What is a spam caller?
Definition
A spam caller is a person or automated system that phones you with unwanted calls, such as sales pitches, robocalls or scams, usually without your permission and often from a number they've disguised.
- Category
- Scams
- Also called
- spam call, scam caller, robocaller
- Last updated
A spam caller is anyone who rings you with a call you didn't ask for and don't want. Some are just aggressive telemarketers. Others are robocalls, where a recording plays when you pick up. The worst are scammers who pretend to be your bank, a delivery company or a government agency to get money or personal details out of you.
The FTC and FCC both treat illegal robocalls and scam calls as a consumer problem, not a nuisance you have to live with. Their advice on the call itself is the same: hang up, don't press any numbers and don't call back. Pressing a button to "opt out" tells the caller your number is live, which tends to bring more calls.
How they get your number
Spam callers dial numbers in bulk, so some calls are random. Many aren't. Data brokers and people-search sites list phone numbers next to names and addresses, and those lists get sold and reused. That's why some spam calls know your name or your town.
Spam caller vs. spoofing
Spoofing is a faking of the number shown on your caller ID, often to look local or to look like a company you know. A spam caller often uses it, but not every spam caller does. If a call shows your own area code, that's not proof it's someone you know. Our entry on spoofing explains how it works.
Why it matters
Most spam calls are a waste of time. Some are the first step of a scam, such as a fake fraud alert that asks you to read out a security code. A caller who already knows your name sounds more believable, so cutting down how much of your data is listed publicly helps.
How to protect yourself
- 1
Hang up and don't press anything
Don't say yes, don't press a number to be removed and don't call back the number shown. The FTC and FCC both give this advice for illegal robocalls.
- 2
Turn on call blocking
Check your carrier's free call-blocking or labeling service and your phone's built-in settings for blocking numbers. On a landline, you can add a call-blocking device. For spam texts, forward the message to 7726 (SPAM) if your carrier supports it.
- 3
Report the call
If you didn't lose money, report it at DoNotCall.gov. If you lost money, report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. You can also file an unwanted calls complaint with the FCC at fcc.gov/complaints. Include the number on your caller ID, even if it looks fake.
- 4
Don't rely on the Do Not Call Registry alone
Joining is free and cuts down legitimate sales calls, but the FTC says it won't stop scammers, who ignore it.
- 5
Get your number off the lists spam callers use
Serus finds where your phone number is listed on sites that sell it and removes it, and keeps watching for it to reappear.
See where your personal data is exposed
Serus finds it on data brokers and people-search sites and removes it.
Frequently asked
Should I answer a call from an unknown number?
You don't have to. Let it go to voicemail. A real caller will leave a message, and you can look up the organization yourself and call back using the number on its official website.
Does blocking a spam caller work?
For that number, yes. But spam callers switch numbers often, so blocking one at a time is slow. Carrier blocking tools and call-labeling apps work on patterns across many numbers instead.
What should I do if I already shared information with a spam caller?
If you gave out a password or security code, change the password and contact the real company on its official number. If you paid or shared card or bank details, report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and tell your bank right away.
Sources
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