Remember when we thought putting our numbers on the Do Not Call List would actually insulate us from those harassing phone calls?
Not only did that not happen, we now have to contend with a growing violation of our texting space, once thought impervious to scammers’ automated messaging.
Phone companies should represent a critical line of defense against robo calls and robo texts. But many telecom carriers have failed to adequately protect their customers, contributing to a rebound in the number of spam messages, according to a report from the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG).
About 2 billion unwanted calls and 19 billion unwanted texts flood the U.S. every month. After a short-lived decline in 2022 and 2023, spam messages increased again last year despite numerous regulations making them illegal.
In 2024, about 92% of Americans said they received a spam call, and 86% a spam text, according to Truecaller’s U.S. Spam and Scam Report.
“It’s unconscionable that these multi-bazillion-dollar companies don’t use every preventative measure available while scammers rip off innocent, vulnerable consumers every single day,” said Danny Katz, executive director of the CoPIRG Foundation, a Colorado consumer watchdog group.
Messages range from claims of blocked package deliveries to warnings about unpaid taxes and potential arrest, to seemingly innocent texts from unknown numbers.
It’s gotten to the point that Teresa Murray, Consumer Watchdog director for the U.S. PIRG Education Fund, urges consumers to never respond to any unfamiliar emails or texts.
“Assume every unexpected call or text or email has bad intentions,” Murray said. Never provide personal information and never give out money because of an unsolicited or unexpected call or text.
If uncertain, hang up, research the legitimate number of the business in question, and then call back.
About 56 million Americans (21% of adults) lost money through scam calls in 2023, according to Truecaller’s U.S. Spam and Scam Report.
“How many millions more people will be harmed by scam calls before lawmakers and regulators do something strong enough to stop the calls once and for all?” asked US PIRG’s Murray, who authored the PIRG report.
In September 2009, the Federal Communications Commission declared pre-recorded telemarketing calls illegal without the written consent of consumers, and has passed other regulations over the years to stem the flow of unwanted calls and messages.
And in 2019, Congress overwhelmingly passed a law requiring phone companies to use technology to combat robocalls.
But the problem persists.
A related Massachusetts watchdog’s findings mirror what’s happening across the country.
Three years after a federal law started requiring phone companies to install anti-robo-call technology, less than half of them have completed the transition, according to Ringing in our Fears 2024, a new report by the MASSPIRG Education Fund.
Another factor contributing to the seemingly constant dinging or vibrating of our phones: Federal rules combating spam robo texts, which started to take effect in 2023, haven’t done much to combat the billions of unwanted texts we get every month.
“Every day, scammers swindle devastating amounts of money or personal information from unsuspecting people. Everyone — starting with phone companies, regulators, Congress and banks — needs to do more to stop this pervasive problem,” said Deidre Cummings, Consumer Program director for the MASSPIRG Education Fund.
Fitchburg Sentinel & Enterprise
