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Scam Calls

Slamming and Cramming

 

The Attorneys General warns everyone to be wary of companies “slamming” them by switching their long-distance phone carrier without their knowledge, or “cramming” their phone bill with unauthorized charges.

Each year, complaints about slamming and cramming rank near the top of all categories of complaints and inquiries received by the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division.

In addition, the number of cramming complaints is increasing as more consumers complain about being billed for unordered or unwanted phone services such as personal 800 numbers, voice mail and calling cards.

Unethical companies are betting that consumers won’t read their phone bills. That is why careful review of your monthly phone charges is important.

Before paying, make sure your requested long-distance carrier is still listed on the bill and there are no questionable charges. Call your local phone company if you are being billed for unknown services, which sometimes are hidden under titles such as “enhanced services.”

How you get slammed or crammed

Consumers usually get slammed or crammed when they:

  • Enter contests and sweepstakes at fairs or festivals. Entry blanks may double as authorization forms to switch or add phone services.
  • Deposit “bonus” or “refund” checks received by mail.
  • Respond to offers of prizes and cash solicited by mail.
  • Respond to a caller offering a lower-priced phone plan or verifying their current plan. Once you give your phone number or an answer, you could get slammed.

How to avoid getting slammed or crammed

  • Read the small print. Contest and sweepstakes entries, even those at fairs and festivals and on the Internet, can include language that authorizes a switch in long-distance service. Some long-distance providers use these tactics to entice consumers to sign entry forms that double as an authorization form. Also, avoid signing bonus checks or responding to offers of prizes and cash. If a form or a caller requests your phone or fax number, ask more questions, including why the number is needed.
  • Carefully review your monthly phone bill. If you see an unfamiliar name instead of your long-distance company, you might have been slammed. You also might see a switching fee of about $5.
  • Understand questions before you answer “yes” or “no” when phoned about switching your long-distance service. You might inadvertently agree to a switch. Get the name of the caller and company and the service’s cost.
  • Request a “PIC freeze” form from your local phone carrier and then sign and return it. (PIC stands for primary interexchange carrier, a technical term for long-distance carrier.) This signed form prohibits the local carrier from changing your long-distance service without your written permission. This is not foolproof since some switches are made by using a forged authorization form, but it will prevent changes from being made based on a verbal order.

What you can do if you are slammed or crammed

What to do if you are slammed Contact your local phone company and:

  • Request an immediate switch back to your preferred carrier. This is especially advisable for business customers who may have phone packages dependent on being served by the preferred long-distance carrier. It also may affect customers’ phone savings plans.
  • Tell your local company you believe you have been slammed and request it to remove all “switching” fees. Local companies usually assess a fee each time they switch your long-distance carrier.
  • Ask your local company to remove all of the slammer’s long-distance charges or at least “re-rate” them if the rates are higher than those of your chosen long-distance carrier. Although your local company usually has authority to remove or re-rate these charges, it may require you to first contact the slammer and try to resolve the problem. If so, get the slammer’s phone number from your local carrier.
  • Ask the slammer to remove all long-distance charges. If it refuses and is charging a higher rate, then ask it to at least re-rate the bill.
  • Ask the slammer to send you a copy of the document or tape recording authorizing the switch. If the slammer cannot be reached or is uncooperative, inform your local phone company and ask it to remove the slammer’s charges or at least re-rate them.

What to do if you are crammed

Local carriers provide billing services for third-party companies selling these services. When you see unauthorized charges, you should:

  • Immediately contact your local carrier, say you did not authorize the charges and ask that the charges be removed. Your local carrier has authority to remove the charges, but it may require you to contact the crammer first to try to resolve the dispute. If so, ask for the crammer’s phone number.
  • Call the crammer and explain you did not request the services. Also, ask who authorized the services and request a copy of the document or tape recording authorizing the services.
  • Ask that the charges be removed. If the crammer refuses or cannot be reached, inform your local phone carrier and say you did not authorize the disputed charges. Ask the local carrier to remove them.

File a Complaint

When you get slammed or crammed, contact:

Attorney General’s Office

Contact the Federal Communications Commission

  • The FCC tracks slamming and cramming complaints for possible future regulatory action.

