If there’s one topic on which iPhone and Android users are united, it’s that robocalls are a major nuisance. These automated calls can be anything from slightly bothersome to outright illegal scams, and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has been striving for years to mitigate this issue.
As per a recent analysis from YouMail, a provider of visual voicemail and robocall-blocking solutions, Americans received around 52.8 billion robocalls in 2024. This averages to close to 200 robocalls per adult phone user throughout the year. Although this represents a minor decrease from the 58 billion calls logged in 2019, robocalls remain the leading source of consumer complaints to the FCC and its foremost consumer protection concern.
The FCC recognizes the gravity of the situation, declaring on its website that scam calls can result in substantial financial losses and considerable frustration for consumers. In reaction, the agency has widened its efforts to clamp down on robotexts, which it identifies as an escalating issue. Within just the initial 10 months of 2024, more than 24,000 complaints were filed regarding unwanted texts.
While certain robocalls are simple to identify — like the notorious “car warranty” scam — others have evolved to be ever more sophisticated. Truecaller, a robocall-blocking application, indicated in its most recent U.S. Spam & Scam Report that scammers are now employing artificial intelligence to enhance the believability of their calls and texts. In 2023, one in four Americans reported losing an average of $452 due to phone scams.
How Can You Combat Robocalls and Robotexts?
In 2021, then-FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel initiated a specialized Robocall Response Team to unite experts from various domains — including law, engineering, and policy — to address the problem. Since that time, the FCC has:
– Required phone companies to authenticate caller ID.
– Established regulations to prevent international robocalls from penetrating U.S. networks.
– Revised the Telephone Consumer Protection Act to define AI-generated robocalls as illegal.
– Suggested a $4.5 million penalty against a provider that allegedly permitted scammers to impersonate FCC personnel.
Despite these initiatives, the FCC concedes that halting robocalls is a complicated task. Technological advancements have allowed scammers to easily and cheaply make calls from around the globe, frequently using spoofed numbers to hide their true identity. This has transformed enforcement into an ongoing game of whack-a-mole.
Compounding the issue is the reality that not all robocalls are against the law. Some — such as appointment reminders or emergency notifications — are completely legal and can even be beneficial. Whether a robocall is deemed legal hinges on factors like the technology employed, the recipient’s consent, and whether the call is directed to a landline or mobile phone. The FCC notes that differentiating between legal and illegal calls in real time is among its greatest challenges.
What Actions Can Consumers Take?
While federal regulations are vital, individual efforts also contribute significantly. The FCC advises:
– Disregarding and blocking calls from anonymous numbers.
– Registering your number with the National Do Not Call Registry.
– Utilizing robocall-blocking applications and services.
Most leading phone carriers provide their own call-filtering tools, including:
– AT&T’s ActiveArmor
– Verizon’s Call Filter
– T-Mobile’s Scam Shield
Moreover, Apple and Google offer integrated features that mute calls from unknown numbers. However, these tools frequently don’t completely block robocalls — they usually just identify or redirect them to voicemail.
For increased protection, you might look into a third-party robocall-blocking application. These apps are specifically tailored to detect and eliminate unwanted calls before they even reach your device.
What’s the Top Robocall-Blocking App?
Third-party applications can be remarkably effective, but they do come with a few considerations:
Pros:
– The majority are either low-cost or free.
– They occupy minimal storage on your device.
– Many operate quietly in the background, screening calls before your phone rings.
Cons:
– Some apps collect and share user information without explicit permission. A 2019 TechCrunch investigation revealed that numerous popular robocall-blocking apps were transmitting users’ phone numbers and device details to analytics companies and even Facebook.
– Even apps that refrain from selling your data may still gather it to build databases of identified scam numbers, often utilizing information from users’ contact lists.
In essence, employing a third-party app may require you to trade some privacy for peace of mind. If you’re agreeable to that, these tools can be among the most effective methods to block robocalls, telemarketers, and spam texts. Just ensure you thoroughly read the app’s privacy policy before downloading.
Searching for a good starting point? Here are four highly-rated robocall-blocking applications worth exploring, based on their features and user reviews.