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If you’re on the Do Not Call Registry, companies shouldn’t call you out of the blue to try and sell you something. In fact, it’s usually illegal.

The FTC continues to take action against companies and telemarketers that ignore the Registry. The latest example: today the FTC announced a complaint against Alliance Security, a home security system installation company, Alliance’s owner, Jasjit Gotra, and two of Alliance’s telemarketing firms, along with their owners. These two telemarketing firms — Defend America and Power Marketing Promotions — and their owners have agreed to settle the FTC’s charges.

Like with many illegal telemarketing operations, each call typically started with a prerecorded message asking people to press 1 or follow prompts. Anyone who did was then connected to a live telemarketer.

Even after receiving many complaints, the FTC says, the companies continued to call people whose numbers were on the Do Not Call Registry. Some people went as far as scheduling installation appointments just to tell Alliance in person to stop calling, the FTC alleges. Alliance Security and Gotra previously settled charges with the FTC in 2014 while doing business as Versatile Marketing Solutions.

You can learn more about the Do Not Call Registry in our FAQs. If a company doesn’t respect the Registry, report it. To add your number to the Do Not Call Registry, go to donotcall.gov or call 1-888-382-1222 from the phone you want to register.

What if you’re on the Registry and still getting bombarded by unwanted calls? Odds are, many of them are from scammers — and they don’t care about the Registry. Find out more about your options when it comes to blocking unwanted calls— and report the ones you get at ftc.gov/complaint. We take the phone numbers you report and release them each business day to help telecommunications carriers and other industry partners that are working on call blocking solutions. Your complaints also help law enforcement identify the people behind illegal calls. For tips on blocking unwanted calls, go to ftc.gov/calls, where you'll find graphics you can share with your friends and followers.

How to stop unwanted calls on your  mobile phone.

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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.

  • We won’t post off-topic comments, repeated identical comments, or comments that include sales pitches or promotions.
  • We won’t post comments that include vulgar messages, personal attacks by name, or offensive terms that target specific people or groups.
  • We won’t post threats, defamatory statements, or suggestions or encouragement of illegal activity.
  • We won’t post comments that include personal information, like Social Security numbers, account numbers, home addresses, and email addresses. To file a detailed report about a scam, go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

We don't edit comments to remove objectionable content, so please ensure that your comment contains none of the above. The comments posted on this blog become part of the public domain. To protect your privacy and the privacy of other people, please do not include personal information. Opinions in comments that appear in this blog belong to the individuals who expressed them. They do not belong to or represent views of the Federal Trade Commission.

Teresa
August 25, 2018
Yeah bookmaking this wasn't a risky conclusion outstanding post!
TammyRay
August 27, 2018
I have blocked over 50 numbers registered my number on the do not call list twice in the past 6 months. I keep getting phone calls from a vehicle warranty coverage department on a vehicle I have never owned in my life. I have told them to stop calling me over and over. They get rude with me once I have to yell the point across to them that I do not own that car and never have. This is ridiclious. Something has to be done.
Creative one
August 30, 2018
I got a telemarketer call at 1.30 in the morning and they were using my sisters phone number. It came up on my phone id. Scared the heck out of me. When I didn't get to the phone right away theyleft a message ( from some lifeline crop telling me I could get it free and call them back) same thing the next afternoon but I was with her at that time
lisaupset
August 31, 2018
People, lets stop kidding ourselves. We have absolute no saying when it comes to keep our private life, PRIVATE. TV , phone and our mail boxes are infected with masses out of control advertisement. All 3 of them stealing a tremendous time out of our life on a DAILY basis. What works is cancel your TV company. But please EVERYBODY , otherwise it is fruitless. Why is TV cancel the solution? Because it shows the power of people. That's why! Spread the message. Don't you want to see what happen when masses of people cancel their TV? (nobody says that this goes on forever)
lisa upset
August 31, 2018
cancel your TV company for a while. That's the solution. Think about it.
Roansm
October 16, 2019

