Neighbor Spoofing Can Make it Tricky to Stop Robocalls

Robocalls, often used by telemarketers, are becoming an extremely common feature of daily life; many of us are used to them by now and know how to recognize a robocall in an instant. Figuring out how to stop robocalls is a common concern for people today.

Because of the frequency of robocalls, some people may even avoid answering the phone altogether because of the likelihood that it’s another robocall. In March 2019 alone, an estimate by YouMail’s robocall index suggests that more than 5.2 billion robocalls were placed in the United States. That’s around 2,000 per second.

Robocalls are typically associated with telemarketing, but also with things like political campaigns and public announcements. Over the years, telemarketers have developed new ways to reach consumers who don’t want to receive these calls in the first place.

Why Does this Robocall Number Look Like Mine?

Why do some robocalls have phone numbers that are similar to yours? This is a practice known as neighbor spoofing, according to the Better Business Bureau. This is when a robocaller makes it look like they’re calling from a number similar to yours to lull you into a false sense of security and answer it. Often, these numbers will have the same area code and even the same first three digits.

The goal of neighbor spoofing is this: in the instant when you see a call coming in, you immediately have some kind of familiarity with the number instead of complete unrecognition. The hope of the robocaller is that this will make you more likely to answer the call.

Of course, the practice of neighbor spoofing is made altogether more suspicious because of the common use of cell phones these days. Any attempt to make a robocall look like it’s coming from a neighbor when the number they’re calling is your cell phone tends to stick out more.

How to Avoid Neighbor Spoofing Scams

It is not always obvious when an incoming call is being spoofed. Because of this, be very careful about responding to a phone call—even from a number that looks like it’s from your area—with any personal information.

According to the Federal Communications Commission, there are a few important things to keep in mind that can help protect yourself from neighbor spoofing tactics:

• Do not answer calls from unknown numbers (unless you are expecting a call from a phone number you haven’t yet programmed into your phone). If you do answer a call from an unknown number and moments later recognize your mistake, just hang up immediately and avoid engaging.
• If you answer the phone and you are asked (by a live person or by a recording) to hit a button in order to stop receiving these calls, don’t—just hang up instead. Scammers will use this trick to determine if you might quickly follow instructions, and therefore might be a potential target.
• If you are asked any questions (by a live person or a recording), do not respond, even if it is a simple “yes” or “no” answer.
• When receiving an unexpected call from an unknown number, never, ever give out personal information like Social Security numbers, account numbers, passwords, or other identifying information.
• If the caller says they represent a particular company or even the government, hang up—then check this information on the company or government agency’s website or other documentation to see if this is an authentic caller. Usually, you would get information in the mail or via email before receiving a phone call—especially if a payment is involved.
• Of course, always err on the side of caution—especially if the person on the line is pressuring you for information quickly.

The Telephone Consumer Protection Act

The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) was introduced back in 1991 to protect consumers from unwanted solicitation through technology. As technology has shifted, the TCPA has been updated accordingly, and now includes text messaging, robocalls, and pre-recorded voice messaging systems.

Not all robocalls are illegal under the TCPA. Businesses are allowed to make robocalls under a few essential guidelines:

• If they have the consumer’s written or electronic consent
• If the robocall identifies the business, their address, and their phone number
• The robocall provides an option of opting out of future calls

Despite TCPA guidelines, illegal robocalls still occur regularly. The Federal Trade Commission has said that robocalls are its number one complaint.

Filing a TCPA Lawsuit

If you are being inundated by robocalls, there are ways to stop this from happening. Keeping your number as private as you can, signing up for the national Do Not Call registry, or using an app to block robocalls are all good steps to stop robocalls.

Another method to help stop robocalls is pursuing a TCPA lawsuit. In order to help ensure that your lawsuit is as effective as it can be, keep records of messages or phone calls that you believe violate the TCPA as evidence. Do not delete your caller ID record, and also make a written record of these calls or texts, including the date and time of the call, the caller’s identity (or who they claimed to be) and a summary of the conversation. If you revoked your consent to receive such calls, keep any written record you have.

When a consumer reports TCPA violations, they help to hold companies using illegal robocalling methods accountable for their actions, and they may also be entitled to some compensation per violation. A single violation of the TCPA may incur a $500 to $1,500 fine, depending on whether it is deemed to have been made “negligently” or “willfully.”

Join a Free TCPA Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you were contacted on your cell phone by a company via an unsolicited text message (text spam) or prerecorded voice message (robocall), you may be eligible for compensation under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.

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This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.