I have a temporary solution for Robocalls. For now anyway, until something is done to stop robocalls completely.
Robo Killers
While looking for answers I found a site online called Robo Killer that I first thought was a good service since it remits revenge on the offenders that are telemarketers. Then I quickly learned the telemarketer bots got smarter and are able to circumvent a lot of their efforts by using local numbers. Still the name Robo Killer is the best.
One site I reviewed stated US consumers receive 2.4 billion robocalls a month and the ones from spoofed numbers are the hardest to stop says the Federal Communications Commission.
The tech site also gave a story of a real estate lady that has to take calls, she depends on the phone and she gets countless robocalls everyday.
Miami Herald
This is from the MiamiHerald showing just how big the problem is and it keeps growing.
“We have blocked more than 4 billion robocalls in our network,” said Kelly Starling, spokesperson for AT&T in South Florida. “We have worked to identify the sources of the calls, block them before they go through and provide consumers with tools to block unwanted calls, like AT&T Call Protect.”
But folks this only goes so far Robocalls are like Trebbles on Star Trek they keep multiplying.
Consumer Reports
My research on robocalls let me to the latest issue of Consumer Reports. Looks like Robocalls are a huge problem that need to be dealt with when it shows up in this magazine.
The article is in our local library. In addition here is a link online for the magazine.
May 2019 by Octavio Blanco, titled, “Mad About Robocalls”. To quote the article:
we find nearly 50 billion Robocalls listed in the US alone.
The 2018 record is 48 billion according to YouMail a company that tracks and blocks 1500 Robocalls per second.
They say Robocallers autodial 1,000s of numbers all over the world using VoIP (voice over Internet protocol).
As far as getting on the government do not call list they are unable to update frequently enough. Also the FTC can’t clamp down overseas.
Customer Reports writes it is legal for political parties, candidates and charities to leave a pre-recorded message on land lines.
Here is my take let me know what you think.
It is up to the major phone carries to do something and I am not sure what.
My solution
This is one of the reasons my husband and I do not have a landline. We removed it long ago.
Also I we do not answer a call unless we know whom it is from.
