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Someone pretending to be from the FTC is sending out fake emails telling people that their Do Not Call registration is expiring. The emails use the FTC’s logo and send people to a phony Do Not Call website to register their numbers again.

Don’t buy it. Do Not Call registrations never expire. Once you add a number to the Do Not Call Registry, you don’t need to register it again -- ever. We only remove your number when it’s disconnected and reassigned, or if you ask us to remove it.

Not on the Registry yet? You can add your phone number at donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222 from the phone you want to register. Learn more about the Do Not Call Registry in our FAQs.

Are you already on the Registry and still getting a lot of unwanted calls? Odds are, many of those calls are from scammers. Check out our article on blocking unwanted calls to learn more about what you can do.

Search Terms
do not call
scam
Topics
Unwanted Calls, Emails, and Texts
Scams
Phone Scams

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The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. We review all comments before they are posted, and we won’t post comments that don’t comply with our commenting policy. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect.

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SkolnikNotSputnik
January 26, 2018
The effectiveness of the do not call list seems to be waning. I'm on the list and I get more now than I ever had, and these are not robo calls. What are we to do?
feudi pandola
March 13, 2018

In reply to by SkolnikNotSputnik

I agree 100%! Once I signed up for Do Not Call, the number of call I got increased greatly. I get a call or two every single day from Humana from #866-452-6442. I wrote to Humana three times and all hey say is they are investigating the calls. This is ridiculous.
Muna Lisa
July 13, 2018

please help me? ame kaj ta kevaba koro?

mstein63
January 26, 2018
It might be a good idea to occasionally re-verify that your number is registered. Someone cancelled my Do-Not-Call registration a few years ago, and boy did the calls start coming in. Had to start all over. Thanks!
buggy
January 27, 2018

In reply to by mstein63

Good idea. Never thought someone else could undo it but you show it's possible.
It happens
September 28, 2019

In reply to by mstein63

This JUST happened to me. I was registered and if a scam company bothers me too much, I will report it. I went to report one today, the system said my number was not registered! What?! How? But okay, I re-registered. Maybe that is why I've been getting so many scam calls lately. Now I will check more often.
lmcins
January 26, 2018
but you do not do anything to enforce it or stop it either
pamelajoyh
February 01, 2018
It's to bad the "Do not call list" doesn't work. Finally gave up my home phone because of scammers but my cell phone is calls from all over the USA. Don't answer it anymore unless they are programed in but I don't miss calls because of not answering because of not answering! Pamela
mtj
June 11, 2019

In reply to by pamelajoyh

STARTED GETTING CALLS AGAIN... MAINLY BECAUSE I FORGOT MY RULE OF NOT ANSWERING CALLS I DO NOT HAVE IN MY PHONE ON THE FIRST CALL... FAMILY/FRIENDS EITHER LEAVE MESSAGE OR CALL BACK SECOND TIME RIGHT AWAY IF THEY ARE USING DIFFERENT NUMBER (WORKS, THEY REMEMBER AFTER SEVERAL RINGS AND MY PHONE'S ALWAYS WITH ME... SO "OH YEAH, FORGOT SO CALL BACK SECOND TIME RIGHT AWAY, THIRD TIME IF LEAVING MESSAGE JUST TO MAKE SURE I'M BATHROOM/SPINNING/ETC."... YEAH, DO PEOPLE STILL SPIN... I WOULD IF I HAD A 'SPINNER' TO PRACTICE WITH!).
Theresa D.
July 13, 2018
My husband and I have been on the do-not-call list for years, but we keep getting unwanted, unsolicited calls. In most cases, neither one of us will answer the phone, but occassionally do and it's always the same reason for calling. I block the number, but the caller only uses another number to call back. Is there something that can be done to get the harrassors' attention (fines) so they will stop calling?!
rschonewolf
January 26, 2018
Thank you for your hard work in trying to protect us. Your dedication at protecting us is greatly appreciated and we will heed your warnings.
Donna F
January 26, 2018
I currently have 76 blocked calls on my phone. Seems like I get more unwanted calls than wanted call.
Twayne
January 26, 2018

