It’s not your imagination — you probably are getting more spam calls than normal lately. There’s nothing as frustrating as answering a call from a number that seems legit (one that even includes your area code) only to hear a recorded message about your credit card, social security, taking a cruise, or one of many other scams. There are steps you can take to squash these calls, but the first step is understanding why you’re getting them at a record rate in the first place. Imani Francies, a security expert with Clearsurance.com, spoke with SHEFinds.com about the scary reason you’ve been getting spam phone calls — and how to stop it.
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The majority of telemarketers and other junk callers purchase numbers from third-party data providers, according to Francies. “These data providers get your phone number after you fill out information forms online,” Francies says. “Some retailers, online entertainment sites, and insurance comparison sites use your data for their advantage or give it to those third-party data providers.”
Always read the fine print before you fill out online forms.
Another way telemarketers may have collected your phone number is after you called an 800, 888, or 900-number, Francies says. They simply use caller I.D. technology to get your number, which drums home why you should never call that 800 number back to see who it is that called you.
To stop spam calls, Francies says you can register your phone number to the 'Do Not Call' list. “You do so by calling their phone number (888-382-1222) from the phone that you want spam calls to stop calling,” Francies says. “This can be done with a personal and professional number.”
Aside from adding your number to this national Do-Not-Call list, newer smartphones and various wireless networks have spam features in the settings of the phone, according to Francies. “For example, Apple iPhones with the Verizon network lets you silence junk callers,” Francies says.
You can set up any app filter and detect spam calls with Apple iPhones. Here Francies provides a list of steps to do so:
#1 – In the App Store, download an app that detects and blocks spam and junk phone calls.
#2 – Go to your settings, scroll down, and then click 'Phone.'
# 3 – Tap 'Call Blocking & Identification.'
#4 – Under 'Allow These Apps To Block Calls And Provide Caller ID,' turn the app on or off.
Spam call are nothing short of annoying (and could be potentially dangerous if the caller is trying to retrieve personal information from you). But knowing how to stop them in the first place is the best way to free yourself from these calls.
