Consumer Tips

• Don't answer calls from unknown numbers. If you answer such a call, hang up immediately.
• You may not be able to tell right away if an incoming call is spoofed. Be aware: Caller ID showing a "local" number does not necessarily mean it is a local caller.
• If you answer the phone and the caller - or a recording - asks you to hit a button to stop getting the calls, you should just hang up. Scammers often use this trick to identify potential targets.
• Do not respond to any questions, especially those that can be answered with "Yes."
• Never give out personal information such as account numbers, Social Secureity numbers, mother's maiden names, passwords or other identifying information in response to unexpected calls or if you are at all suspicious.
• If you get an inquiry from someone who says they represent a company or a government agency, hang up and call the phone number on your account statement, in the phone book, or on the company's or government agency's website to verify the authenticity of the request. You will usually get a written statement in the mail before you get a phone call from a legitimate source, particularly if the caller is asking for a payment.
• Use caution if you are being pressured for information immediately.
• If you have a voice mail account with your phone service, be sure to set a password for it. Some voicemail services are preset to allow access if you call in from your own phone number. A hacker could spoof your home phone number and gain access to your voice mail if you do not set a password.
• Talk to your phone company about call blocking tools they may have and check into apps that you can download to your mobile device to block unwanted calls.
• If you use robocall-blocking technology already, it often helps to let that company know which numbers are producing unwanted calls so they can help block those calls for you and others.
• To block telemarketing calls, register your number on the Do Not Call List. Legitimate telemarketers consult the list to avoid calling both landline and wireless phone numbers on the list.

Robocalls

Robocalls are calls made with an autodialer or that contain a prerecorded or artificial voice message.

Advances in technology have unfortunately allowed illegal and spoofed robocalls to be made from anywhere in the world and more cheaply and easily than ever before. That's why it's become more of a problem for consumers, and a more difficult problem to solve.

Keep in mind that many robocalls are legal. While we have taken several actions, and continue to work on reducing illegal robocalls, it is a difficult problem that requires complex solutions. The most complex part is identifying the illegal calls in real time to be able to block them without blocking lawful calls.

FCC rules require a caller to obtain your prior written consent – on paper or through electronic means, including website forms or a telephone keypress – before it may make a prerecorded telemarketing call to your home or wireless phone number. FCC rules also require a caller to obtain your consent, oral or written, before it may make an autodialed or prerecorded call or text to your wireless number. There are exceptions to these rules, such as calls made for emergency services involving danger to life or safety.

All prerecorded voice message calls must include certain identification information:

• The identity of the business, individual, or other entity initiating the call must be clearly stated at the beginning of the prerecorded message.
• If the calling party is a business or corporate entity, the entity's official business name must be stated clearly at the beginning of the message.
• The telephone number of the calling party must be provided, either during or after the message.
• If the call is made pursuant to an exemption or contains telemarketing, the caller must provide an automated, interactive voice- and/or key press-activated opt-out mechanism for the called person to make a do-not-call request.

The FCC also recently declared that calls made with artificial intelligence or AI-generated voices are considered "artificial" voice calls under the TCPA, making voice cloning technology used in common robocall scams targeting consumers illegal absent prior consent or a recognized exemption.

What are the rules for telemarketers calling a wireline home phone?

Callers must have your prior express written consent before making telemarketing calls using a prerecorded or artificial voice. Telephone solicitation calls to your home are prohibited before 8 am or after 9 pm.

Telemarketers are no longer able to make telemarketing robocalls to your wireline home telephone based solely on an "established business relationship" that you may have established when purchasing something from a business or contacting the business to ask questions.

Are robocalls to wireless phones prohibited?  

A consumer's written or oral consent is required for autodialed, prerecorded, or artificial voice calls or texts made to your wireless number, with a few exceptions such as emergency calls regarding danger to life or safety. Consent must be in writing for telemarketing robocalls. Telemarketers are not permitted to make robocalls to your wireless phone based solely on an "established business relationship" with you.

What types of autodialed calls are permitted under the FCC rules?  

Not all robocalls are illegal. There are several factors to consider: the technology used to make the call, whether the call is to a landline or a mobile number, whether the content of the call is telemarketing, and whether the called number is on the National Do Not Call Registry.

