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Tired Of All Those “Robo” Callers? Here Are Some Things You Can Do

Tired Of All Those “Robo” Callers? Here Are Some Things You Can Do

Everybody hates robocalls. There’s the local politician constantly pestering you for support, the scammer congratulating you on yet another free Caribbean cruise, the fake IRS agent threatening you about your taxes…

This madness has to stop!

The government is working to put policies in place to fight against these irritating automated calls, but until then, you’re left to fend for yourself. Recently the State of New York passed legislation to take effect in 2020 that once a caller requests to be placed on a “do not call” list, calls must terminate.  Further, it would also prohibit selling customers’ contact information without their written consent. All steps to limit calling with the hopes of Federal legislation soon on the horizon.  

Fortunately, there are a few easy steps you can take to protect yourself from robocalls. It’s near impossible to banish them completely, but these tips will certainly help.

Let’s dive in.

Download A Call-Blocking Application 

Each mobile carrier offers some sort of call-blocking technology. At the very least, make sure you’re signed up for the most basic service your carrier offers, which is normally free. 

If that doesn’t work, you can also try out some third-party call-blocking apps. Some popular options are RoboKiller, Nomorobo, Hiya, Truecaller, and Youmail. The only downside to using third-party apps is that you must share your call data with them. 

Add Your Name To The Do Not Call Registry

This won’t cut down on robocalls, per se. But it will help with unsolicited marketing calls, which I think we can all agree are equally as bothersome. To sign up for free, simply visit the National Do Not Call Registry website, and fill in your information.

Manually Block Numbers

This is very effective!  It might sound like a hassle, but if you notice the same robocall number constantly pestering your cell phone, you can mark the number as spam on your phone. 

All you have to do is go to your recent calls, find the spammer’s number, tap the More Information button, then choose Block Caller (or the equivalent).

Don’t Interact With Suspicious Calls

No matter what you do to keep your number private, robocallers can still find you. That’s because they are constantly calling random variations of numbers. If you interact with their phone call, it’ll set off a flag in their system that your number is real. Once that happens, they’ll call you even more!

To prevent this, never answer calls from unknown numbers, don’t answer any questions (especially with the word “Yes”), and don’t follow any dial prompts. (1)

To be safe, as soon as you recognize a robocall, hang up immediately. Keep in mind the Social Security Administration, IRS or local utility or municipality will not communicate termination of services or benefits over the telephone.  Everything is required to be in writing and delivered via regular mail.  

The Bottom Line

Robocalls are a pain in the neck, but as you can see, they’re also potentially dangerous. As technology advances, so do scams and threats on your personal and financial security. 

 

At Mason & Associates, we not only help our clients plan for a successful retirement, but we also strive to arm them with information to protect themselves from potential threats. 

 

If you have any questions about planning for retirement or keeping your money safe, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can contact our office by calling us at (323) 254-3072, or simply click here to book your free 30-minute introductory phone consultation today!

About Mason & Associates, Inc.

Mason & Associates, Inc., was founded in 1989, specializing in Life Planning for individuals, families, and small businesses. Life Planning places a person’s core life values at the heart of the advice process and focuses on the human aspects of financial planning.

As a client, your personal story is key to our planning process. That is why we strive to build a close relationship that will encompass every aspect of your life. Together with our team of professionals, we guide you through the process of identifying what is important to you, your goals, your dreams. We then put into place a financial road map to set you on your way toward achieving your objectives.

Our responsibility does not end there. As you encounter bumps in the road, changes in goals, or any other roadblocks, we are there to offer advice and guidance. We are there to celebrate your successes and cope with your challenges. We work alongside your other professionals, such as your attorney and your CPA, to be sure all of your legal and financial needs are aligned.

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(1) https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/stop-unwanted-robocalls-and-texts 

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