How to Reduce Unwanted Scam Phone Calls
Do you get a lot of calls trying to sell you products or services you never asked for? Sometimes telemarketing calls are random. Other times, companies trick you into sharing your information so they can sell it to the telemarketers that call you (without your permission). If you’re on the Do Not Call Registry, these calls are illegal. So, how can you cut down on the number of unwanted telemarketing calls you get?
If you share your personal information with websites offering coupons, sweepstakes, or quotes for products like insurance or warranties, the site owners might collect and sell your info to different telemarketers. That is when the calls start from telemarketers — making calls you never agreed to receive and selling products you did not ask for. And that is when the law violations can start adding up.
Recently the FTC announced a settlement with Citizens Disability, a company selling Social Security disability advocacy services primarily through telemarketing calls. The FTC charged that the company bought personal information (which came from websites offering things like coupons and sweepstakes) and used it to make millions of illegal telemarketing calls, including robocalls. The FTC also charged that the company falsely told millions of people it was calling in response to their recent inquiry about their eligibility for Social Security disability benefits.
To help you cut down on unwanted telemarketing calls and avoid scams:
Protect your personal information.
Before you enter your information on a website, search the name of the site plus “complaint,” “review,” or “scam.”
Report illegal robocalls at DoNotCall.gov.
Many illegal robocalls lead to scams. Learn more at ftc.gov/robocalls.
Remember, if you have registered your phone number on the Do Not Call Registry, you should not get live sales calls from companies you have not done business with before.
For more advice on how to stop unwanted calls, visit ftc.gov/calls.
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December 2025
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Each year, scammers become increasingly active during the Medicare Open Enrollment Period, seeking to exploit your money, personal information, or both. As you evaluate your health coverage and prescription options from October 15 to December 7, it is crucial to learn how to identify Medicare scams.
First, be aware that scammers frequently impersonate Medicare and reach out to you without warning. They may sound credible and possess some of your personal data. They may also claim you need a “new” or “updated” Medicare card and then request your Medicare, bank account, or credit card details.
However, real Medicare cards are provided at no cost and are distributed automatically. Actual Medicare representatives will never call, text, or email you unexpectedly asking for your personal information or requesting payment.
Here are some strategies to safeguard yourself from Medicare scams during Open Enrollment and throughout the rest of the year:
Disregard unsolicited calls from anyone demanding your Medicare, personal, or financial details. Medicare will only request information verification if you have initiated contact. They will never sell you anything or instruct you to pay for your Medicare card— only scammers engage in such tactics.
Do not trust your caller ID. It might display Medicare's name or number, but caller ID can be manipulated. To verify the call, simply hang up and dial 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
Seek assistance in comparing costs, coverage, and plans. Reach out to your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for guidance. You can also find information about your coverage options at Medicare.gov, the official U.S. government site for Medicare, or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.
Report Medicare impersonators and other scams to 1-800-MEDICARE, and also notify the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
For November 2025, we bring recent scam alert warnings to make everyone aware how the vulnerable among us can be too trusting at times. If your area has camera speed traps or road tolls using cameras to capture your license plate data, it can lead to financial penalties. NEVER trust a text message on your phone. Just when you let down your guard, that is when the fraudsters get bold.
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Recent reports to the FTC highlight an alarming increase in scams targeting the life savings of retirees. Scammers often impersonate reputable government agencies and businesses, exploiting the trust of older adults. Ironically, many of these con artists employ counterfeit security alerts and false warnings to manipulate seniors’ concerns about safeguarding their finances and identities, ultimately stealing their funds. Numerous individuals aged 60 and above have reported draining their bank accounts and emptying their 401(k) plans.
While younger individuals also fall victim to these schemes, older adults are significantly more likely to report substantial financial losses, often in the tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. The statistics are striking: from 2020 to 2024, the number of cases involving older adults losing $10,000 or more to scams surged over four times. Particularly concerning is that reports of losses exceeding $100,000 increased nearly sevenfold, with total reported losses rising eightfold during the same timeframe.
These high-stakes scams generally initiate with a fabricated story designed to grab your attention using one or more of the following falsehoods:
Lie #1: Your accounts are compromised. Scammers may impersonate your bank, claiming to detect unusual activity, or pose as Amazon, alerting you to an unauthorized transaction;
Lie #2: Your identity is linked to criminal activity. This ruse may come from someone pretending to be a government agent, insisting that your Social Security number is involved in serious crimes such as drug trafficking or money laundering; or
Lie #3: There's an issue with your computer's security. This deception often begins with a bogus on-screen alert that resembles a legitimate message from Microsoft or Apple, followed by a phone number to call. If you reach out, they might claim your online accounts have been hacked.
The crooks assert that the only solution to this (fabricated) crisis is to follow their directions, which typically involves sending money to them. They may claim this is necessary to protect your assets, secure your identity, clear your name, or assist in capturing the so-called criminals. While the story may include various complicated elements, it is fundamentally a ruse aimed at emptying your accounts. Evidence shows that individuals who believe they are resolving an issue rather than giving money to a stranger often face losses limited only by their financial resources.
Although many scams are executed online, they ultimately rely on phone communication. Even if the scam does not begin with a call, the objective is to get you on the line. Conversations are effective in amplifying fear and urgency, making it challenging for you to think rationally or verify information. Keeping you on the phone also serves to isolate you from anyone who could provide assistance, like a friend or family member in a more composed mindset who could help you see through the deception.
Please, if you come across a scam, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
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Fraudsters continue to impersonate law enforcement, claiming you’ve missed jury duty and demanding payment. Recently, some have taken it a step further by directing victims to a website to input personal details, allowing them to pilfer your identity and funds.
The scam begins with a call impersonating an officer from your local police department (which it is not). They assert you have missed jury duty (most likely false) and threaten arrest unless you visit a website to pay a fine (which is also untrue).
They will redirect you to a site that appears legitimate, featuring an official-sounding URL and government-like seals (all fabricated). The website prompts you for your birthdate and Social Security number to “determine how much you owe.” It might demand payment of up to $10,000 in fines or direct you to a “government kiosk” (that does not exist) for cryptocurrency payments. Everything about this is a scam.
Here is what you should know:
Authentic police officers do not call to inform you about potential arrests or threaten you for hanging up, even if the caller ID shows your local precinct (scammers can spoof that).
Only scammers demand payment through cash, gift cards, apps, cryptocurrencies, or wire services like Western Union or MoneyGram.
If you receive such a call, hang up immediately. Notify the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
If you suspect the call might be legitimate, do not visit the provided URL. Instead, check the official court website for jury duty information or contact the court directly using a verified phone number.
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