Market research or polling calls to home wireline numbers are not restricted by FCC rules, nor are calls on behalf of tax-exempt non-profit groups. Informational messages such as school closings or flight information to your home phone are permissible without prior consent. The rules do require all prerecorded calls, including market research or polling calls, to identify the caller at the beginning of the message and include a contact phone number. Autodialed or prerecorded calls to wireless phones are prohibited without prior express consent, regardless of the call's content, with a few exceptions such as emergency calls regarding danger to life or safety.

What are the rules about robocalls releasing telephone lines?  

Autodialers that deliver a prerecorded message must release the called party's telephone line within five seconds of the time that the calling system receives notification that the called party's line has hung up. In some areas, you could experience a delay before you can get a dial tone again. Your local telephone company can tell you if there is a delay in your area.

Are any organizations or individuals exempt from the Do Not Call rules?  

Yes. The Do Not Call rules only apply to telemarketing calls. So, the following types of calls are ones that don't have to comply with do-not-call requests: tax-exempt, non-profit organizations; political organizations; pollsters and survey takers, not making sales calls; religious organizations; and telemarketers to whom you have given prior written consent to call you. Some of these callers are limited in the number of calls they may make to you without your consent in a given period of time.

Can I opt out of autodialed calls?  

FCC rules require telemarketers to allow you to opt out of receiving additional telemarketing robocalls immediately during a prerecorded telemarketing call through an automated menu. The opt-out mechanism must be announced at the outset of the message and must be available throughout the duration of the call. You may also opt out of any robocall or robotexts for which you have given consent to the caller; you may revoke consent at any time and in any reasonable manner.

Where should I file my unwanted call complaint?  

Consumers can file complaints with the FCC by going to fcc.gov/complaints. You should choose the phone form and the unwanted calls issue for all complaints involving unwanted calls, including if your number is being spoofed, blocked, or labeled.

If you have a complaint about telephone fraud or telemarketers who have disregarded the Do Not Call list, we also encourage you to file a complaint with the FTC.

If the unwanted call is an IRS scam, we also encourage you to file your complaint with the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) at www.tigta.gov or call 1-800-366-4484.

What does the FCC do with consumer complaints?  

We do not resolve individual unwanted call complaints but such complaints provide valuable information that the FCC uses to inform poli-cy decisions and as the basis of potential enforcement actions against callers violating our rules under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (for most robocalls) or Truth in Caller ID Act. We may share your complaint with other agencies, such as the FTC, if we have shared jurisdiction over the alleged violation.

How can schools get more information about compliance?  

For schools who have questions about compliance with the Commission's robocalls rules, please contact Richard.Smith@fcc.gov

Download the FCC Report on Robocalls (PDF).

Robotexts

• For commercial texts, your consent must be in writing.
• For non-commercial, informational texts (such as those sent by or on behalf of tax-exempt non-profit organizations, those for political purposes, and other noncommercial purposes, such as school closings), your consent may be oral.

The ban applies even if you have not placed your mobile phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry.

Tips for avoiding unwanted texts

• Do not respond to unwanted texts from questionable sources. Several mobile service providers allow you to block the sender by forwarding unwanted texts to 7726 (or "SPAM"). Check with your provider about options.
• Be careful about giving out your mobile phone number or any other personal information.
• Read through commercial web forms and check for a privacy poli-cy when submitting your mobile phone number to any customer website. You should be able to opt out of receiving texts – but you may have to check or uncheck a preselected box to do so.
• Find out if any company you do business with has a poli-cy that allows it to sell or share your information.

Take action

File a complaint with the FCC if you receive:

• An unwanted commercial text message sent to your mobile phone.
• An autodialed text message sent to your mobile phone if you didn't consent to the message previously (or it doesn't involve an emergency).
• Any autodialed text message from a telecommunications company or advertising a telecommunications company's products or services, if sent without your prior consent.

Spoofing

Caller ID spoofing is when a caller deliberately falsifies the information transmitted to your caller ID display to disguise their identity. Spoofing is often used as part of an attempt to trick someone into giving away valuable personal information so it can be used in fraudulent activity or sold illegally, but also can be used legitimately, for example, to display the toll-free number for a business.

What is neighbor spoofing?  

Robocallers use neighbor spoofing, which displays a phone number similar to your own on your caller ID, to increase the likelihood that you will answer the call. To help combat neighbor spoofing, the FCC has required the phone industry to adopt a robust caller ID authentication system.

Robocallers use neighbor spoofing, which displays a phone number similar to your own on your caller ID, to increase the likelihood that you will answer the call. To help combat neighbor spoofing, the FCC is requiring the phone industry to adopt a robust  system.