In reply to by Donna F

Unfortunately, the Do Not Call List is "voluntary" and only the honest marketers will honor it. There is nothing to force anyone to adhere to the list and no prejudice for violating it. The one thing it does do for you however, is make it a lot more likely that the calls you do get are more sure to be from scam artists and criminals, so if you report them you can be pretty sure they're from deplorables. I have one possible suggestion that seems to work here in upstate NY and with Verizon: If you get a fake call, the second you see the Caller ID, answer the call and then immediately hang up. I have NO idea what's going on when I do that, but reliably those calls do not get repeated. If I don't do that and just allow it to go to my answering machine, then chances are excellent that call will happen again. When you do this, rely on the Name on the CID being unfamiliar, and NOT the supposed phone number. ALL Caller ID can be spoofed, but you'll find after awhile that you become pretty good at knowing what's a fake call and which ones are legitimate. Whenever I'm not sure & say it comes from a name I know, I let it go to the answering machine: No message left means it hung up as soon as it was answered, and if a message is left, you'll know it's from no one you know in reality and treat it next time they call again; which almost all the time they do. NEVER call the numbers offered in ANY messages! It'll just put you on more call lists.
Baileyann
January 26, 2018

In reply to by Donna F

I do too, I block and same people call from a different number /same area code and first three are the same and last four are are different
kathy
January 26, 2018
thanks this is so helpful, my husband was scammed once by someone that called and told him his bank acct was compromised! What a nightmare that was!
Tom O'Brien
January 26, 2018
I have had my phone numbers on the Do Not Call Registry for over 10 years and it appears to me that it is a waste of time and money. Stated another way, it is completely ineffective.
mengelji
January 26, 2018
Why doesn't the Do Not Call system work? I routinely get called by scammers with masked numbers and they've completely ignored the fact that I'm registered on the list. What good is your list?
comment
January 27, 2018

In reply to by mengelji

There are illegal and legal agencies and businesses. The illegal ones violate the law. DNC Registry sets a bar of compliance and respect. Those who violate the Law are notorious and often operate 'off-shore'. Violators are the 'pick-pockets' of telephonic communication.
kathy m
January 28, 2018

In reply to by mengelji

1/27/2018 I have been on the Donot call List also. I set it up in 2005, With me also Doesn't work.
FTC Staff
January 29, 2018

In reply to by mengelji

If you already listed your number on the Registry and still getting a lot of unwanted calls, the calls are probably from scammers. The Do Not Call list reduces the number of legitimate sales calls you get.

Read about blocking unwanted calls to learn more about what you can do about calls from scammers.

RMays
January 29, 2018

In reply to by FTC Staff

I notice I have been getting dozens of calls from (usually) local politicians during "voting season". How do I stop those calls? They are usually recorded political ads.
FTC Staff
January 30, 2018

In reply to by RMays

The Do Not Call Registry prohibits sales calls. You still may receive political calls, charitable calls, debt collection calls, informational calls, and telephone survey calls.

Also, companies may still call if you recently did business with the company, or if you gave the company written permission to call you.

However, if you ask a company not to call you again, it must honor your request. Keep a record of the date of your request.

Roman Gurtler
January 26, 2018
the number of calls has dropped off but there are a few diehards...what to do?
Trntogl
January 26, 2018
We are on Do Not Call and get calls daily from area codes in PA where we lived over 7 years ago but still have our cells under same area code. Can't get rid of them and we've been registered for years.
Dennis F
January 26, 2018
Even though both my landline and cell have always been registered, I still get 4-6 calls per day between them from unwanted callers. Most of them show my same area and local codes. This doesn't seem to work very well.
LouT
January 26, 2018
I commend you (FTC) for the efforts put forth with this gross abuse of our telephone systems (wired and wireless), but the DNCL only works with reputable people while it is the fraudsters doing the majority of the damage. I believe this issue needs a new approach, namely that of putting the entire solution onus on the telephone companies backed up with material fines. They are the only logical gatekeepers with a vested interest and that can be motivated by harsh fines. Fix it or pay.
Plichta
January 26, 2018
I have put two cell phone number and our land line number on the "Do not call" list twice. We continue to get 1 to 3 unsolicited calls per day. Not only on our land line but also on our cell phones. When will you do something to make it stop.
Sally
January 26, 2018
These calls are still out there, I still have a problem with a annuity caller which changes telephone numbers and asks for Colleen Connelly.
CATT
January 26, 2018
How does this registry help when all the organizations calling daily asking for donations are exempt????? They are the problem. I must get at least 5 calls a day from various organizations asking for money. If you tell them no, they want to argue and if you ask to be removed from their list, they still keep calling.
FTC Staff
February 02, 2018

In reply to by CATT

If you ask a charity to stop calling you, that charity should stop.

