The Federal Trade Commission has reached a settlement with XCast Labs after the Voice over Internet Protocol provider was accused of facilitating billions in robocalls. Federal regulators have sued the California-based company for helping other companies circumvent the Do Not Call Registry.
Now, XCast Labs could have to pay a $10 million fine and begin reviewing the company for compliance with U.S. telemarketing laws.
woman talking on mobile phone (Kurt “Cyber Guy” Knutson)
How XCast Labs was accused of helping scammers make millions of fake calls
XCast Labs is accused of helping other companies make more than 100 million robocalls. The California-based voice provider denies any wrongdoing in the settlement. The FTC is investigating this incident. From 2020. At the time, the company sent a letter to Voice over Internet Protocol providers, including XCast Labs, reminding them that supporting illegal telemarketers is against the law.
The company filed a complaint in May, alleging that the company continues to send illegal robocalls. Some of these calls included telemarketers posing as government employees, such as the Social Security Administration.
XCast Labs faces a proposed $10 million fine and would have to not only begin a review of the company but also cut ties with illegal telemarketers.
woman talking on mobile phone (Kurt “Cyber Guy” Knutson)
More information: How hackers can send text messages from your phone without your knowledge
How to protect yourself from robocalls
Here are seven things you can do to prevent robocalls.
1) Register your phone number with the National Do Not Call Registry
You can register your phone number with the National Do Not Call Registry using the following methods: this link. This settlement proves there are ways around the registry, but it's still an additional layer of security.
2) If you do not recognize the number, please do not accept it.
It sounds simple, but it's the easiest way to avoid potentially dangerous calls. Most carriers now have a way to identify robocalls by identifying them as a “spam risk,” for example. Another way they try to trick you is to use your area code and possibly the first three digits of your or a family member's phone number to trick you into answering them. That's it. It becomes even more important to look carefully at the numbers on the screen.
3) You should also consider blocking the number in your mobile phone settings.
Another way to avoid this is to block unknown numbers in your phone settings.
For iPhone users: To silence unknown callers:
*Settings may differ depending on the manufacturer of your Android device.
- Tap setting
- Tap phone
- Tap Silence unknown callers
- Then toggle to turn it on – it turns green
- If you call 911, this feature will be disabled for 24 hours and emergency calls will be able to come through your phone.
Ability to Silence Unknown Callers on iPhone (Kurt “Cyber Guy” Knutson)
For Android users: To silence unknown callers:
- Tap setting
- Tap block number
- turn on Block unknown callers Features
One important thing to remember when using this feature is that it not only blocks potential spammers, it also blocks unknown phone numbers that you have never called or texted before. That's it. So if you're expecting a call from someone you haven't received calls or texts from, you might want to think twice about enabling this.
4) Telemarketers and spammers may have your phone number online
Your personal information will be published on the web. If you want to prevent access to your personal information, do the following: Consider moving services. No service promises to remove all data from the Internet, but if you want to constantly monitor and automate the process of removing information from hundreds of sites over an extended period of time, a removal service is a good option. is the best. Check out my recommended removal services here.
5) Manually block numbers from spam robocalls
If you get a call from an unknown number and don't leave a voice message, it's likely a robocall. Other robocalls send threatening or enticing messages directly to voicemail, prompting those who are truly vulnerable to act quickly. In any case, you can manually block these numbers on your iPhone by:
- Tap . unknown quantity
- Scroll down the screen and tap “Block this caller”
- Tap “Block contact”
More information: How to send spam calls directly to voicemail
6) Use your wireless carrier's free spam and robocall blocking services
Some wireless carriers offer their own free robocall scanning and blocking services. among them:
- AT&T Call Protection – Available for iPhone and androidThis allows customers to manually block unwanted calls, label suspected robocalls as a “spam risk,” and help prevent unwanted calls from reaching you.
- Sprint/T-Mobile scam shield – An app that labels all potentially dangerous calls as “Possible Fraud” and opens free controls for several anti-fraud protections, including Fraud ID, Fraud Block, and Caller ID. Moreover, this app also provides his second phone number which can be used instead of his private number. This is great for online shopping and helps you avoid calls from scammers and telemarketers.
- verizon call filter app – It protects you from unwanted calls and allows you to decide who can contact you. Call Filter also detects spam and blocks high-risk spam calls by forwarding them to voicemail.
7) Third-party spam blocking apps
Some third-party apps can help protect you from scammers.the most of us Recommendation include:
- robo killer is an app that claims to reduce unnecessary calls and texts by 99%. This app is not free for iPhone and Android users. However, it comes with a 7-day free trial, so it might be worth checking it out before investing.
- call control is an app currently only available to Android users. This app helps you filter out unwanted callers by manually adding them to your blacklist.
- Nomorobo: If you still have a landline thanks to a package deal with your internet provider, this app will help you avoid receiving robocalls at home or on the go. Currently, VolP landline is free, while basic mobile packages start at $1.99 per month.
woman using mobile phone (Kurt “Cyber Guy” Knutson)
More information: How to ignore your friend's text messages and pretend they never saw them
What about spam texts?
You may remember that all 51 attorneys general supported the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) proposal to stop illegal and malicious texts.Since then, the F.C.C. spam text With call rejection protection. More and more companies are looking for ways to fine spammers. T-Mobile just introduced new fine About illegal spam text messages this year. You can also block spam texts on iPhone and Android by following these steps.
How to block spam texts on iPhone
- Open. message app Tap the message from the number you want to block on your iPhone.
- Tap. Number or contact name at the top of the conversation
- Tap information
- Scroll down and tap block this caller
How to block spam texts on Android
Settings may vary depending on your Android smartphone manufacturer.
- Open. messaging app on your Android device
- find spam message do you want to block
- Press and hold the message until a menu appears
- Look for options like block or spam and select it
- Confirm that you want to block future messages from that sender
How to block text messages using your carrier
Most carriers also offer options to block spam calls and text messages. Verizon call and message blocking, AT&T's Secure Family and T-Mobile message block. The exact steps to use these features vary by carrier.
Cart important points
While this settlement proves there are ways to get around the National Do Not Call Registry, it also highlights how important it is to have as many layers of security as possible. Each one protects you on a different level and is sure to stop any spam calls or text messages from coming your way.
Are you concerned about more companies circumventing the National Do Not Call Registry? Email us at How can I prevent robocalls? Cyberguy.com/Contact.
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