Is it worth registering my number with the federal government (which presumably already has access to my information) to avoid spam calls? Does it work? Is there a downside?
And also, why does this sub require a URL to post a question? Like, what if my question was so truly stupid that there was no related website?
If internet companies would fix VOIP protocol, so that spammers couldn’t spoof any phone numbers they wanted, then 95% of spam calls would disappear.
The Do Not Call registry was the easiest thing in the world for Congress to do, because it didn’t actually do anything and it didn’t cost them anything to do. You can’t catch a spammer unless you can identify them. And you can’t do that with a spoofed phone number
I’ve been using call screening in iOS and it’s stopped pretty much all unwanted calls. Automated systems do not know how to handle it yet and they waste their time because the call is “answered” and sent to whatever agent they use.
The registry only works for legitimate companies that are playing by the rules. That is to say that it does jack shit, at least for me
I get dozens of spam calls and texts a day, mostly political in nature but with some good loan scams mixed in for variety.
I think political calls are basically exempt from it, anyways.
https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/political-campaign-robocalls-and-robotexts-rules
“Prior consent” is basically moot if you ever donate to a y campaign, ever, because you have to provide a real phone number. Or if you sign a petition your party is running, or somehow end up having that party get your number some other legitimate way. They have no way to prove (or you to disprove) your consent.
I just treat them all as spam, and report/block accordingly.
iOS 26 gave people the built-in call screening, which has been amazing for weeding out garbage calls, at least. Text messages are a different evil, but there are apps you can use to trash text messages that contain specific words, etc.
What are those texting apps? I think the entire Democratic Party has sold my cellphone number to each other for fundraising and I want to not see any of it
The DNC just gives it to any Dem campaign. RNC is the same. I use SMS Filter+.
It did until the Trump administration. Also most of the violators are from overseas using spoofed numbers.
Same. I’ve had mine registered since its inception in 2003. It worked great for a while. Now I get at least 10 spam calls a day.
Keep in mind it only works for callers who play by the rules.
And also, why does this sub require a URL to post a question? Like, what if my question was so truly stupid that there was no related website?
That might be an issue with your app/client/browser, because if you look at the rest of the sub there’s plenty of posts without a link. Unless it was changed between your post and the one before it.
Edit: It’s because I chose “Link” as the type of post. If I had chosen “Discussion”, a URL wouldn’t have been required.
I always do this - I ask questions first and click around later. JFC, I don’t know if I’ve got ADHD or just come down with a case of boomeritis.
Thanks for this!
The field was marked required, with a red asterisk. I tried posting without a URL, and it did not accept the webform. Said I needed to fill in the required field.
I took a screenshot: https://imgur.com/a/gbF3jP3
(And if Imgur doesn’t meet Lemmy standards, I’m happy to use a different service.)
In France, the Do Not Call registry will tell every company on the planet that your phone number is valid. Which means “more spam.” Hilarious, and I expect it’s the same in the USA.
I added my number to the list and within a month I started getting A LOT fewer spam calls. I still get a couple here and there, but before it was like 5 a week.
Works really well in Australia
I report spam calls to them everytime I get one and the spam calls stop after about a week or two, I say they work.
