Help! You’ve registered both your landline and cellphone on the Do Not Call Registry but you continue to get robocalls from Rachel of Credit Card Services and numerous others along with text messages on your mobile phone.
Isn’t the Do Not Call Registry supposed to put an end to these calls and texts?
In a perfect world, yes. Unfortunately scam artists and fraudsters are not run-of-the-mill slackers trying to make a quick dime. They’re smart, savvy and they know how not to play by the rules.
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Better Business Bureau Serving Metro Atlanta, Athens & Northeast Georgia suggests that consumers annoyed by robocalls – a recorded message that’s pitching a product or service – and other telemarketing calls with a live person on the other end - take a proactive stance in dealing with such calls as they occur.
First, don’t answer calls from someone you don’t know. If you do take the call and it turns out to be a telemarketer, recorded or live, your best defense is to hang up, make note of the time, date, phone number and name of caller and report it to the Federal Trade Commission at donotcall.gov.
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Second, don’t press buttons to request to speak to someone or to be taken off the call list. It’ll be determined there’s a “live” person at that number and you’ll end up getting even more unwanted calls from the telemarketer and others who purchase your contact information as a result.
And third, block phone numbers that routinely dial your phone and/or landline. Check with your service provider on how best to do this.
What about random text messages that promise free gifts or product offers? According to the FTC, it’s illegal for a company to send you a text message if it doesn’t have your permission. Delete texts that ask you to provide personal information and beware that clicking links may load viruses and malware onto your smartphone.
Report spam texts to your provider at 7726(SPAM) and to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint or 888-382-1222.
For companies you can trust please visit bbb.org/atlanta.