If a commercial fundraiser is calling for a charity, and you ask the fundraiser to stop calling, the fundraiser must stop. If it doesn't don't, please tell the FTC at FTC.gov/complaint.

Madred1031
January 26, 2018
I’ve noticed that a lot of the calls I get come from the same area code and prefix as my number and when I try and call them back I’m always told that Boone tried to call me from that number. Is it possible for scammers to spoof their numbers like that?
FTC Staff
January 31, 2018

In reply to by Madred1031

Yes, scammers can spoof their numbers so it looks like they have your area code and prefix.

alexperez160
January 26, 2018
I,m sorry but unfortunately we are facing a system american full of fraud
sbeckas
January 27, 2018
Why doesn't someone from the FTC respond here to these feedbacks about the inefficiencies in the Do Not Call Registry?
FTC Staff
January 29, 2018

In reply to by sbeckas

If you already listed your number on the Registry and still getting a lot of unwanted calls, the calls are probably from scammers. The Do Not Call list reduces the number of legitimate sales calls you get. Scammers are criminals and don't follow the rules.

Read about blocking unwanted calls to learn more about what you can do about calls from scammers.

JBob
January 27, 2018
"Do Not Call" may not expire, but it also doesn't work!
sgm
January 27, 2018
One company calls 3-5 Times daily., from the 361 area code.. I’ll re-register maybe that would help.. i
comment
January 27, 2018
Thanks! DNC Registrations are easy to take for granted. This fraudulent email scam proves again criminals are always looking for the chance to do harm. Great reminder and timely.
Big Dog
January 27, 2018
I have been on the Do Not Call list for years and just as others have stated, it is a waste of time and money...It does not effect the callers. I get 10 to 20 calls a week from callers who want to help lower my credit card interest to reverse mortgage and everything in between..
drrice
January 27, 2018
I also gave up on this due to more calls coming in than before. Some #'s that have came up I've called back being nosy. Regular household #'s are being used to cover their tracks without that residence even knowing it's happening with their phone #. I've even blocked the continuous "helping hands" recorded info and they still find a # to use to call me back. It's very aggravating.
TomSki
January 27, 2018
Found 19 unwanted calls from the last several days on my phone. Googled them. Some are scams. Some have spoofed Caller IDs. What do the Do Not Call registry do?
FTC Staff
January 29, 2018

In reply to by TomSki

The Do Not Call list reduces the number of legitimate sales calls you get. If you already listed your number on the Registry and still getting a lot of unwanted calls, the calls are probably from scammers.

Read about blocking unwanted calls to learn more about what you can do about calls from scammers.

LJ
January 27, 2018
I have gotten a new home phone number and no longer need the old one to be on the Do Not Call list. How do I delete the old home phone number since that number is identified with my email address?
FTC Staff
March 09, 2018

In reply to by LJ

To delete your number from the Do Not Call list, call 1-888-382-1222 from the telephone number you want to delete.

Labluelamb
January 27, 2018
I got up this morning and found this on my recent calls to me. Someone called and this is the I'd that popped up, the call was not answered, WHAT IS THIS????? #36374362925378#738373. IS SOMEONE breaking into all my Info ?????
rusty
January 27, 2018
A NEW SCAM E-MAIL from Apple alert says someone is using your e- mail to open another apple devise like another phone or I pad and they want your password
Tammy6879
January 28, 2018
What if I fell for the scam to reregister because our number fell off the do not call list and filled in and sent the information? How do I find what they did with my information and fix it? Help Please
SMCLADY1947
January 28, 2018
I am on the do not call list and still getting unwanted calls. I want them to stop.
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