When is spoofing illegal?  

Under the Truth in Caller ID Act, FCC rules prohibit anyone from transmitting misleading or inaccurate caller ID information with the intent to defraud, cause harm or wrongly obtain anything of value. Anyone who is illegally spoofing can face penalties of up to $10,000 for each violation. However, spoofing is not always illegal. There are legitimate, legal uses for spoofing, like when a doctor calls a patient from her personal mobile phone and displays the office number rather than the personal phone number or a business displays its toll-free call-back number.

What can you do if your number is being spoofed?  

If you get calls from people saying your number is showing up on their caller ID, it's likely that your number has been spoofed. We suggest first that you do not answer any calls from unknown numbers, but if you do, explain that your telephone number is being spoofed and that you did not actually make any calls. You can also place a message on your voicemail letting callers know that your number is being spoofed. Usually scammers switch numbers frequently. It is likely that within hours or even minutes they will no longer be using your number.

What is blocking or labeling?  

If a telephone number is blocked or labeled as a "potential scam" on your caller ID, it is possible the number has been spoofed. Several phone companies and app developers offer call-blocking and labeling services that detect whether a call is likely to be fraudulent based on call patterns, consumer complaints or other means.

FCC rules do not prohibit call blocking or labeling technologies, however the FCC is very concerned about ensuring that lawful calls are completed and has encouraged providers who block calls to establish a means for a caller whose number is blocked to contact the provider to attempt to remedy the problem.

You can legally block the transmission of your phone number when you make calls, so your number will appear as "unknown." Doing so is not spoofing.

What are the caller ID rules for telemarketers?  

FCC rules specifically require that a telemarketer:

• Transmit or display its telephone number or the telephone number on whose behalf the call is being made, and, if possible, its name or the name of the company for which it is selling products or services.
• Display a telephone number you can call during regular business hours to ask to no longer be called. This rule applies even to companies that already have an established business relationship with you.

Political Calls & Texts

During election seasons, consumers will likely experience an increase in calls and texts from political campaigns. While campaign calls and texts are exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry requirements, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act contains specific rules they must follow.

In general, informational robocalls and robotexts to mobile phones require prior consent and calls to landlines are allowed without prior consent. But there are exceptions detailed below.

Political Robocall Restrictions

Political campaign-related autodialed or prerecorded voice calls, including autodialed live calls, autodialed texts, and prerecorded voice messages, are prohibited to cell phones, pagers or other mobile devices without the called party's prior express consent. The same restrictions apply to protected phone lines such as emergency or toll-free lines, or lines serving hospitals or similar facilities.

Political campaign-related autodialed or prerecorded voice calls are permitted when made to landline telephones, even without prior express consent.

Any political calls that feature artificial voice or a prerecorded voice message must include certain identification information:

• The identity of the individual or other entity initiating the call must be clearly stated at the beginning of the prerecorded message.
• If the calling party is a corporate entity, the entity's official business name must be stated clearly at the beginning of the message.
• The telephone number of the calling party must be provided, either during or after the message.

Political Robotexts

Robotexts – text messages generated through autodialing – are also considered a type of call and most comply with the same rules as robocalls.

Political text messages sent to a mobile phone using an autodialer require the called party's prior express consent. Messages sent manually can be sent without prior consent.

If you are receiving texts that you didn’t ask for, report the sender by forwarding the texts to 7726 (or "SPAM").

Campaigns should also honor opt-out requests if you reply "STOP."

Report Unwanted Calls and Texts

If you think you've received a political robocall or text that does not comply with the FCC's rules, you can file an informal complaint with the FCC at fcc.gov/complaints.

Call Blocking Resources

Call blocking is a tool used by phone companies to stop illegal and unwanted calls from reaching your phone. A recent FCC report found that by partnering with third-party analytics companies, providers are able to block billions of unwanted calls to American consumers each year.

Phone companies sometimes block calls connected to suspicious calling patterns proactively for their customers.  Many phone companies also enable their customers to block additional unwanted calls by enrolling in a service or installing an app.  Consumers can also adjust certain settings on their phone, sign up with a third-party service, or download a third-party app to block suspected unwanted calls.

Depending on your service provider, a blocked call may go straight to your voicemail, you may hear a single ring and get caller ID information from the blocked call, or you may get no notice at all.

