A robocall is an automated phone call that disseminates a pre-recorded message to selected phone users using an autodialer. It is a cheaper means of delivering information to a mass audience with a wide-reaching potential. Robocalls are not synonymous with frauds as generally believed. They also have legitimate use in New Jersey. For instance, robocalls are sought-after tools for political campaigns during elections. The government makes public service announcements using robocalls. Robocalls also provide telemarketers a means to advertise their products and services to numerous prospects with minimal efforts.
Robocalls are a variant of spam calls. Spam calls are unsolicited communication that attempts to sell products and services without prior request by recipients. These calls are disturbing and inundating, but reverse phone lookup applications can help New Jerseyans recognize them.
What are New Jersey Robocall Scams?
New Jersey robocall scams are deceptive automated calls that steal money and sensitive personal information from unsuspecting individuals in the state. It is one of the telephone services that phone scammers employ for fraudulent activities. Using robocalls render phone scammers anonymous, making tracking them challenging. It is also cheap to use. These are the reasons phone scammers exploit them in their schemes. New Jerseyans can avoid robocall scams if they can differentiate robocalls from live calls. Phone lookup applications can help in this regard.
New Jerseyans complain about robocalls the most in the United States of America. The state recorded an estimated 763,812 robocall complaints at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) between October 2016 and December 2019. In 2019, about 194,000 robocall complaints were made to the FTC from an estimated 1.5 billion robocalls that hit the state. New Jersey ranked fifth among the states most bothered by robocalls in that year. As of October 2020, more than 970 million robocalls had been placed to New Jerseyans.
How are Robocalls Used in New Jersey Scams?
Robocalls are not only annoying, but they also facilitate scams in New Jersey. Phone scammers do not care about a do-no-call list of phone numbers meant to prevent legitimate robocalls. They use it at will to fool residents and rip them off. Robocall scammers often spoof caller IDs to conceal their identities. Phone lookup services can identify these calls and prevent residents from falling victim to scams. In most cases, they adopt New Jersey area codes, making it appear as if they are calling from within the state. Many of these calls are, in fact, from overseas. The callers impersonate New Jersey government agencies and legitimate organizations to gain their targets' trust. As with other scams, robocall scammers' interest is to obtain sensitive information for identity and/or financial theft(s) or steal money. They have a preference for wire transfer and gift cards for receiving payment because money sent using these methods are hard to trace.
Does New Jersey Have Anti-Robocall Laws?
The New Jersey Do Not Call law exists to check the menace of robocalls in the state. This law became effective on November 1, 2016, to ensure residents' protection from unsolicited telemarketing calls. The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs enforces the Do Not Call law, investigates, and prosecutes violators where possible. It has the following provisions:
- Prohibits telemarketers from calling residents whose phone numbers are on the National Do Not Call Registry. Numbers on this list are exempt from unsolicited calls after 31 days of registration.
- Bans unregistered telemarketers from calling New Jerseyans. All telemarketers must register with Consumer Affairs.
- Forbids telemarketers from intentionally blocking residents' use of caller identification.
- Expects telemarketers to at all times maintain in-house Do Not Call lists regarding residents who have enrolled in the registry.
- The law imposes fines on violators. First-time offenders will pay up to $10,000 while they may pay up to $20,000 for subsequent violations.
Besides the Do Not Call law, New Jersey Attorney General, Gurbir S. Grewal, entered into a multistate agreement with 12 phone companies in August 2019. Under this agreement are 50 other Attorney Generals who assent to adopt some anti-robocall principles to combat the scourge of deceptive robocalls. Some of these principles, most of which responsibilities rest with participating phone service providers, include:
- Investigating suspicious calls and calling patterns.
- Provision of free call-blocking services for consumers to combat robocalls.
- Implementation of a set of technical standards and procedures called STIR/SHAKEN for authenticating phone calls.
- Monitoring robocall traffic and assisting law enforcement agencies in tracing the origins of illegal robocalls.
These principles aim to protect New Jerseyans from robocall scams. They also permit the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General (OAG) to investigate and prosecute culpable individuals engaging in deceptive robocalling. The phone providers that partook in this agreement include the four major carriers (T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T) and some Mobile Virtual Network Services (MVNOs).
Are there Special Requirements for Robocalls in New Jersey?
The answer is yes. New Jersey has some stipulations for legitimate robocalls. Unsolicited calls that do not conform to them are deemed illegal and potential scam calls. A reverse phone number lookup application can help ascertain if a phone call is a robocall. However, there are a few exceptions to these robocall provisions. Political organizations and charities may place robocalls in total disregard of the conditions, while government agencies may communicate with residents using robocalls anytime. The special requirements for robocalls in New Jersey include:
- Only residents who have given their express permission in writing should receive telemarketing calls. This aligns with the FTC's rule.
- Robocalls should not be placed to residents whose numbers are on the National Do Not Call list.
- The appropriate time for a legitimate robocall in New Jersey is the period between the hours 8:00 a.m. and 9 p.m.
- Robocalls intended for legitimate sales pitch must state the purpose of the call and provide brief information about the company.
How Do I Stop Robocalls?
Phone lookup services can help you identify a robocall. The FTC advises that the best way to avoid robocalls and phone scams is not to answer unknown phone numbers. New Jersey residents receive inundating and distracting robocalls daily. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), on June 6, 2019, passed a measure to block unwanted robocalls before getting to consumers. Robocalls are highly used by phone scammers, hence the need to act on stopping them. The best reactions to robocalls include:
- File robocall complaints with the FTC and the FCC. When you do, make sure to include the displayed caller ID, the recorded message received, and the time of the call.
- Register your number on the National Do Not Call Registry. Doing this makes it illegal for legitimate telemarketers to call you. You can register online or dial 1 (888) 382-1222 from the number you wish to add. Even though this is not fail-safe, it is easy for registered users to identify scam robocalls.
- Activate the "Do Not Disturb" feature on your cell phone to stop robocalls from disturbing you. You will only get notifications for calls from your contacts, while unknown numbers will be silenced.
- Download third-party call-blocking applications from your cell phones to bar identified robocall numbers from future calls. Some applications like Hiya, Robokiller, Truecaller, and T-Mobile Scam Block provide reverse phone number lookup free services and call-blocking services.
- End a call if you hear a pre-recorded voice. Phone scammers use some types of robocalls to determine active phone numbers. Resist the temptation of listening further to avoid future calls.