An unexpected robocall is unverified until you check it another way. If it creates urgency, asks for sensitive information, or won't identify its source, hang up.
Use a phone number, app, or website you already trust to check the story. A prerecorded call isn't automatically illegal in the United States. Purpose, consent, the number reached, and whether the message is telemarketing can change the answer.
The FTC's robocall guidance says unsolicited sales robocalls are often illegal, but the details matter. This information is for U.S. consumers. It offers practical guidance, not a legal finding about a particular call.
Red flags that should make you hang up
Legitimate organizations use automated systems. Pressure plus a request for money or account access is your cue to leave.
- Urgency or threats: The caller says you'll be arrested, lose an account, or miss a deadline unless you act immediately.
- A request for sensitive information: The message asks for your Social Security number, password, bank details, or one-time verification code.
- An unusual payment demand: The caller wants gift cards, cryptocurrency, cash, or an immediate transfer.
- A prize you never entered: You supposedly won, but must pay a fee or tax before receiving it.
- A local-looking or official caller ID: The displayed number may resemble a neighbor, bank, agency, or company because caller ID can be spoofed.
- A vague identity: The caller won't provide a real company name, mailing address, or independent way to check the claim.
- No clear opt-out: A prerecorded telemarketing message doesn't offer an opt-out at the beginning.
- Pressure to keep the call secret: The caller tells you not to contact your bank, family, employer, or the supposed agency.
To be honest, you don't need to decide whether the call broke a rule first. Hang up.
When a red flag may also signal a rule violation
Suspicion alone doesn't prove a violation. It does show which details to preserve.
| What you notice | What it may mean | What to record |
|---|---|---|
| An unsolicited prerecorded sales call | A possible federal violation if the caller lacked required permission and no exception applies | Whether you had a relationship with the company and how you gave permission |
| A prerecorded telemarketing call with no opt-out at the beginning | A possible FCC rule issue | The opening words and whether an opt-out option worked |
| Telemarketing to your home before 8 a.m. | The FCC says telemarketing calls to your home are prohibited before 8 a.m. | The date, time, and whether the call reached a landline |
| A spoofed caller ID | The displayed number may not identify the real caller | The number shown, any callback number, and the organization the caller claimed to represent |
Some automated calls are permitted. The FCC gives school-closing and flight-information calls to a landline as examples. The FTC also says a company can't require agreement to robocalls as a condition of getting its product or service.
Consent and purpose matter. Report what happened instead of announcing the legal answer yourself.
The request tells you more than the voice
Scammers usually want something valuable from you, often money or access to an account. Personal information can serve the same purpose.
Thing is, a convincing voice proves nothing. An official-sounding recording can still carry a false claim.
A government impersonator may threaten arrest or an investigation. A bank impersonator may claim suspicious activity and ask for a verification code. Hang up, then contact the organization through its official app, statement, or website.
Prize and refund calls use a different hook. They promise money first, then ask for a fee, tax, or account details before releasing it.
What to do before reporting the call
Save useful details before deleting the voicemail. If you answered, don't confirm personal information, and leave as soon as the request sounds suspicious.
- Let unknown calls go to voicemail. If you answer, end the call instead of arguing with the caller.
- Write down the facts. Record the date, time, number displayed, number called, claimed organization, exact demand, and any callback number. Do it while the wording is fresh.
- Keep the voicemail and screenshots. Don't secretly record a live call unless you understand the recording-consent rules where you live.
- Verify independently. Open the organization's official app or type its known website yourself. Don't use a link or phone number from the message.
- Secure any exposed account. Change a compromised password through the official service. Contact the bank or provider if you shared a code or payment detail.
- Block the number after saving the evidence. Blocking one number may not stop a scammer who keeps changing numbers.
- Keep a simple log if the calls continue. Repeated dates and times can make a complaint more useful.
Don't call the displayed number back just to test it.
How to reduce unwanted robocalls
Turns out, no single filter catches every scam. Layering a few modest protections works better than trusting one caller ID label.
Phone settings: Turn on your phone's spam warning, call screening, or unknown-caller silencing feature. Save important contacts first, including schools, doctors, and delivery services.
Carrier tools: Your carrier may offer call labeling or blocking. Settings and accuracy vary, so check missed-call alerts and voicemail regularly.
National Do Not Call Registry: Register at the National Do Not Call Registry. It can help with lawful telemarketing, but it won't stop every call or prevent scammers from ignoring the rules.
Third-party apps: These services may add community reports or screening. Before giving an app access to call data, review its privacy settings, permissions, and risk of blocking a legitimate call.
Where to report a robocall complaint
Report the call even if you didn't lose money. Complaint details help agencies identify patterns and illegal callers.
Use the FTC's Report Fraud service for phone scams, impersonation, financial loss, and Do Not Call complaints. Include the displayed number, date and time, caller's story, payment request, and any evidence. The FTC analyzes reports and uses them in enforcement work.
Use the FCC Consumer Complaint Center for unwanted calls, spoofing, and possible telecommunications rule violations. The FCC says a complaint may also be shared with other enforcement agencies.
One call can fit both categories. You can report it to both agencies if it involves a scam and an unwanted-call issue. Neither complaint form is a payment-dispute process or a guaranteed refund route.
If you paid or shared information
Move quickly if the call led to a payment or exposed personal information. Contact the relevant institution through a trusted number, not the robocall.
Debit card or bank account: Call your bank or credit union immediately. Explain that a scammer received the information or payment, then ask what fraud-reporting and recovery steps apply.
Gift card: Contact the gift card company immediately. Keep the card, receipt, messages, and transaction details.
Cryptocurrency: Contact the exchange or service used for the transaction. Provide the transaction information. Recovery may not be possible.
Social Security number or account credentials: Use IdentityTheft.gov for recovery steps, and change exposed passwords through the official account service. Never send more money to someone promising to recover the first payment.
The FTC's scam recovery guidance says the money may already be gone. Quick action still gives the bank, card issuer, gift card company, or exchange a chance to respond.
Common questions
Are all robocalls illegal?
No. Some informational calls are allowed. The answer can depend on consent, the type of number called, and the message's purpose. An unsolicited sales robocall is especially suspicious.
Does a local caller ID prove the call is a scam?
No. It shows only what appeared on your screen. Caller ID can be spoofed, so record the number but verify the caller independently.
Will the Do Not Call Registry stop scam robocalls?
No. It is aimed at lawful telemarketing. Scammers can ignore the registry, so use blocking, screening, and reporting as well.
Should I press a number to opt out?
For an unknown or suspicious call, hanging up is safer. A prerecorded telemarketing call should provide an opt-out option at the beginning, but you still shouldn't share information or follow instructions from a caller you can't verify.
Let the next unknown call go to voicemail. Save its timestamp and message, verify the claim through an official channel, and report it if the facts warrant.