Contact the Federal Trade Commission

  • The Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, collects complaints about companies, business practices, identity theft, and episodes of violence in the media.

 

How To Block Unwanted Calls

 

Got a phone? Then chances are you get calls from scammers. Scammers don’t care if you’re on the National Do Not Call Registry. That’s why your best defense against unwanted calls is call blocking and call labeling. Here’s how to block and report unwanted calls on cell phones and home phones.

 

What Are Call Blocking and Call Labeling?

 

A good way to deal with unwanted calls is to block them. Blocking software or devices can stop a lot of the unwanted calls you get — like scam calls and illegal robocalls — before they reach you. Cell phones, home phones that make calls over the internet, and landlines each have their own call-blocking options. Just know that call-blocking services might block some calls you want to get.

Some companies also offer call labeling. With call labeling, shady calls will still come through, but you’ll see things like “spam” or “scam likely” on your phone’s screen when they do. Then you’ll decide whether to answer the call.

 

Block Calls on a Cell Phone

 

Download a call-blocking app

One of the best ways to block unwanted calls on a cell phone is to download a call-blocking app, which acts like a filter. The company behind the app uses call data or reports from users, the FTC, and other sources to predict which calls are illegal or likely scams. The app then intercepts those calls before they reach you. Some apps are free, but others charge a fee.

To get a call-blocking app

  • Go to the online app store for your phone’s operating system (iOS (Apple), Android, etc.) and look at ratings for different apps.
  • Look online for expert reviews on call-blocking apps.
  • Check out the list of apps at ctia.org, a website from the wireless industry. The site lists apps specific to Android, BlackBerry, iOS (Apple), and Windows

Apps usually let you choose how to respond to calls they flag as scams. Apps might

  • stop calls
  • let calls through to your phone but keep it from ringing
  • send calls straight to voicemail

Apps also let you do things like

  • block calls based on the geographic location or area code of the incoming call
  • let you create lists of numbers to block, or lists of numbers to let through
  • send a prewritten text message to the caller
  • report it to the FTC at DoNotCall.gov, or, if you lost money to the scammer, at ReportFraud.ftc.gov

Some apps access your contacts list, so know whether that’s important to you. The app’s privacy policy should explain how it gets and uses your information.

Check the built-in features of your phone

Many cell phones have settings that let you block calls from specific numbers, though there might be a limit to how many numbers you can block. Cell phones also usually have features like Do Not Disturb, where you can set the hours that calls will go straight to voicemail.

See what services your phone provider offers

Check your phone provider’s website or call customer service to find out what call-blocking or call-labeling services it offers or recommends. Some services are free, but others might charge you a fee.

 

Block Calls on a Home Phone That Uses the Internet

 

First find out if your phone uses the internet

Your home phone might have VoIP service. “VoIP” stands for “Voice over Internet Protocol,” and it means that your phone makes calls over the internet instead of phone lines. If you’re not sure what you have, check with your phone provider. If you get your phone service through a cable company, or use a phone/internet/cable bundle, you probably have VoIP service. If you find out you don’t have internet-based phone service, check out how to block calls on a traditional landline.

Read expert reviews on internet-based call-blocking services

Internet-based call-blocking services block unwanted calls on phones that use the internet. While your phone provider might recommend a specific service (which might charge a fee), search online for expert reviews on multiple services. Some services are free and some charge you each month.

Some internet-based services and phone apps require that all calls are routed through their service. You might have choices about how services and apps handle unwanted calls. For example, services and apps might

  • stop calls
  • let calls through to your phone but keep it from ringing
  • send calls straight to voicemail

 

Block Calls on a Traditional Landline

 

Install a call blocking-device

If your home phone is a traditional landline that doesn’t use the internet (VoIP), consider buying and installing a call-blocking device. Call-blocking devices are usually small boxes you attach to your phone.

Some devices use databases of known scam numbers but let you add numbers you want the device to block. Other devices rely on you to create and update your own list of numbers to block.

