people search" companies like Nuwber that aggregate information from white pages listings, public records and social network information. Thanks to modern technology, these are easy for the scammers to get a hold of. And that's how the robo-games begin.
The Better Business Bureau recommends Googling your own number to see if your info is out there. A little self-education can go a long way towards fighting back and getting your info scraped off the internet.
2) Add your number to the Do Not Call list
If you haven't done so already, add your cell phone number to the National Do Not Call list. Obviously, it doesn't fix the issues all the way, but it does help keep legitimate companies from cold-calling you. The bad guys apparently will still call.
If you are already on the Do Not Call Registry and you still get bombarded with calls, report those calls to the FTC. They compile reports and hand out fines. You can also block those calls from your smartphone.
3) Block calls and texts
So how exactly do you block calls and texts? On iPhones, simply tap the green phone icon on your home screen, then select the "Recents" tab at the bottom of the screen, and tap the blue "i" information icon next to the phone number you want to block. A screen pops with a bunch of options and at the bottom you'll see "Block This Caller." Tap it and when the verification screen appears, confirm.
On most Androids, there are two simple ways to block numbers. If you're on the standard version of Android 6.0, you can go into your call log and long-press on the number you want to block, then select "Block Number" from the pop-up menu.
If you're using a version of Android other than the stock version, select "Settings" and then "Call Blocking," tap "Add Number" and type in the number you want to block.
4) Go hard, bring on the apps
There are several apps that will help you combat robo-calls. Now, they're going to cost you, but a little peace and quiet is worth $1.99 a month, right?
One of the best apps out there is called "Nomorobo". It even won a competition by the FTC. When a sketchy telemarketer hits you up, the app recognizes it and will show a big red dot on your call screen so you know to avoid the call. There's even an option in the app to block these calls automatically.
Nomorobo says it doesn't block legitimate calls because it "analyzes millions of calls made to hundreds of thousands of phone lines every single day."
You have any other suggestions? Bring it on because we'd love to share with everyone!