Eliminating Solicitation Phone Calls: Strategies and Solutions

Many individuals, including myself, are inundated with unsolicited phone calls, often from solicitors or scam artists. It's frustrating and can be a significant source of stress. In this article, we'll explore why these calls are frequent and provide effective strategies to stop them.

Understanding the Frequency

The frequency of solicitation calls is a reflection of our current technological landscape. Spam calls are a growing concern due to the ease with which scammers can operate without being caught. They often target the elderly or prey on individuals who are less tech-savvy, convincing them to purchase products or services. The financial incentive for these calls is their ability to generate sales, despite the initial expense of communication.

Why Are We Getting These Calls?

The simple answer is that the solicitors believe these calls are profitable. This strategy works for them, and as long as the cost of solicitation and communication continues to be lower than the sales they generate, the problem will persist. It is important to understand that these calls often originate from businesses or individuals who have in some way obtained your phone number, either through interactions or app downloads.

How Do Phone Numbers Get into Spam Lists?

There are numerous ways a phone number can end up on a spam list. For instance, it could be from any business interaction, an app subscription, or even someone else's app that has your contact number. Additionally, it's surprisingly easy for a robocaller to generate a list of numbers, making it possible for your number to be guessed by the calling machine.

Strategies to Minimize Solicitation Calls

Treat Your Phone Number as Private Data

Consider your phone number as sensitive as your credit card number. Only share it with trustworthy services and be cautious with your contacts. This is crucial to prevent unauthorized calls and breaches of privacy.

Register Your Number on the Do Not Call List

Despite the fact that most scammers won't respect this list, registering your number can help reduce the number of legitimate robocalls. This can have a positive impact by making your phone less attractive to telemarketers.

Do Not Answer Suspected Scam Calls

Avoid answering calls from unknown numbers to prevent any accidental charges. Even if a caller asks not to be called back, answering can signal to automated systems that the line is active, potentially increasing the frequency of calls. Instead, use the following strategies:

Verify Legitimacy

When you receive a call, verify its legitimacy by contacting the organization's phone number directly. If they refuse to take your call, it's best to hang up. Never pay for anything using gift cards, as legitimate organizations would never request such payment methods.

Add IC SIT Tone to Your Answering Machine

An effective method to deter unwanted calls is to use the IC SIT tone on your answering machine. This signal makes the machine on the other side think that the line is disconnected. Ensure your call blocker recognizes the number and forwards it directly to your answering machine.

Use a Robust Call Blocking App

Consider using a reliable call-blocking app on your device. Many apps are available, but we recommend Roblock, which has over 300,000 unwanted call numbers just for the US. It is an international app designed with privacy in mind and does not collect your contacts or phone number. Alternatively, you could try Robokiller, which has an excellent mechanism to intercept and block calls.

In conclusion, dealing with solicitation phone calls is not only annoying but can also be financially burdensome and intrusive. By taking proactive steps to protect your privacy and using effective call-blocking strategies, you can minimize the frequency of these unwanted calls and regain control over your communication.