Some use lists to

  • stop unwanted calls
  • send calls to voicemail
  • show a blinking light when an unwanted call comes in
  • connect callers to a recording with options so a real caller can still get through

Some devices also use lists of approved numbers. That helps you limit which calls get through, or lets you set up “do not disturb” hours when calls go straight to voicemail. Other devices try to weed out robocalls by playing a prerecorded message prompting callers to press a number to continue the call.

See what services your phone provider offers

Some services are free, but some charge a fee.

 

What About Robocalls?

 

If you answer the phone and hear a recorded message instead of a live person, it's a robocall. A robocall trying to sell you something is illegal unless the company trying to sell you something got written permission, directly from you, to call you that way. To get your permission, the company has to be clear it’s asking to call you with robocalls. The company also can’t make you agree to the calls to get a product or service.

 

If someone is already breaking the law by robocalling you without permission, there’s a good chance it’s a scam. Call blocking can help stop robocalls from scammers. But some robocalls might still get through. If you get an illegal robocall, hang up and don’t call back. Don’t press a number, which could lead to more robocalls. Then report it to the FTC.

 

Fake Numbers on Caller ID

 

Call blocking technology sometimes stops calls from scammers who make fake names or numbers show up on your caller ID. It’s helpful when your caller ID labels a call as a potential scam. But not all scam calls will get flagged. Scammers often use fake or “spoofed” names and numbers to make it look like a call is from a government agency like the Social Security Administration or the IRS. The caller might say that, if you don’t pay or you refuse to give them your personal information, something bad will happen or you’ll miss out on some government benefit. It’s a scam. Learn more about common phone scams.

There’s also something called “neighbor spoofing,” where scammers call you using a caller ID number with your area code. They often match the first six digits of your phone number, thinking that you’ll be more likely to answer the call if it looks like it’s coming from someone nearby. Often the faked name and number belong to a real person who has no idea someone is misusing their information. 

 

What About the National Do Not Call Registry?

 

The National Do Not Call Registry is designed to stop sales calls — live calls or robocalls — from real companies that follow the law. The Registry is a list that tells registered telemarketers what numbers not to call. Being on the Registry won’t stop scammers from making illegal calls.

 

Even though the Registry can’t stop all of the unwanted calls you’re getting, being on the Registry should reduce the number of calls you get and make it easier for you to spot scam calls. If you get a robocall, and you haven’t given the caller written permission to call you with robocalls, the call is illegal, period. It doesn’t matter if your number is on the Registry or not.

 

Report Unwanted Calls

 

If you didn’t lose money and just want to report a call, visit DoNotCall.gov to fill out a reporting form.

 

If you’ve lost money to a phone scam or have information about the company or scammer who called you, report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Report the number that received the call, the number that appears on your caller ID — even if you think it might be fake — and any number you’re told to call back. Also report the date and time of the call, if you’re able to. The FTC analyzes complaint data and trends to identify illegal callers based on calling patterns. We also use additional information you report, like any names or numbers you’re told to call back, to track down scammers.

We take the illegal callers’ phone numbers you report and release them to the public each business day. This helps phone companies and other partners that are working on call-blocking and call-labeling solutions. Your reports also help law enforcement identify the people behind illegal calls.

 

Robocalls

 

If you answer the phone and hear a recorded message instead of a live person, it's a robocall. Robocalls trying to sell you something are almost always illegal. Many are also probably scams. Here’s what to know about robocalls and what to do about them.

Are Robocalls Legal?

If you answer the phone and hear a recorded message instead of a live person, it's a robocall. A robocall trying to sell you something is illegal unless the company trying to sell you something got written permission, directly from you, to call you that way. To get your permission, the company has to be clear it’s asking to call you with robocalls. The company also can’t make you agree to the calls to get a product or service.

If you’re getting robocalls trying to sell you something, odds are the calls are illegal. Many are also probably scams.

Why Do I Get So Many Robocalls?

Scammers. It’s cheap and easy for them to make robocalls over the internet from anywhere in the world.

What If a Robocall Seems To Be From the Government?

Scammers make robocalls that say they’re from government agencies calling about your Social Security number, taxes, or Medicare. They say that if you don’t pay or you refuse to give them your personal information, something bad will happen or you’ll miss out on some government benefit. It’s a scam. 

