Understanding the Problem of Unwanted Sales Calls
Unwanted sales calls have become one of the most common complaints in the United States. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), consumers filed over 4.7 million complaints about unwanted calls and texts in 2023 alone. These calls range from telemarketers selling products and services to more dangerous scams targeting seniors and vulnerable people. The average American receives between 25 and 50 unwanted calls per month, though some people report receiving over 100 calls monthly.
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Unwanted sales calls take several forms. Some are from legitimate companies trying to sell their products or services. Others are robocalls—automated calls that use recorded messages to reach thousands of people at once. Many are from scammers pretending to be from banks, government agencies, or tech companies to steal personal information or money. The problem has grown worse over the past decade because technology has made it cheaper and easier for callers to reach large numbers of people quickly.
The impact of these calls goes beyond annoyance. Research shows that unwanted calls cause stress, disrupt work and sleep, and cost people time and money. Elderly people are particularly vulnerable, losing an estimated $3 billion annually to phone scams. Even younger people fall victim to sophisticated scams that pretend to be from well-known companies or government programs. Understanding how these calls work and what tools are available to stop them is the first step toward protecting yourself.
Practical Takeaway: Recognize that unwanted sales calls are a widespread problem affecting millions of Americans. Not all unwanted calls are simple marketing calls—some may be scams targeting your personal information or money. Taking action to reduce these calls protects your privacy and security.
How Your Phone Number Gets Sold and Shared
One of the most important things to understand is how telemarketers and scammers get your phone number in the first place. Your number does not stay private by chance—companies actively buy, sell, and trade phone numbers across many industries. When you provide your phone number to a business, that information may be shared with other companies unless you specifically tell them not to. This is legal under certain circumstances and is how your number ends up on multiple call lists.
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Phone numbers enter the telemarketing pipeline through several common sources. When you fill out a warranty card for a product, enter a contest, sign up for a store loyalty program, or provide your number to a business for any reason, that information may be added to a list. Data brokers—companies whose business is collecting and selling personal information—purchase records from public sources like property records, vehicle registrations, and court documents. They compile this information into lists that are then sold to telemarketing companies. Online forms asking for your phone number, even seemingly innocent ones, can result in your number being sold to multiple parties.
Phone numbers are also generated randomly or in patterns. Scammers and robocallers use software to dial numbers in sequence or in geographic clusters. This means you may receive calls even if you never gave anyone your number—the caller simply dialed a range of numbers in your area code. The cost of making these calls has dropped so much that callers profit even if only a tiny fraction of people respond. Additionally, once a scammer knows your number is active and that you answered, your number becomes more valuable because it proves someone is on the other end.
Practical Takeaway: Be selective about where you provide your phone number. Understand that businesses may share your information with third parties. When you do give your number out, ask the business how it will use and protect that information. Know that scammers also call numbers they generate randomly, so even a private number may receive unwanted calls.
Federal Laws and Regulations That Protect You
Several federal laws exist to protect consumers from unwanted sales calls. The most important is the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), passed in 1991. This law restricts telemarketing calls, auto-dialed calls, artificial or prerecorded calls, text messages, and calls to cell phones. The TCPA makes it illegal for companies to call cell phones using autodialers or prerecorded messages without prior express written consent. It also requires telemarketers to maintain a "do-not-call" list and to comply with the national Do Not Call Registry.
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The National Do Not Call Registry, managed by the FTC, is one of the most powerful consumer protection tools. Established in 2003, this registry allows consumers to register their phone numbers to limit telemarketing calls. Since its creation, over 279 million phone numbers have been registered. For most telemarketers, calling a number on the registry is illegal and can result in fines of $43,792 per violation. However, the registry does not stop all calls—charities, nonprofits, political organizations, and survey companies are exempt from the Do Not Call requirements. Banks, insurance companies, and other companies with which you have a business relationship can also call you.
The FTC also enforces rules against robocalls and spoofing. The Truth in Caller ID Act makes it illegal to transmit false caller ID information with the intent to defraud, cause harm, or wrongfully obtain something of value. Many scammers use spoofing technology to make their calls appear to come from legitimate businesses or local numbers, which makes this law particularly important. In recent years, the FTC and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) have also worked to require phone companies to implement call authentication technology to reduce spoofed calls.
Practical Takeaway: Registering your number with the National Do Not Call Registry is a free, legal protection that stops most telemarketing calls. Keep in mind that some calls (from charities, nonprofits, political groups, and companies you do business with) are still legal even if you are on the registry. Report violations to the FTC at donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222.
Steps to Reduce Unwanted Sales Calls
Stopping unwanted sales calls requires taking multiple actions rather than relying on one solution. The first and most essential step is registering your phone number with the National Do Not Call Registry. You can register at donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222 from the phone you want to register. There is no charge to register, and registration is permanent (it does not expire and does not need to be renewed). Most legitimate telemarketers will stop calling within 31 days of registration. Even though some calls are exempt from Do Not Call rules, registering eliminates calls from a large portion of telemarketing companies.
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Beyond registration, you should take steps with individual companies. When you receive a call from a company, you can ask to be placed on their internal do-not-call list. Reputable companies will honor this request. If a company continues to call after you have asked them to stop, you have a potential legal claim under the TCPA. Document each call—note the date, time, phone number if visible, and the company's name. This information becomes important if you need to report the calls or pursue legal action.
Adjust the settings on your phone to reduce unwanted calls. Most modern phones have built-in features to block calls from unknown numbers or to screen calls. iPhone users can enable "Silence Unknown Callers" in settings, while Android users can use "Call Screen" or similar features. Consider using call-blocking apps that screen incoming calls and warn you about known spam numbers. Many of these apps learn from users' reports about which numbers are spam. Phone companies also offer call-blocking services—ask your provider what options are available. Some services are free; others require a small monthly fee.
Never call back a number from an unknown caller, even if they leave a voicemail. Scammers sometimes use techniques where they call and hang up, hoping you will call back and rack up charges or expose yourself to a scam. Do not provide personal information, including your Social Security number, date of birth, or banking information, to unknown callers. Legitimate companies will not ask for this information over the phone unless you initiated the call. Hang up on calls that pressure you to act immediately or threaten you with legal action or arrest.
Practical Takeaway: Register with Do Not Call, use your phone's built-in blocking features, ask companies to stop calling, and never give personal information to unknown callers. These steps together create multiple layers of protection against unwanted calls.
Recognizing and Reporting Scam Calls
Scam calls differ from regular telemarketing calls because their goal