Why Spam Robocalls are Increasing
Spam robocalls are becoming increasingly common, especially during the pandemic. They’re so common in fact that they can almost be disruptive to our daily lives. The reason for their rise is simple: they’re incredibly profitable telemarketing calls and don’t come with the risk of consequences. This is thanks to court decisions creating legal loopholes.
The situation is dire as having an unexpected costly repair at this time with a struggling economy could be disastrous. Thankfully, there are ways to stop scam robocalls but you must take the initiative and do something about it yourself. There are apps that can help block unwanted calls, do not answer calls from unknown numbers, file complaints to relevant authorities, use call authentication tools, and opt out of receiving marketing calls and texts for said companies. If everyone takes these steps, we can reduce the prevalence of irritating and unauthorized spam robocalls significantly.
What Is a Robocall?
Robocalls are a type of automated phone call that delivers a prerecorded message. These calls, also known as autodialers, are typically initiated by computer programs that dial numbers without any human interaction. Autodialers have multiple uses, from prerecorded messages informing individuals about appointment reminders, and emergency notifications, Sadly, they are also used for more nefarious reasons like illegally disseminating information and offers. The latter is why many people associate robocalls with fraudulent activity.
Robocalls can be beneficial for businesses that need to reach out to their customers but don’t have the manpower to do so manually. However, when illegitimate actors use these same practices it puts consumers at risk – especially those who don’t recognize the call as an automated one. While there are protections in place within some countries and states that limit the usage of automatic dialing systems, this doesn’t prevent hucksters from exploiting less experienced or uninformed individuals. Additionally, a large number of false positives are generated by autodialers. This damages relationships between companies and legitimate customers if they become too irritating or invasive over time.
What Is a Spam Call?
Spam callers are one of the most annoying potential interruptions to a person’s day. These calls are typically made to sell a product or service or to collect personal information. They can come from telemarketing companies, scammers, or even automated systems. Spam phone calls can be annoying and disruptive for businesses, but they can also lead to more serious problems.
According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), a total of 5.9 million calls were reported in 2018 that are considered “spam” calls. Of this, more than 4 million of them were robocalls making up an astounding 66 percent of all reported complaints. Many times these automated telemarketing services will use what’s known as caller-ID spoofing – pretending to be from a local number in order to deceive people into answering their call. Nowadays with advancements in technology being what it is, it can be rather difficult for people to avoid getting hit with spam calls entirely; however, there are certain measures one can take such as registering for the National Do Not Call Registry with the FTC and blocking out unknown numbers on your mobile device which may help reduce how often you get them.
Why Are Outbound Calls Flagged as Spam?
As technology advances, businesses are increasingly relying on outbound calls to stay productive and efficient. It’s not just incoming calls we need to worry about. Outbound calls from legitimate businesses can also be flagged as potential fraudulent calls.
As many as 33% of these outbound calls can be flagged as spams or scams, resulting in substantial losses from lost productivity and attempts to contact legitimate customers. This is especially damaging for companies that rely on those calls to communicate important information or offers to their targeted audiences.
The implications of a high rate of spam and scam flags extend beyond just missed opportunities – companies can end up paying a hefty price for it with reduced revenue, fewer hires, and layoffs. Due to the nature of this problem, it’s hard for businesses to identify which calls are being filtered correctly, leading them to divert resources into managing the situation instead of being able to concentrate on other areas of growth. Therefore, companies need an actionable plan in place that pays attention to identifying spam or scam-flagged outbound calls so that money isn’t wasted on illegitimate customers who will unlikely result in sales conversions.
Spam Calls Have a Big Impact on Businesses
One of the biggest impacts of spam phone calls on businesses is that they can harm a company’s reputation. When customers receive spam calls from a business, they may assume that the company is responsible for the unwanted calls. This can lead to a loss of trust and credibility, which can be difficult to regain. Additionally, customers are hesitant to do business with the company in the future, if feel their personal information is mishandled.
How Should You Handle Spam Calls?
Another strategy is to educate employees and customers about how to identify and handle spam calls. Employees should be trained on how to recognize and handle unwanted calls, and customers should be informed about how to protect their personal information from scammers. Also, businesses may consider implementing a “no-call” policy for employees, which can help to limit the number of unwanted calls that employees have to deal with.
In addition to these strategies, businesses can also take proactive steps to protect their reputation and customers from spam calls. For example, businesses can regularly monitor their online reputation and address any negative feedback related to unwanted calls. Businesses should also take steps ensuring customer data is secure and personal information is not mishandled.