If someone calls you out of the blue and insists you hand over personal information, wire money, put money on a gift card, use a payment app or send cryptocurrency, it’s a scam whether the caller says they’re from the government or a business. Many people report getting robocalls about extended car warranties, debt relief, or credit repair, too. Learn more about other common phone scams.

Don’t rely on your caller ID. It’s helpful when your caller ID labels a call as a potential scam. But not all scam calls will get flagged. And scammers can fake the name and number that shows up, making it look like a call is from a government agency like the Social Security Administration or a local number.

Are All Robocalls Illegal?

No. For example, messages that are purely informational or calls to collect a debt aren’t illegal (though robocalls that try to sell you services to lower your debt are illegal and are almost always scams).

Your state also might have other rules for robocalls.

How Do I Get Fewer Robocalls?

Call-blocking and call-labeling services can help you get fewer robocalls. The call-blocking or call-labeling option you choose will depend on whether you’re getting calls on a cell phone, traditional landline, or home phone that makes calls over the internet (VoIP).

See what services your phone carrier offers, and look online for expert reviews. For cell phones, also check out the reviews for different call-blocking apps in your app store.

What’s the Best Thing To do If I Get An Illegal Robocall?

Hang up. If you hear a recorded message from someone trying to sell you something, the call is almost always illegal. It’s also probably a scam. Hang up. Pressing numbers to speak to someone or remove you from the list will probably only lead to more robocalls. And the number on your caller ID probably isn’t real. Caller ID is easy to fake, so even if it shows that a call is coming from nearby or a company you know, you can’t trust it.

Block. Call blocking can help reduce the number of unwanted calls you get.

Report it to the FTC at DoNotCall.gov. Report the number that received the call, the number on your caller ID, and any number you’re told to call back. Also report the exact date and time of the call, if you know it. Knowing all of this information helps the FTC track down the scammers behind the call. Even if you think the number on your caller ID is fake, report it. The FTC analyzes report data and trends to identify illegal callers based on calling patterns.

The FTC takes the illegal callers’ phone numbers you report and releases them to the public each business day. This helps phone companies and other partners that are working on call-blocking and call-labeling solutions. Your reports also help law enforcement identify the people behind illegal calls.

What Else Is the FTC Doing About Robocalls?

The FTC continues to bring enforcement actions against robocallers and has already stopped people responsible for billions of robocalls. You can read about recent FTC cases and other robocall-related actions in the FTC’s press releases.

The FTC also works with other law enforcement agencies and encourages industry efforts to combat robocalls and caller ID spoofing. The FTC has led initiatives to develop technology-based solutions, including a series of robocall contests that challenged tech experts to design tools that block robocalls and help investigators track down and stop robocallers.

Why Doesn’t the Do Not Call Registry Stop Robocalls?

The National Do Not Call Registry is designed to stop unwanted sales calls — live calls or robocalls — from real companies that follow the law. The Registry is a list that tells registered telemarketers what numbers not to call. Being on the Registry won’t stop scammers from making illegal calls.

Even though the Registry can’t stop all the unwanted calls you’re getting, being on the Registry could reduce the number of calls you get and make it easier for you to spot scam calls. If you get a robocall, and you haven’t given the caller written permission to call you with robocalls, the call is illegal, period. That’s true whether your number is on the Registry or not. 

 

Telemarketing Rules

 

Are there rules telemarketers have to follow?

Yes, telemarketers have rules they must follow under the Telemarketing Sales Rule.

What telemarketers can’t do

Telemarketers

  • can’t call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. in your local time
  • can’t be deceptive or abusive or lie about any terms of their offer
  • can’t ask you to pay
    • with a cash-to-cash wire transfer (ex. Western Union and MoneyGram)
    • by giving the PIN from a cash reload card (ex. MoneyPak and Vanilla Reload)
    • by asking for your bank account information to create a type of check that you never see or sign, called a “remotely created payment order”

What telemarketers can do

Telemarketers

  • must connect their call to a sales representative within two seconds after you answer
  • must transmit their telephone number and, if possible, their name, to your caller ID service
  • must tell you right away what seller or charitable organization they represent and that the call is a sales call or a charitable solicitation
  • must disclose all material information about the goods or services they’re offering and the terms of the sale
  • must get your permission to charge you and to use a particular account number

 

Phone Scams

 

People lose a lot of money to phone scams — sometimes their life savings. Scammers have figured out countless ways to cheat you out of your money over the phone. In some scams, they act friendly and helpful. In others, they threaten or try to scare you. They’ll do what it takes to get your money or your personal information to commit identity theft. Don’t give it to them. Here’s what you need to know.

