If you get upwards of five robocalls a day, you’ve probably noticed that robocalls are on the rise.

And despite many attempts to lessen or stop these calls, sometimes they still come through. But the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is taking action and wants to ensure homes and businesses are free of these annoying calls.

The FCC decided to ban robocalls and is actively working towards preventing companies from using robocall systems. But where did robocalls come from in the first place? And why do so many companies use robocalls to target people? There are plenty of reasons for this as well as why the FCC banned robocalls.

What is a robocall?

Robocalls come from a number of different places, but the most common ones are from companies attempting to trick people into sending them money. For example, you may get a robocall saying the warranty on your car is expired and you need to pay to have it updated. Or you might get a robocall saying there’s something wrong with your social security number and you need to contact the IRS. Whatever the scam, these robocalls are harmful, and unsuspecting people fall victim to these schemes. In fact, from June of 2020 to June of 2021, over 59 million people were victims of a robocall scam and lost a total of $28.9 billion.

What is the FCC doing about robocalls?

The FCC realized that robocalls were running rampant and causing substantial damage to the United States. They decided to start a caller ID authentication system via industry rules known as STIR/SHAKEN. The FCC required many well-known cell phone companies to implement this system for their customers by June of 2021. Over the last year, you may have noticed a decrease in spam and robocalls, and STIR/SHAKEN is why that’s happened.

What is STIR/SHAKEN?

STIR/SHAKEN is a number of industry rules that require authentication from voice providers. This ensures that the call you receive is from the number displayed on your screen. The framework used to confirm if a caller is legitimate is called attestation. This works like a virtual signature, and it requires a cell phone provider to have some level of confidence that the person calling does in fact have permission to use their assigned phone number.

How do I stop robocalls?

There are many ways to lessen or completely stop getting robocalls. One of the most effective ways is to use a security robocall blocker. These track robocall trends and block robocalls from even reaching your phone. Here at Prescott-Martini, we have created a sophisticated technology in line with the STIR/SHAKEN model that stops robocalls in their tracks. We believe everyone should be able to answer their phone with confidence, instead of worrying who might be on the other end.

If you’re curious about Prescott-Martini and want to know more about our services, contact us today! We’d be happy to answer any questions you may have about robocalls and how to stop them from interrupting your day.