In reply to by lisa upset

I don’t even have a TV in my home and I get tons of calls every single day.
Maybe they sho…
September 06, 2018
I think they are doing the best they can considering many of these callers mask their real phone numbers. They seem to be almost impossible to trace and some of these companies make so much money they are willing to pay the fines. Seems like better technologies and higher fines are needed.
august
September 12, 2018
I am contacted by text and phone, claiming to be messaging a Rodolfo. I have opted out many times , called and asked that my number be removed from the list. I am still contacted several times each day usually by text,but also phone calls as well. these are 3 of many numbers that are used by the same 'company' 813-540-9688 , 888- 439-0723, 760-368-2208. thank you
Hatin on robo calls
September 14, 2018
I am looking for a job, so it makes it ridiculous. I hate the ones that call at all hours, because I have an out of state number (west coast), so they think that I am located there. I am actually located in the east currently, so they call so incredibly late. They tell me they can reduce my credit card rate (I haven't had one in ten years) and want to congratulate me for winning a vacation from the last time I was at the resort (haven't taken one of those in 20 years) so I got them! It says on the ftc website to not hit '2' (the number to be taken off their list) because it may cause even more to come. That has been my go to, and I have noticed they have increased.
Valley Girl
September 18, 2018
Have been getting the same healthcare scam voicemail on my cell, which IS on the DoNotCall list, stating: "We have Pre-approvals ready in your area including Cigna, Aetna, Blue Cross and United. For a hassle free assessment, press 1, or press 2 to be placed on our DO NOT CALL list thanks for your time and be healthy and blessed." I hate these calls SO much and wish the FTC and gov't in general would move faster in developing ways to deal with this nonsense.
Frustrated in NE
September 26, 2018
The We Care Health calls are new to me. I have all of my numbers, home, home office (which not a commercial line) and my house cellphones all on the Do Not Call Registry. Utilize NOMOROBO, and yet still these robocalls get through. According to Consumer Report article, the worst thing to do is push any number even if it is to be removed from a list. This only confirms you have an active line. I agree that something needs to be done about number Spoofing and the incessant robocalls. However, these crooks sadly only need to get one or two people to fall for the scam to make money - and usually it is a senior citizen. Where's AARP on this? FTC can't or won't do anything.
Bea
September 26, 2018
We Care Health has been calling and calling me for months. I press 2 to get on their do not call list and they keep calling. I block their number and they have other numbers and no matter how many numbers I block they keep calling. I press one and when I ask the rep to stop calling, they hang up and keep calling. Stop these calls please. Sue them, fine them, stop them
John
September 28, 2018
I'm getting calls from Eversource, every day, sometimes four times a day. I've told them to stop calling me. They keep calling me anyway.
Ashigaru
September 28, 2018
Almost all robocalls nowadays are scams impersonating as fund raisers, government programs, medical aids, security and such. I'm sure that if you hear various warning phrases such as "PRESS 9 TO BE PLACED ON OUR DO NOT CALL LIST", they are not a legal number and/or business to begin with. If they was a legal business, they must have legal information from the official do not call list and must not use their own list. What is also debatable is that those who use their 'own list' is not a list at all. Instead when victims click to 'opt out', it lets the scammers know that your number is active and will sold to other various scammers and illegal businesses to add to the victim's already stressful routine.
Ashigaru
September 28, 2018
The best option a citizen can do is to identify if its a scammer. Since robocalls are almost always indicates a scam in this day of age and just answering a spoofed number gives the scammer indication that your number is active. I did noticed that most spoofed numbers are similar to the victim's first three numbers however...(not the area code).
