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Robocalls

After of the , robocalls have come roaring back. Americans received 50.5 billion automated phone calls in 2021, up 10 percent from the year before, according to YouMail, which provides call-blocking and call-management services. The company estimates that 42 percent of those calls were placed by scammers. Illegal robocalls include telemarketing spam (automated sales calls from companies you haven’t authorized to contact you) and attempts at outright theft. Prerecorded messages dangle goodies like all-expenses-paid travel or demand payment for nonexistent debts to get you to send money or give up sensitive personal data. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Scammers often use to mask their true location, making it appear that they’re calling from a legitimate or to raise the odds that you’ll pick up. In a on robocalls, 59 percent of respondents said they are more likely to answer if caller ID shows a number with their area code. If you do, the robotic voice on the other end might claim to represent a , a name-brand company or a government agency. and the are perennially popular poses, and fraud watchers noted a huge increase in as the pandemic drove more people to . Other robocall fakes might offer you a , cheap or a low-interest loan. They might claim you've , or tell you to press a particular key to learn more or get off a call list. Pitches for have become ubiquitous, accounting for nearly 1 in 5 spam calls, according to call-security firm RoboKiller. Whatever the message, don’t engage. Doing so can lead you to a real live scammer, who’ll pressure you to make a purchase or pump you for personal information, like a credit card or Social Security number. Even just pressing a key or answering a question alerts scammers that they’ve hit on a “live” number, and they’ll call it again and again. Groceries 20% off a Freshly meal delivery subscription See more Groceries offers >

Warning Signs

You receive an automated sales call from a company you have not given consent to contact you.A prerecorded message tells you to press “1” or some other key to be taken off a call list.The message offers you goods or services for free or at a suspiciously deep discount.The message says you owe back taxes or unpaid bills and face legal or financial consequences if you don’t pay immediately.The message says you've won a big lottery or sweepstakes prize and tells you to press a key or call a number to claim it.

How to protect yourself from this scam

Do hang up on illegal robocalls. Do add all your numbers to the operated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). It won’t stop fraudulent calls, but it will make them easier to spot because most legitimate telemarketers won’t call numbers on the registry.Do explore free and low-cost call-blocking options, such as apps and services that screen calls and weed out spam and scams. Ask your phone service provider if it offers any such tools.Do verify the caller. If the robocall claims to be from, say, Social Security or your bank, hang up and look up the real number for that entity. Call and ask if they contacted you. Do report scam calls to the proper authorities (see More Resources below). Every report helps authorities piece together a fuller picture of what scammers are doing.Do review a company’s privacy policies before you give it permission to call you. You might be authorizing them to share your contact information with others. AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe .Don’t judge a call by caller ID alone. Scammers mask their location by tricking your phone into displaying a legitimate government or corporate number, or one similar to your own (a practice called “neighbor spoofing”).

More Resources

Report illegal robocalls to the FCC ( or at 888-225-5322) and the FTC ( or at 877-382-4357).The FCC has comprehensive online fact sheets on and with additional tips for recognizing and combating spam and scam calls.CTIA, a trade association for the U.S. wireless industry, offers lists of robocall-blocking apps for and devices. MORE FROM AARP Scam Tracking Map No matter where you live, fraud is never far away. Report a scam or search for existing scams near you. AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Health & Wellness offers > See more Flights & Vacation Packages offers > See more Finances offers > See more Health & Wellness offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS