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Spam Phone Calls And Scam Phone Calls - How to Stop Them

Have You Received a Spam or Scam Phone Call?

Spammers are not just busy on the internet sending you junk email, or sending you junk mail through the postal service, telemarketers are busy calling your cell phone and home phone at all hours of the say and night (especially right at dinnertime) to sell you products and services that you probably do not want nor need, and are often overpriced, poor quality or a flat-out scam.

Are you bombarded by spam calls from various numbers that you do not recognoze, usually out of state, that always say the same thing, and clearly it does not apply to you?
Here is a transcription of one below, one we call the "Caroline with an Update on Your Business Loan" scam.

“Hello, this is Caroline calling with an update on your business loan. This is Caroline Brooks with the executive loan renew unit. I wanted to reach out because we've just finished reviewing your file and I do... "

This appears to be a widespread robocall scam where automated messages pose as a loan officer named "Caroline Brooks" from a fictitious "executive loan renew unit," claiming to offer or update a business loan approval (often around $239,000). It's not tied to a single legitimate company or source. Scammers use this script to trick people into calling back, and getting their victims to provide personal info, or falling for advance-fee fraud. Complaints date back months to mid-2025, with calls coming from spoofed out-of-state numbers that change frequently to evade blocks. And the numbers constantly change, so blocking them won't stop the calls.

This scam is documented on sites like the Better Business Bureau's Scam Tracker and robocall reporting platforms.

Similar reports appear on social media, like X from users getting daily calls with the same pitch.

What to do about spam and scam phone calls:

Report the calls: File complaints to build a case for enforcement. Use the FTC's streamlined form at donotcall.gov (for unwanted calls after registry) or reportfraud.ftc.gov (for scams). Also submit to the FCC at consumercomplaints.fcc.gov. Include details like the script, numbers, and dates, reporting helps track patterns and may lead to shutdowns.

Since numbers rotate, this won't stop all, but it reduces them over time.
Avoid pressing buttons, calling back, or engaging—these confirm your number is active and can lead to more calls or data theft. If you've shared info already, monitor your credit reports for free at annualcreditreport.com. See these pages for guidance as applicable to your specific situation:

Register your number on the National Do Not Call Registry: Add your mobile phone number to the cell phone do not call list. See these do not call list FAQs.
Report the calls to the FTC: File complaints to build a case for enforcement. Use the FTC's streamlined form at donotcall.gov (for unwanted calls after registry) or reportfraud.ftc.gov (for scams). Also submit to the FCC at consumercomplaints.fcc.gov. Include details like the script, numbers, and dates. Reporting helps track patterns and may lead to shutdowns.
Report Unwanted Calls
What About Robocalls?
Fake Numbers on Caller ID
Block calls from unknown numbers on your device: Most smartphones have built-in free tools. Some simply force unknown calls into voicemail.
On iPhones, enable "Silence Unknown Callers" in Settings > Phone (it sends unfamiliar numbers to voicemail).
On Android, use the Phone app's spam filter or "Block numbers" feature.
If your carrier offers a free basic spam blocker (many do, like Verizon's Call Filter or T-Mobile's Scam Shield), activate it through their app or site.
More information:
What Are Call Blocking and Call Labeling?
Block Calls on a Cell Phone
Block Calls on a Home Phone That Uses the Internet
Block Calls on a Traditional Landline

More Information

Spam phone calls. Do you get unwanted calls from telemarketers on your cell phone or home phone? See reports of these calls and examples here.
How to Block Phone Telemarketers - Do you receive phone calls from telemarketers? Or calls from a fax machine? Or odd calls in which no one answers on the other end? Or perhaps a recorded voice tells you to hold on the line? See this page for what to do!
How to Block Junk Fax Telemarketers
Fax Scams - Junk faxes that are designed to look like internal company memos or other misleading communications