Jfromulus
October 02, 2018
Telemarketers getting fined but why dont the customer get any of the money
Billy Bob Thor
October 02, 2018
I get more calls after I signed up on the do not call list. Sounds like the government sold the list off for profit.
Crazy_ivan
October 03, 2018
I have the perfect way to get them to stop calling. When I recognize a number as a telemarketer I answer (local city) DA office, (name) speaking!
DoNotCallRegis…
October 04, 2018
This lawsuit by the FTC has accomplished nothing. I get spam calls for health insurance or mortgage refinance several times a day. even though I've verified that I'm on the registry.
TeleMarketTired
October 04, 2018
My digital answering machine captures names and phone numbers of the MANY telemarketing calls I receive. Most of the info is bogus or spoofed names and numbers. And sometimes there are no name or number to view and I am unable to block the caller from a callback. I am on the Do Not Call registry. Why can't phone companies force an actual number and the real name associated to be visible to the person called. It might stop this activity if the telemarketers actual name and number were used. I don't understand why they have privacy as a caller and the public recipient does not.
BruceBlackman
October 07, 2018
People, you need to realize many if not most of these calls originate outside the United States from non-cooperative countries that have no interest in stopping the calls. Who knows, their government may even be getting paid off. The US is powerless to act against these scammers to enforce anything. About the only thing that can be done is to create a white list of legitimate numbers and only allow those calls to get through to your phone.
trekwars
October 09, 2018
Ive blocked about 30 numbers from someone trying to sell me health insurance in the last couple weeks before that I kept pushing the do not call list button for a couple months. Ive shut my home phone ringer off, registered both phones on the donotcall.gov, changed my answering systems message to leave a message because I do not answer unknowen numbers. I have had them call as early as 6am and as late as10pm.Ive had them use the local hospital name and number.....grrrr .NOTHING Works. All my phone does is receive telemarketer calls all day long...maybe smashing my phone will work...lol
sottovoce
October 11, 2018
When I request to be put on their "do not call" list, I received constant calls from the same" organization. I think it is retaliation. Mostly from the "lower your credit card interest due to your excellent payment record" and the "microsoft" techs wanting to fix my computer. They are horrible!
FedUp
October 12, 2018
SHUT THIS WHOLE THING DOWN IF YOU WON'T DO YOUR JOB.
kk
October 17, 2018
We have been getting multiple spoofed calls and messages from "We Care Health" every single day. Here's a transcript: Date : Oct 17 2018 10:39:40 AM From : We Care Health (15512728041) To : xxxx (1718xxxx) "Great Insurance Plan at the price you can afford. We make it hassle free to sign up with policies from Signa Blue Cross Etna United and many more. Press one now to get a hassle free assessment or press two to be placed on our do not call list. Thank you for your time and as always be happy and blessed." The rude irony of "hassle-free" is so obnoxious. I will not answer the phone unless I see a number I know. Otherwise, it goes to vm and is transcribed.
Some guy
October 18, 2018
I'm on the national do not call list, and keep getting calls from tons of scammers and business loan companies such as "Shore Funding Solutions (SFS Funding)" in Melville, NY. It's like these companies don't care about the national do not call list, and until they end up with massive fines they are going to simply ignore the list. I'm actually going to contact my state representative about this because the national do not call list simply doesn't work.
don
October 22, 2018
