Most of us have to deal with at least occasional spam calls and texts. Some of us get dozens of calls and texts every day. Is there any way for the average consumer to end spam calls and texts once and for all? And if the harassment is particularly egregious, how do you begin taking legal action?
The Problem With Spam Calls and Texts
Most of us receive spam calls and texts, at least occasionally. Sometimes, it takes the form of a person spoofing a number that seems to come from your location, but when you pick up the phone, there's just silence on the other end. Sometimes, it's a seemingly random text message with content like “Hey! Long time no see. Dinner tonight?” Other times, the message is more specific or aggressive, with someone demanding payment for a debt that may or may not exist – or someone trying to lure you into providing your personal information.
The average person probably gets a few of these calls and messages every week. Some people experience a few of these calls and messages every day. In rare cases, people can be absolutely flooded with these messages, causing them genuine distress and disrupting their lives in many ways.
If the problem is particularly egregious, it may be in your best interest to talk to a consumer protection lawyer. Consumer protection laws are designed to protect us from infringements of our privacy and our right to live life as we see fit. Even if spam callers and texters have somewhat legitimate reasons for reaching you, such as trying to secure payment for an existing debt, there are strict legal limitations in place to prevent ongoing harassment.
If you're being consistently harassed, your consumer protection lawyer can work with you to identify the culprits, document the behavior, issue cease and desist warnings, and potentially even sue for damages.
How to End Spam Calls and Texts Once and for All
These are some of the best strategies for ending spam calls and texts once and for all.
· Never give out personal information unless necessary. Don't give anyone your personal information, including your phone number or name, unless absolutely necessary. This is important for two major reasons. First, giving out your personal information to any party means taking on the risk that that party will distribute your personal information further. For example, writing down your name and phone number to enter a raffle at a public event may seem innocuous, but that information may be distributed to other parties, eventually getting you listed on lists you don't want any part of. Second, spam calls and texts are often engineered to extract personal information for nefarious purposes. If you don't give these scammers what they want, they'll be more likely to lose interest – and more importantly, you'll keep your most sensitive information safe.
· Stop responding. Along similar lines, it's important to stop responding to any spam calls or texts. If you don't recognize the number, don't respond to it. In many cases, scammers will test numbers to see if they're still active; even the simple response of “wrong number, sorry” is enough to validate that the number is still in operation, which could contribute to inviting more spam calls and texts in the future. On top of that, if you commit to consistently not engaging, you reduce your chances of falling for a scam to zero.
· Block spam calls and texts. When you feel sure that a number is spamming or otherwise deceiving you, block it. Most phones make this option convenient, and it only takes a single tap to permanently prevent this number from reaching you in the future. If you look in the settings of your phone, you'll also find a block function for all numbers that are suspected to be spam; turn this on if it isn't on by default.
· Sign up for the do not call registry. The national “do not call” registry exists to protect consumers from unwanted spam. While the efficacy of this list is debatable, it is technically legally enforceable, so make sure to sign up for it if you aren't already listed.
· Flag as spam when possible. Most phones give you the option to flag messages as spam when you attempt to delete them, or as a separate action. Do this whenever possible. If enough people mark certain numbers as being associated with spam, they'll be blocked for others in the future.
· Call your service provider. If the problem is particularly bad, consider calling your service provider for advice and recommendations. They may be able to advise you on why the higher volume is unfolding or give you directions on how to limit your exposure to this spam.
· Consider using additional apps and tools. Many third-party apps and tools have been designed and developed to fight against the spam problem. While they vary in terms of cost, ease of use, and efficacy, they're worth investigating if you want a superior or more comprehensive solution in place.
· Take legal action in extreme cases. In extreme cases, when you're being harassed by the same people over and over, or when you're getting dozens of calls and texts a day, legal action may be your best option. Consider having a consultation with a consumer protection lawyer to review potential courses of action.
We've grown accustomed to spam calls and texts being a part of daily life. In isolation, they're merely annoying. But in high volume and high frequency, they become genuinely disruptive and damaging. That's why it's important to take this matter seriously – and do whatever is necessary to improve your quality of life.