Robocalls have become an everyday annoyance. They can be difficult to decipher and irritating to deal with.
Broadridge Advisors recently published some great advice on how to handle unwanted robocalls, here are the highlights.
The bad news is that your personal information is out there, and it’s as easy for criminals to collect it as it is for you to give it to a trusted person.
The good news is that consumers were recently awarded some protection under the Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED) Act. One of the main goals of the act is to make it easier for consumers to avoid unwanted robocalls by:
Requiring all carriers to implement caller-ID technology at no additional cost to consumers
Making it easier for law enforcement to prosecute illegal robocallers with increased penalties for robocall violations
Creating an interagency task force to study and improve government prosecution of robocall violations
Even when these new protections are implemented, it will take some time to eliminate unwanted robocalls. In the meantime, here are some things you can do to protect yourself:
Don't answer calls when you don't recognize the phone number.
If you pick up an unwanted robocall, hang up right away and avoid answering "yes" or "no" questions, providing personal information, or pressing a number to "opt out."
Consider signing up for a robocall blocking service. Many phone service providers now offer robocall blocking solutions at no additional charge, or you can download additional robocall protection through a third-party app.
Register your phone number on the National Do Not Call (DNC) Registry, which removes your number from the call lists used by legitimate telemarketing companies. Keep in mind that registering with the DNC Registry will result in your getting fewer calls from legitimate telemarketers, but it won't stop illegal robocallers from contacting you.
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Of course, being in the financial industry we have to let you know that this communication is not constituted as financial advice. Investments are not insured by the FDIC or any other government entity. Investment and insurance products are subject to investment risk, including possible loss.
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