How To Recognize a Phone Scam

Phone scams come in many forms, but they tend to make similar promises and threats, or ask you to pay certain ways. Here’s what to know.

There is no prize

The caller might say you were “selected” for an offer or that you’ve won a lottery. But if you have to pay to get the prize, it's not a prize.

You won’t be arrested

Scammers might pretend to be law enforcement or a federal agency. They might say you’ll be arrested, fined, or deported if you don’t pay taxes or some other debt right away. The goal is to scare you into paying. But real law enforcement and federal agencies won’t call and threaten you.

You don’t need to decide now

Most honest businesses will give you time to think their offer over and get written information about it before you commit. Take your time. Don’t get pressured into making a decision on the spot.

Only scammers demand you pay certain ways

Scammers will often insist you pay in a way that makes it hard to get your money back — by wire transfer , gift card, cryptocurrency, or payment app. Anyone who insists that you can only pay that way is a scammer.

Government agencies won’t call to confirm your sensitive information

No government agency is going to call you out of the blue and ask for sensitive information like your Social Security number. They’re lying if they say they’re with a government agency you know, like the Social Security Administration or IRS.

You shouldn’t be getting all those calls

If a company is selling something, it needs your written permission to call you with a robocall. And if you’re on the National Do Not Call Registry, you shouldn’t get live sales calls from companies you haven’t done business with before. Those calls are illegal. If someone is already breaking the law calling you, what they’re calling about is probably a scam.

Examples of Common Phone Scams

Any scam can happen over the phone. But here are some common angles phone scammers like to use:

Impersonator scams

A scammer pretends to be someone you trust — a government agency like the FBI, the sheriff’s office, or a court official, a family member, a love interest, or a business you recognize that claims there’s a problem with your computer. The scammer can even have a fake name or number show up on your caller ID to convince you.

Debt relief and credit repair scams

Scammers will offer to lower your credit card interest rates, fix your credit, or get your student loans forgiven if you pay their company a fee first. Don’t believe them. You could end up losing your money and ruining your credit.

Business and investment scams

Callers might promise to help you start your own business and give you business coaching, or guarantee big profits from an investment — maybe investing in cryptocurrency. Don’t believe it. Check out investment opportunities with your state securities regulator.

Charity scams

Scammers like to pose as real charities and might ask for donations for disaster relief efforts, support for local law enforcement or veterans, or money for kids and families dealing with cancer. Always ask how much of each dollar you donate will go directly to the charity’s mission and always check out a charity before you give. Never feel pressured to give immediately over the phone.

Extended car warranties

Scammers find out what kind of car you drive and when you bought it (or pretend to know) so they can urge you to buy overpriced — or worthless — service contracts or so-called extended warranties. Never buy a contract or warranty on the spot, and always research the company and contract or warranty before you pay anything so you know if it makes sense for you.

“Free” trials

A caller might promise a free trial but then sign you up for products — sometimes lots of products — that you’re billed for every month until you cancel. Never sign up without knowing what happens after the “free trial” ends, and always read your billing statements to look for unexpected charges.

Loan scams

Loan scams include advance fee loan scams, where scammers guarantee you loans or credit cards for an upfront fee. Don’t buy it. Honest lenders don’t make guarantees like that.

Prize and lottery scams

In a typical prize scam, the caller will say you’ve won a prize, but then say you need to pay taxes, registration fees, or shipping charges to get it. Hang up. After you pay, you find out there is no prize.

Travel scams and timeshare scams

Scammers promise free or low-cost vacations, but once you respond, you find out you have to pay some fees and taxes first. Or once you pay, you find out there is no vacation. In timeshare resale scams, scammers lie and tell you they’ll sell your timeshare — and may even have a buyer lined up — if you pay them first.

