When the phone rings, and it's an automated call you're not expecting, do you know what to do?
Here's what you should not do: follow the prompts and press 1, 2, or any number they tell you to. There's a good reason why.
Won a Trip? Sure
We've all had to deal with it. The phone rings, and yup, it's another automated telemarketing call, or robocall as they are now named.
The automated voice tells you that you have won a trip, or it's your good friend Rachel, telling you how you can lower your credit card rate. Blah blah blah.
Then then instruct you to press "0" to speak with an operator, or perhaps to press "1" to be removed from their calling list.
But don't do it.
The websiteConsumeristsays by pushing any button at all, you are letting the caller know you are a real live person.
You're almost guaranteed to get more, not fewer calls, after that.
Doesn't That Stink?
And from the "doesn't that stink" file, what typically happens when you push a button in response to a robocall?
The caller then puts your number on a list of live and potential future customers. Some will even sell that list to other telemarketers, so you get more and more calls. Doesn't that stink?
Consumerist says if you get an unwanted robocall, hang up as soon as possible. If you capture the number on your caller ID, you can report it to the FTC atwww.FTC.gov.
Bottom line: don't let a robocaller know you are a real live person. Don't answer it, or if you do, just hang up.
That way you get fewer marketing calls, and you don't waste your money.
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Don't Waste Your Money is a registered trademark of the EW Scripps Co.
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