I have five voice lines on the ‘do not call’ regisry and I get multiple calls daily from robots on each. These calls accelerated when the fcc started allowing ‘spoofed’ numbers, making it impossible to report the perpetrators. Thank the new fcc administration for allowing these creeps free rein.
OveanSky
October 26, 2018
One thing that would cut down considerably on scam and robo calls is if the scum making them lost the ability to spoof numbers. In the last 3 days I have received 9 robo calls from the same freakin' company ("Home Security Promotions") and they came from 9 different numbers (and ALL of them from my area code and with the first 3 numbers matching MINE!).
DAMN Sick and …
October 31, 2018
I, too, am on the Do Not Call Registry and have been for many years. I have gotten to the point that I will not answer my phone if I do not recognize the number. I,too, have been on the DNC list for yrs., but to what avail. I am seriously thinking of removing my phones if I cannot have peace and quiet in my home because of scammers. Because of this, we may not have another option to have peace and quiet but sever our ties to the phone companies. If anyone else has a better solution other than disconnecting our home phones, I'd love to hear about it. When we are at home, we should not be bombarded with telemarketers or whomever they may be with whatever scam they are trying to involve us in. This day in time has become one of our worse nightmares!!!! Best of Luck to All!!!!!
FedUpWithFeds
November 01, 2018
The Federal agencies are totally useless and will NEVER be able to stop these robocalls because they REFUSE to take the measures that are necessary to stop them: ordering the telecommunication companies to PROHIBIT caller ID spoofing! As long as companies can hide behind fake numbers and fake names, these calls will continue. It is ONLY when the calls can be directly traced back to companies or individuals, and those individuals can be held accountable for the harassing calls they make, that the calls will stop! As long as Caller ID is possible, these calls will continue. But, the federal agencies will NOT take the necessary steps to prevent caller ID spoofing. CONTACT YOUR CONGRESSMAN AND DEMAND THAT CALLER ID SPOOFING BE ENDED!
pd1
November 03, 2018
Enough is enough already...When will SOMEONE do something about all these calls...The scams are getting way out of hand...Complaints nothing being done at all...Now have 18 phone numbers who are seriously RELENTLESS about calling..Oh you do not answer your phone that will not stop them at all...JUST SO BEYOND MADDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
saurian empire
November 05, 2018
Typical responses to robocalls and telemarketing. However, I may offer another solution. After receiving any unwanted category calls, I changed my automatic messaging to say words to the effect, "Please forward to this number your name, company name, address, and phone number so we may forward a bill to you." Strange, for alot of the callers, this actually works. At least its reduced my unwanted calls to near silence every day. I've also been on the Do Not Call Registery for 14 years and still get calls from those who just can't help but call. I've also been sending them to either the FTC or to my phone service ATT for further action.
vickimc
November 06, 2018
I get calls all day long. I am every do not call list. I have filed complaints for a few years and the government did NOTHING. What a surprise. I am sick of our government not passing laws that will stop this. They don't seem to give a crap. I have contacted my lawmakers and their replies are put yourself on the do not call list. Seriously do you think I am an idiot and haven't done it yet??? Then it's file a complaint. Seriously do you want me to sit there all day for the 10 calls I get on my cell and home phone. I have done that in the past and nothing stops so why bother. The answer is real simple the government doesn't give a crap about us!!!
kcb3rd
November 08, 2018
It took awhile but I assigned a specific ring to all my contacts on my cell phone. Then, when a spammer, telemarketer, etc. calls, the specific ring tone doesn't ring. Another tone rings and I know sooner not to bother. If it's a legitimate call, they can leave a message. Doesn't solve the problem but helps.
Peter B
December 13, 2018

