Ways Telemarketers Get Your Cell Phone Number
Limiting Unwanted Telemarketing Calls
Telemarketers have become an absolute problem in recent times. They will ask an endless series of questions and invariably try to sell you something.Unfortunately, this is a familiar situation to a lot of people.
How do telemarketers get my phone number? This article will show you how telemarketers get telephone numbers to call and if legal and the best way to stop it.
Table of Contents
How do telemarketers get my phone number?
How do telemarketers get my phone number? The most popular method for telemarketers to obtain your number is to buy the number from a third-party data provider. There are a myriad of data providers who have an array of information about people. They gather your personal information from sources such as warranties and online purchases, or even searching online for numbers to create a lucrative data file that can be sold.
Methods How Telemarketers Obtain Your Cell Phone Number
How do they get your number? You may be shocked.
- You overshare your number: Every time you complete the form and hand out your number, whether it’s for an entry in a contest, a warranty registration, or a signup form for a service online or even the information you put on your social network profile–you’re inviting people to contact you. Think about the number of merchants that have your phone number since you’re trying to earn discounts or credit. The mere act of putting your telephone numbers in an email’s signature could be a risk.
- You accept Terms of Use without reading or understanding them: Sasse says a growing amount of mobile apps — like flashlight utilities or games — are just interested in obtaining your personal data and selling it.
- Big data has killed privacy: In case you’re not aware of “big data” is, here’s a quick overview. We live in a world where computers are so sophisticated and fast that they are able to crawl the web and examine millions of data points at once. In a matter of seconds, they examine every single thing you like, pin,, pin or tweet. They are able to mine census data as well as other public records, like the amount it cost to buy your home and if the house was ever foreclosed on. Also, the more information you provide on the internet, the easier it will be for someone else to obtain access to your phone number.
- Technology can dial zillions of random numbers like it’s nothing: We’ve all experienced calls that didn’t have a human being on the other side. The recording is not only automated, but often also the process of locating your phone number.
- Automatic Number Identification can also sabotage you: if you dial 800, 888 and numbers, your number could be snatched through a system known as “Automatic Number Identification” or ANI. ANI instantly recognizes your number, and then stores it. It compares it to other digital markers online connected to your number.
- The credit bureaus give away your information: before you become angry at them for leaking the majority of your personal data Remember that you were the one who signed up for the credit card at the department store in order to enjoy a 25 percent discount.
- Charities take all the fun out of being philanthropic: Aren’t you annoyed when you make a donation of $10 to a charity who’s been hounding you to see it double-down in its efforts to extract additional money? The ten dollars you have given it is squandered by its marketing efforts in order in order to gain more access to your money.
Steps to stop telemarketers from calling your cell phone
It appears that everyone who has a mobile has their personal information to telephone callers. Although they might be annoying at the moment however, the unwanted calls could grow to include more calls from telemarketers all day long or may lead to frauds that could result in you paying a huge amount.
National Do Not Call Registry
One method to stop the number of calls you receive from your mobile or home phone is to make sure you register your number(s) in the nationwide Do-Not-Call Registry. Telemarketers for commercial purposes are forbidden from calling numbers listed in the Registry within the first 31 days from the date they are listed. There are exceptions, however, since the Registry does not prohibit the following kinds of calls.
| The following calls are still allowed: |
|
|
|
|
|
In addition, if it’s been a while since you’ve given an authorized company permission in writing to contact you (which you might have accidentally done) Being included on the List isn’t helpful (until you cancel the permission).
Download Call Blockers
There are numerous apps that can help stop unwanted calls from telemarketers or spammers. They can also assist in blacklisting these robocallers to everyone who has received a call from your cell which reduces the possibility of bots from all over.
But, thanks to easy access to technological advancements, spam phone calls become more sophisticated with the passing of time. Fraudsters are now employing the technique of spoofing to make fake numbers using similar area codes, making them appear more authentic. This means that security apps will no longer be able to guard your privacy adequately.
What Is The TCPA and What Does It Prohibit?
The TCPA was passed in 1991 through Congress as an addition to the Communications Act of 1934. It limits usage of ATDS and prerecorded messages and prohibits the transmission of unsolicited marketing faxes and text messages.
In the beginning it was the TCPA mandated that companies using the telemarketing method establish a system to monitor consumers who have expressed an intention to not be further contacted. That is they had to create their own “Do Not Call list. Inability to keep the list and to honor requests to not be contacted over a period of up to 5 years was unlawful by law.
Telemarketers who fall under the TCPA are not also permitted to make calls to landline customers between 8:00 am and after 9 pm, in the time zone in which the customer is. The TCPA does not permit ATDS and prerecorded sales messages as well as phone calls that are routed to any emergency contact number such as 9-1-1, the hospital emergency room and elder care facilities, or patient rooms in the care center or doctor’s office. Also, it prohibits calling multiple lines in the multi-line company.
Telemarketers are also forbidden from transmitting ATDS contacts and prerecorded messages to mobile phones since consumers are required to purchase the services and the data connected to the phone.
The Telemarketing Fraud
While marketing calls from a phone are annoying, occasionally calls that appear to be an ordinary sales pitch is a fraud. In reality the FTC says that consumers suffer losses of millions of dollars every year to fraudulent practices.
Scammers typically obtain numbers from directories of telephones or mailing lists. They also have the so-called “sucker lists” with the names and phone numbers of those who have answered phone calls at some point in time. Similar to fraudulent solicitations, they are made by direct mail, advertisements in newspapers or online (including emails).
Do not divulge personal identifiable details (especially the Social Security Number), bank account numbers or credit card numbers to a stranger and be wary of any offers from unsolicited phone calls. You should consult a lawyer for consumer protection If you think you’re scammed, or have any additional questions regarding lawful telemarketing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I remove my phone number from telemarketing lists?
Start by registering to join the Do Not Call List. This gives you the chance to remove your telephone number from lists of telemarketing and significantly reduce the amount of calls from telemarketing. The majority of telemarketers will remove your name from their lists and cease calling you after the period of 31 days following the registration. If you still receive calls after this, you may submit an action.
How do call centers get my number?
There are computer programs which start with a code and then dial numbers in a specific sequence. 555-1000, 555-1100, 555-1110 etc. They’re also known as auto-dialers. More often, they’re buying updated phone numbers from other call center firms or number gatherers that are based on a variety of factors like income, age, buying habits, and geographic location.
What companies that sell your phone number to telemarketing groups in the US?
They are generally referred to as “lead brokers” in the telecoms industry. They receive their numbers through online registration forms, the “car give away if you fill out this form” offers that you find in the mall, and companies which you currently use the services or products of all kinds of methods. A similar list of numbers is given to several call centers in nearly every instance.
Can companies sell your phone number?
They could then sell or offer your name, address as well as your phone number and your spending history to anyone else. If you make a donation to charities, getting your cell phone number and name could far exceed your contribution in terms of value. Often, charities contract third-party companies for telemarketing to collect money to their benefit.
