Spam Calls vs. Robocalls: Understanding the Differences and How to Stop Them
Unsolicited calls come in various but equally annoying ways - be it an agent selling a property you never wanted or an automated voice letting you know about a credit card you don't need.
The problem of spam calls is widespread and concerning. 64% of Indians reported receiving 3 or more spam calls on average each day.
Are you facing the same issue? If yes, understanding how spam calls and robocalls operate is crucial to help you stay informed about common spamming tactics.
Understanding the Difference:
Spam Call vs Robocall Spam calls are unsolicited calls that can flood our phones, be it for promoting or selling a product or service. These often range from insurance, credit cards, and limited-time offers and can be made by either a company representative or a calling agent.
A robocall, on the other hand, is a spam call made by a computerized auto-dealer that even plays a pre-recorded message or connects the call to a live person. These calls are typically made by machines, hence the term "Robo,"and are used for various deceitful purposes.
Unlike spam calls, robocalls are often programmed to play a recorded message without interacting with the recipient. This automation makes it ideal for the mass distribution of messages with minimal effort on the caller's part.
How to Stop Spam Calls & Robocalls?
To mitigate spam and robocalls, you can do the following things:
1. Register on the National Do Not Call Registry
Aware of the problem with spam calls, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has launched the National Do Not Call (NDNC) Registry, preventing any business or organization from calling you without your permission.
To sign up, you need to send “START” to 1909 from your registered mobile number and follow the steps received in the text. Several telecom providers like Jio, Bharati Airtel, and Vodafone India also have their registry that uses the Unsolicited Commercial Communication (UCC) detection system to block unsolicited calls and texts to your number.
This is a free service that prevents telemarketers from calling you. However, it does not entirely prevent all spam calls or robocalls. Scammers can still contact you since their number is not registered for commercial use, and they often use number spoofing to prevent their details from being known.
2. Use a Caller ID and Screening App
Several apps are available that can help you identify and block spam calls and robocalls. These often use crowd-sourced data to flag potential spam or robocalls, allowing you to make an informed decision about whether to answer.
However, since these apps often use crowd-sourced data, your number and information will also be show cased to other users, making it a data security risk.
3. Change your Phone Settings
You can often set your phone to block calls from unknown numbers or numbers not in your contact list. Some phones also allow users to create custom filters, allowing calls only from known contacts to ring through.
While this setting is helpful, it is not ideal for businesses or working professionals, who may miss out on important calls
4. Use a Robocall-blocking Service
There are several services available that can block spam calls and robocalls. These services use advanced algorithms to analyze incoming calls in real time and determine the likelihood of them being robocalls.
Although they are efficient, they still won't help in blocking robocalls completely, as spammers keep using multiple numbers to contact you.
5. Report to Relevant Authorities
The initiatives undertaken by the government and telecom companies are commendable to help fight the menace of spam calls and robocalls. And you need to leverage them for your protection by taking necessary action and staying aware.
Report spam call numbers to UCC or to your phone service provider. Upon reporting, you will be asked for several details, including the date, time, and description of the spam call.
Stay Protected With a Doosra Virtual Number
Despite having your number in the National Do Not Call (NDNC) registry, reporting to authorities and being aware, the barrage of spam calls may not stop fully.
This is where having a virtual number in India can be the game-changer you need. Doosra enables you to get a virtual private number with a single device, which helps you to keep your personal number separate from your business number.
Doosra virtual number provider has an intelligent spam-blocking mechanism and advanced features like voicemail, white-list contacts, secure call-back without revealing your real number, and more.
Go incognito on spam calls with the Doosra call blocker and ensure that your personal details and numbers are never exposed.
So, combat spam with awareness and technology!