In reply to by kcb3rd

Very good, kcb3rd. Got me thinking. There is such frustration with scammers and with DoNotCall uselessness. I put my (i)phone in DND (Do Not Disturb) mode, and selected the option to "Allow Calls From" [All Contacts]. Telemarketers can leave a message; yeah, right. Legitimate callers on in my contacts list can leave a message, too. Now the trick might be: list to the phone for rings and don't look at it.
katrosa1
November 12, 2018
I've been told by a couple people that if you greet the caller with "This is [name] from zyx sherrif's office fraud department, how may I help you?" they quickly hang up and don't call back again. I'm going to start doing that.
Must not matter..
November 15, 2018
Hmm, funny, I really don’t recall receiving scam, recorded, Ect. calls until *After* I added my number on the Do not call list. It is not coincidental. But that is all I’ll say about that comment. These, “(cough)” callers are breaking the law? Does that mean someone created said law? Who? Where are these lawmakers? The Past couple weeks Ive been receiving 7-10 calls per day regarding Medicaid and Medicare, isn’t, that federal? Shouldn’t it be? This is how I respond to the”(cough)” callers. If there isn’t a live person when when i answer I’ll I’ll press the prompts to where it’ll connect to a human..When I hear the voice of a human, well I make it my mission to waste their time, and I figure, hey, why not have fun on their part, make them the fool. I’ll tell them, can you please hold on, I really want/need to talk to you, so can you please hold on just 1 second?”!Then I come back to the phone and let then talk for 15-20 seconds, and I again ask them, “please give me one second, please hold on, I’m sorry,” set the phone down, get back to the phone and talk for a minute, then play as of Im being interrupted by someone, and again, “ I’m so sorry, give me one sec, please don’t hang up I really need to talk to you about this.”, again and again, many of them I have kept on the phone, 15 to 20 minutes, and if they have been hung up after or fourth time asking them to hold on, I’ll ask them can you please give me your number I’ll have to call you back I can’t concentrate on our conversation it’s too hectic around my house right now. To go quite a bit of their time. I begin to get less and less calls. I have a few little time waster, and I have a good time doing it. Sometimes I’ll talk to them as if I was in need of a friend. Example; , “Do you have a few minutes to talk to me? You sound really nice and I’m feeling kinda sad.” {9 out of 10 will talk!}. The time we have a conversation at 1520 minutes come I forget why they called and we say goodbye. Scam and calls of that no longer rang on my phone. Recently, a few weeks back I just come. They just hung up, I wasn’t in the mood to play a game anyway. Mainly now all I am getting her these Medicaid Medicare calls. If the laws not going to protect us can I can at least waste some time and have some fun doig so. Just maybe wasting their time prevented you come to some of you??? ☮️Peace
Deb
November 28, 2018
I got at least 10 calls from Antlers Oklahoma I've turned them into the Do Not Call list five times and it hasn't done any good at all they just keep calling I tell him I'm turning over to my lawyer they'll quit for two weeks and then start calling again something's got to be done about this
DrewMatt
December 05, 2018
We solved the problem with a land line and an answering machine. The answering machine announces the name and number of who is calling and tells that caller to leave a message. We have six rings to decide to answer, or, we can answer the call during the message leaving, or, we can ignore the call. We usually get six to ten different callers a day whose number and name are not shown and six or seven callers whose name and number are shown that are identified as telemarketers. MS is one that shows up often. We are on the do not call list: it doesn't seem to help. We have Comcast phone service so we can block up to 25 numbers, but, it's a 24 hour job keeping up with the constantly changing numbers. The answering machine works best.
Lou S
December 05, 2018
The 'DoNotCallRegistry' seems to be worthless now. My home phone calls are increasing, and some are quite serious, even criminal in nature. I tried to make a complaint at the ftc site, but was directed to an error page 'URL not valid' when submitted. There needs to be legislation and a fed budget to control this.
Youtalktomuch
December 05, 2018
I think I found the only current solution. I have blocked quite a few but I stated above many calls from different numbers constantly. The idea is listen to the phone rang three times. They will hang up. If it rings a fourth or fifth time it is very seldom a telemarketer. Actually never. This works for political calls too. They don’t want to speak to a recorder.
sq1620
December 06, 2018
I added myself to your stupid list and now I receive dozens of calls a day. You have only made things worse! It's no wonder, seeing as how you are a government entity. Useless!
GiniMc
December 06, 2018
Another useless government entity. I've reported and reported and still receive at least 10 calls a day from numbers or sequence numbers that I've reported.
DOTE
January 10, 2019
How many times does this site ask me to post a comment, then does not post it. Kind of like robo calls in reverse.
Ninamarie55
January 14, 2019
Government shut down and the FTC cant help with calls that are coming in my phone day night constantly. Waking me up I cant block them fast enough. Amazon is looking for people in my area. This is day and night. I cannot get to the real person who is doing this! So frustrating.
JRWTampa
January 16, 2019
I would love to see these robots callers get many many years in prison when they are caught! They are nothing more than low-life garbage.
Cad
January 16, 2019
WHere is my post?
Lindart54
January 21, 2019
Well it all works out now since the government closed down.
Caton't use yo…
January 26, 2019
I don’t trust this number to block calls it has never worked. They keep calling for student loans which I don’t have and driving job offerings which I never applied for! From now on I’ll have a whistle and blow their ears shot! I’ve had it I keep begging not to harass and get a better job themselves but they rotate from different numbers. Blow a whistle real loud to them at least one hasn’t bothered back. Lol! If they are nasty double your nastiness back to these thieves! The register does not work is another hack.
Fed Up
January 30, 2019
My number has been on the list since it originated. I've updated & checked many times over. Why do I keep getting robocalls for all types of crap. Is it now OK that if the message says, "Hit 2 to be placed on our do not call list"? Is this some loophole? I shouldn't have gotten the call to begin with. And, why do I keep getting calls on my cell phone from numbers that begin with the same area code and first 3 digits? These are just the calls that get through. If you look at my call log with all the other calls that are blocked its ridiculous. Seem to be worse and not better....by far. Someone please institute something!!