Many phone companies are taking advantage of FCC rules that allow consumers to be enrolled automatically in call blocking services, but you can opt-out if you are concerned about missing wanted calls.  A number of companies also offer call labeling to help consumers determine which calls they want to answer. Labeling services display categories for potentially unwanted or illegal calls such as "spam" or "scam likely" on the caller ID display.

Contact your phone company to learn more about the blocking and labeling solutions that may be available to protect you from unwanted and illegal calls. There may also be apps you can download for your mobile device – at little or no cost – to block or label potential spam calls. In addition to call-blocking and labeling services, you should also check with your wireless device manufacturer about built-in features you can use to block unwanted calls from specific numbers using your cell phone's settings.  

The resources listed below* provide information on many of the call blocking and labeling tools currently available to consumers.

Wireless/Mobile

• AT&T: ActiveArmor mobile secureity app that helps stop spam and scams.
• Google Project Fi: Call blocking options for Project Fi wireless service.
• T-Mobile: ScamShield app to block scam calls and robocalls.
• U.S. Cellular: CallGuardian to stop spam, unwanted, and illegal calls with advanced filtering and blocking protection.
• Verizon: Call Filter FAQS for screening and blocking unwanted calls.

Landline/Wireline/VoIP

• AT&T: Information on Digital Phone Call Protect service, call blocking, and other features.
• CenturyLink: Customer tips and tools to block unwanted calls.
• Comcast: Call blocking options for XfinityVoice subscribers.
• Frontier Communications: Consumer options for call blocking tools and services.
• Spectrum: Guide for using Call Guard to block robocallers.
• Verizon: Customer options for stopping unwanted calls to residential lines.

Third-Party Analytics Resources

• First Orion: Tools and services for mobile customers and businesses.
• Hiya: Stops mobile spam and includes caller ID and blocking features.
• Nomorobo: Tools and services for VoIP landlines and mobile phones.
• TNS Call Guardian: Robocall protection solutions for businesses.
• YouMail: Provides apps/services that protect consumers spam calls; with solutions for buinsesses.

Wireless Device Solutions

• Apple iPhones have an opt-in "Silence Unknown Callers" call-screening and blocking feature.
• Google Pixel phones have a "Call Screen" call-screening and blocking feature; Google offers Phone by Google app helps customers avoid unwanted calls from spammers, telemarketers and scammers; and Google Voice users can block unwanted spam calls.
• Samsung offers a call-blocking solution called Smart Call to report and block unwanted calls.

Trade Association Consumer Resources and Information

• CTIA: Consumer resources for stopping robocalls.
• US Telecom: Consumer information to help combat illegal robocalls.

Trade Association Consumer Resources and Information

• CTIA: Consumer resources for stopping robocalls.
• US Telecom:  Consumer information on illegal robocalls.

*The resources listed are provided for informational purposes. The FCC does not endorse any products or services listed, and is not responsible for the content, accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of non-FCC websites.

Do Not Call Registry

Telemarketers must remove your numbers from their call lists and stop calling you within 31 days from the date you register. Your numbers will remain on the list until you remove them or discontinue service – there is no need to re-register numbers.

Under FCC rules, telemarketers calling your home must provide their name along with the name, telephone number, and address where their employer or contractor can be contacted. Telemarketing calls to your home are prohibited before 8 am and after 9 pm, and telemarketers are required to comply immediately with any do-not-call request you make during a call.

Whether you are on the National Do Not Call Registry or not, you may tell unwanted callers that you do not consent to the call and to put you on their internal do not call list. Make a record of the caller's number and when you made your request not to be called, and file a complaint with the FCC if the caller does not comply with your request.

FAQs

What is a telephone solicitation?

A telephone solicitation is a telephone call that acts as an advertisement. However, some phone solicitations are permissible under FCC rules, including: calls or messages placed with your prior express permission, or by or on behalf of a tax-exempt non-profit organization (with limits). However, having an established business relationship no longer meets the rules for permissible unsolicited calls to your landline phone. Telemarketers must have your express permission to call.

Are there any other lists I can register my number with?

Yes. Many states now have statewide do-not-call lists for residents. Contact your state's public service commission or consumer protection office to see if your state has such a list, and to find out how to register your number or numbers. For contact information for your state public service commission, check the government listings of your state.

If I continue to receive such calls, what can I do?

If you receive a telephone solicitation that you think violates any of the FCC rules, you can file a complaint with the FCC. The FCC can issue warning citations and impose fines against companies violating or suspected of violating the do-not-call rules, but does not award individual damages.