How To Stop Calls From Scammers

Hang up

Even if it’s not a scammer calling, when a company is calling you illegally, it’s not a company you want to do business with. When you get a robocall, don't press any numbers to let you speak to a live operator or remove you from their call list. Instead, it might lead to more robocalls.

Consider call blocking or call labeling

Scammers don’t care if you’re on the National Do Not Call Registry. That’s why call blocking is your best defense against unwanted calls. Which type of call-blocking or call-labeling technology you use will depend on the phone — whether it’s a cell phone, a traditional landline, or a home phone that makes calls over the internet (VoIP). See what services your phone carrier offers and look online for expert reviews. For cell phones, also check out the reviews for different call-blocking apps in your app store. Learn more about blocking unwanted calls.

Don’t trust your caller ID

Scammers can make any name or number show up on your caller ID. That’s called spoofing. So even if it looks like it’s a government agency like the Social Security Administration calling, or like the call is from a local number, it could be a scammer calling from anywhere in the world.

Learn more about unwanted calls and what to do about them at ftc.gov/calls.

What To Do If You Already Paid a Scammer

Scammers will often ask you to pay in a way that makes it hard for you to get your money back. Don’t pay someone who insists that you can only pay with a gift card, cryptocurrency, a payment app, or a wire transfer service like Western Union or MoneyGram. It’s a scam.

If you paid someone one of these ways, act quickly to report it to the company or bank behind the gift card, cryptocurrency, payment app, or wire transfer service. Depending on how you paid, you might be able to get your money back. But no matter how you paid, it’s worth asking.

If You Paid a Scammer

Did you pay with a credit card or debit card? Contact the company or bank that issued the credit card or debit card. Tell them it was a fraudulent charge. Ask them to reverse the transaction and give you your money back.
Did a someone make an unauthorized transfer from your bank account? Contact your bank and tell them it was an unauthorized debit or withdrawal. Ask them to reverse the transaction and give you your money back.
Did you buy a gift card and give someone the numbers off the back of the card? Contact the company that issued the gift card. Use this list of contacts. Tell them the card was used in a scam and ask for your money back. Keep a copy of the gift card and the store receipt.
Did you send a wire transfer through a company like Western Union or MoneyGram? Contact the wire transfer company. Tell them it was a fraudulent transfer. Ask them to reverse the wire transfer and give you your money back.
Did you send a wire transfer through your bank? Contact your bank and report the fraudulent transfer. Ask them to reverse the wire transfer and give you your money back.
Did you send money through a payment app? Report the fraudulent transaction to the company behind the payment app and ask them to reverse the payment. If you linked the app to a credit card or debit card, report the fraud to your credit card company or bank. Ask them to reverse the charge.
Did you pay with cryptocurrency? Contact the company you used to send the money and tell them it was a fraudulent transaction. Ask them to reverse the transaction.
Did you send cash? If you sent cash by U.S. mail, contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 877-876-2455 and ask them to intercept the package. To learn more about this process, visit USPS Package Intercept: The Basics

 

If you used another delivery service, contact them as soon as possible. 

If You Gave a Scammer Your Personal Information

  • Did you give a scammer your Social Security number?  Go to IdentityTheft.gov to see what steps to take, including how to monitor your credit.
  • Did you give a scammer your username and password?  Create a new, strong password. If you use the same password anywhere else, change it there, too.

If someone calls and offers to “help” you recover money you have already lost, don’t give them money or personal information. You’re probably dealing with a fake refund scam.

 

Report Phone Scams

 

If you’ve lost money to a phone scam or have information about the company or scammer who called you, tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

If you didn’t lose money and just want to report a call, use the streamlined reporting form at DoNotCall.gov.

Any information you provide will help stop the scammers. Report the number that received the call, the number on your caller ID, and any number they told you to call back. Also report the exact date and time of the call, if you know it. Knowing all this information helps the FTC and its law enforcement partners track down the scammers behind the call.

The FTC also takes the phone numbers you report and releases them to the public each business day. This helps phone carriers and other partners that are working on call-blocking and call-labeling solutions.

 

 

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Copyright © 2000 - 2025    K. Kerr

Most recent revision June 30, 2025 08:08:59 PM

 

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