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If a call plays a recorded or AI-generated sales pitch, it may violate federal rules, but a "robocall" isn't automatically illegal. For U.S. consumers, the main questions are whether the call was telemarketing, what type of number it reached, what consent you gave, and whether you previously told the seller to stop.

A prerecorded or artificial-voice telemarketing call to a wireless or residential number generally requires prior express written consent. It also needs a usable way to make a do-not-call request. Scammers may ignore these rules, so caller ID alone doesn't prove who called or whether an offer is legitimate.

These are U.S. consumer rules and practical reporting steps, not legal advice.

Which rule applies to the call?

"Robocall" describes how a call is delivered, not whether it is lawful. The purpose of the call and the technology used can lead to different rules.

Call or message What generally matters
Recorded or AI-generated sales message TCPA consent requirements, caller identification, and an automated opt-out mechanism
Live sales call The National Do Not Call Registry and the seller's internal do-not-call list
Appointment, delivery, fraud, or school alert The organization's relationship with you and the consent rules for nonmarketing calls; the National Registry may not control
Political, charitable, or survey call The National Registry generally doesn't cover these categories, although other federal or state rules may apply

The FTC's consumer robocall guidance describes calls that may be allowed under particular rules, including certain political, charitable, survey, and relationship-based calls. An existing business relationship may affect some live telemarketing rules, but it isn't a blanket authorization for every prerecorded sales call.

A call that starts as a survey and then promotes a product or service may need to be assessed as a telemarketing call. A call can also be regulated because it uses a prerecorded or artificial voice even if the caller's software doesn't fit every technical definition of an automatic telephone dialing system.

What counts as consent?

For a covered telemarketing robocall, the prior express written consent record should clearly show:

Simply giving your phone number to a business doesn't automatically authorize every future sales call. A number submitted for a delivery notification, appointment reminder, or account update isn't necessarily permission for unrelated offers. A form that vaguely refers to "partners" may also leave questions about which sellers received permission.

If an identifiable caller says you opted in, ask for the business name, the date of consent, and the source of the permission. If the call seems suspicious, don't stay on the line to investigate. The exact form, disclosure, and consent record matter more than the caller's assertion.

The FCC has determined that AI-generated human voices fall within the TCPA's rules for artificial voices. AI isn't a workaround. An AI call can still be lawful when valid consent or an applicable exception exists, but the technology doesn't remove the consent and opt-out requirements. The FDIC's TCPA overview provides a government explanation of the federal framework.

How to revoke consent

You can tell a business that you no longer want its marketing calls. Use clear language such as:

Put this number on your company do-not-call list. I revoke any permission to receive marketing calls.

To make the request safely:

  1. Use the seller's official website, account portal, or customer-service number, and verify that route independently.
  2. Write down the date, time, number called, exact wording of your request, and the business's response.
  3. Save any confirmation email, text, or case number.
  4. Don't provide account passwords, one-time codes, payment information, or other sensitive details to complete an opt-out.

Federal rules generally require a revocation made by a reasonable method to be honored within a limited period. The exact obligation can depend on the call type and number. A request to one company doesn't automatically remove your information from every unrelated caller's list.

Register with the National Do Not Call Registry

The National Do Not Call Registry is most useful for reducing lawful sales calls. It isn't a carrier-level block and won't stop every scam.

To register:

  1. Follow the registration instructions in the FTC's National Do Not Call Registry FAQs.
  2. Register up to three telephone numbers at a time online.
  3. Open the confirmation email for each number and click its link within 72 hours.
  4. Give legitimate telemarketers up to 31 days to update their calling lists.

Registration doesn't cover every category of call. Political organizations, charities, survey companies, and some sellers with applicable permission or an established relationship may still contact you. Those exceptions don't automatically provide the written consent needed for every prerecorded or artificial-voice sales call.

You can also make a company-specific request even if your number isn't on the National Registry. FCC telemarketing rules generally require covered sellers to maintain an internal do-not-call list and honor a request within 30 days. Keep evidence if the calls continue.

What to do when a robocall comes in

If the call looks suspicious

A caller can spoof a government office, local business, or neighbor's number. Caller ID shows what appeared on your phone; it doesn't prove who placed the call.

If the seller is identifiable

For a covered prerecorded telemarketing message, federal rules call for clear identification of the business or other entity responsible for the call at the beginning of the message. The message should also provide that entity's telephone number during or after the message.

The message must provide an automated, interactive voice or keypad-activated way to make a do-not-call request. The option should be available at the beginning and throughout the message, including when the call reaches an answering machine or voicemail service.

If the message lacks a usable opt-out, the option is difficult to use, or the call continues after you request that the seller stop, record those details. Don't use an opt-out process that asks for passwords, verification codes, or payment information.

Calling hours and caller ID

For covered federal telemarketing calls, the usual calling window is 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the recipient's local time. A call outside those hours can be a useful complaint detail, but it isn't by itself proof that every type of robocall violated the TCPA. State laws may impose stricter hours or additional requirements.

Telemarketers generally must transmit caller ID information and identify themselves. STIR/SHAKEN authentication can help phone networks assess whether the displayed number is associated with the originating provider. It doesn't prove that the caller is honest, that consent exists, or that the offer is genuine.

How to report an unwanted call

Report sales calls to the FTC

Use the reporting instructions in the FTC's National Do Not Call Registry FAQs for unwanted sales calls. This is especially useful when your number has been registered for more than 31 days or when you already asked a particular company to stop.

Include:

The FTC analyzes complaint patterns and trends to identify illegal callers and support enforcement. A report won't necessarily produce a personal response or stop the next call.

File an FCC complaint

The FCC's unwanted calls and texts complaint page is useful for suspected robocalls, spoofing, and repeated unwanted calls. Select the unwanted-calls category and the sub-issue that best matches what happened. If your own number is being spoofed, use the corresponding option for that problem.

Attach or describe the evidence you saved. The FCC says it doesn't resolve individual unwanted-call complaints, but reports can inform policy and enforcement activity.

If you gave a caller financial information, contact your bank or card issuer through an official number immediately. For persistent calls from an identifiable company, you can also check your state attorney general's consumer-protection office because state rules may be stricter than federal rules.

Preserve evidence before deleting the call

Save evidence in its original form when possible:

Don't record a live conversation without checking the call-recording rules in the states involved. A saved voicemail and call log are safer starting points.

Keep the material while the calls continue, a complaint is pending, or you're considering another escalation. You don't need to keep every unrelated call forever, but deleting the voicemail or call log too soon can make a later complaint harder to document.

Common robocall misunderstandings

Does the Do Not Call Registry block all robocalls?

No. It primarily addresses sales calls and doesn't stop scammers, political calls, charitable solicitations, surveys, or every call covered by an exception. A registered number may still receive a call from an exempt category or from a seller relying on valid permission or another applicable exception.

Are all AI robocalls illegal?

No. The FCC treats AI-generated human voices as artificial voices under the TCPA. That means consent and telemarketing rules can apply; it doesn't create an automatic ban on every AI call.

Does caller ID authentication make a call legal?

No. Authentication can help verify information about the number presented to the network. It doesn't establish consent or prove that the caller or offer is trustworthy.

Will an FTC or FCC complaint get me a refund?

Not automatically. Agency complaints support enforcement and trend analysis rather than serving as a personal refund or damages process. If you believe repeated calls violated federal or state law, keep your evidence and consult a qualified consumer-law professional about available options.

After the next unwanted call, save the voicemail and call-log screenshot before deleting anything. If you can verify the seller, make a clear do-not-call request through an official channel; if you can't, avoid calling back and report the details to the appropriate agency.