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Robocalls are prerecorded phone messages sent to many people at the same time using computerized autodialer technology. While some are legitimate, many are not. In 2025 alone, Americans received nearly 30 billion scam and telemarketing robocalls, according to robocall blocking service YouMail.
Read on to learn how robocalls work, what you can do to protect yourself from scams and how to prevent your phone from ringing off the hook.
What Are Robocalls?
A robocall is an automated phone call that uses a computerized autodialer to deliver a prerecorded or artificial voice message to hundreds or even thousands of phone numbers at once. Some robocalls are lawful, but bad actors can use them to try to steal money or personal information from unsuspecting victims.
How Do Robocalls Work?
Robocalls work by sending prerecorded phone messages to thousands of numbers quickly. Telemarketers and scammers can buy phone numbers from data brokers, use information stolen in a data breach or scrape information they find online to build a call list. Then they program the information into an autodialer to dial the numbers in rapid succession. When you answer the phone, the recorded message plays.
Many robocalls are placed over the internet using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology rather than a landline because it's cheap and anonymous. VoIP technology also makes it easy for scammers to spoof caller ID numbers so it looks like the call is coming from an official government agency, a legitimate business or someone in your area.
Are Robocalls Illegal?
Robocalls aren't necessarily illegal, but it depends on who they're from and whether you've given the caller permission to contact you. Unsolicited robocalls from telemarketers trying to sell you something or fraudsters trying to scam you are illegal. Under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), companies (even those you have an existing relationship with) must get your written permission to send telemarketing messages over the phone. And the Truth in Caller ID Act makes spoofing phone numbers illegal.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is responsible for enforcing the TCPA and the Truth in Caller ID Act. You should report all illegal calls to the FCC, and scam calls and Do Not Call violations to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Types of Robocalls
You may receive different kinds of robocalls, and not all of them are nefarious. Here are some common types.
Health Care Robocalls
Health care robocalls can be legitimate or a scam. For example, your health care provider might send a robocall with upcoming appointment or prescription refill reminders, billing information or scheduling updates. These calls are legal. But if someone you don't know tries to sell you health insurance or medical devices, it's probably a scam.
Telemarketing Robocalls
Telemarketing robocalls are designed to sell products and services, and they're illegal unless you've given the company written permission to contact you by phone.
Political Robocalls
When election season rolls around, you might start getting calls from candidates or organizations that support them asking for your vote. Callers don't need prior consent to send political robocalls to landlines. But robocalls and text messages sent to cellphones require your permission unless they're delivered manually, not by an autodialer.
Debt Collection Robocalls
Debt collection robocalls aren't illegal, but there are rules governing when a debt collector may contact you, how they can get in touch and the number of times they may contact you. Debt collectors are required to provide validation information within five days of contacting you, including their name and address, the name of the creditor they're collecting for, how much you owe, your debt collection rights and what you can do if you think there's an error.
Learn more: What Debt Collectors Can and Can't Do
Informational Robocalls
Some robocalls don't try to sell you anything; they're only meant to provide information. For example, you might receive a call about an unexpected school closing, a change to your flight information or a reminder to get your flu shot. These types of calls are permitted under the law.
Charity Robocalls
Calls to landlines from tax-exempt nonprofit organizations requesting donations or providing other information are legal.
Scam and Fraud Robocalls
Fraudsters may use robocalls to try to steal your money or information in various ways. They may pose as a representative from a government agency claiming there's a problem with your Social Security payments, Medicare benefits or taxes. Other common scams include pretending to sell extended car warranties, debt relief or credit repair services.
Polling
People representing your local, state or federal government may contact you to collect public opinion data on various issues. These calls are legal.
How to Identify a Robocall Scam
Because of call spoofing, you can't always rely on caller ID to tell whether a phone call is legitimate. Spoofed phone numbers can make calls appear as though they're from a business, government agency or other organization you're familiar with. Learn to spot common signs of robocall scams, including:
- A sales pitch: If you receive a call from a business you're unfamiliar with trying to sell you a product or service, it's probably a scam. Telemarketers need written permission to contact you via robocall.
- Government impersonators: Social Security, IRS and Medicare representatives don't usually make initial contact by phone.
- Requests for personal information: Legitimate organizations typically won't ask for sensitive information, such as your Social Security number (SSN), bank account number or credit card details, over the phone.
- Payment requests: If the caller asks you to make a payment via cryptocurrency, wire transfer or gift card, it's likely a scam. These types of payments are almost impossible to recover, which is why scammers request them.
- Messages that seem urgent: Robocall scams often create a sense of urgency to get you to act quickly. For instance, they may say your SSN has been compromised or you have a warrant out for your arrest.
Learn more: What Can Someone Do With Your Bank Account and Routing Numbers?
How to Stop Robocalls
It may not be possible to stop all robocalls, but you can take steps to reduce the number you receive by:
- Ignoring them: Every time you answer a robocall or press a number to speak with an operator, scammers see that your phone number leads to interaction with a real person. They'll target you more frequently afterward, increasing the number of calls you get. The best course of action is to just not answer your phone at all.
- Signing up for the National Do Not Call Registry: The Do Not Call list is a federal registry that helps remove your name from lists of telemarketers, which can reduce the number of robocalls you get from legitimate organizations. But it won't affect the calls you get from scammers.
- Using carrier-level blocking services on your landline: Many companies, including Verizon, AT&T, Comcast and more, offer services to help you stop unwanted calls. The setup process depends on the carrier.
- Enabling spam-blocking settings on your mobile phone: Built-in spam filters on iPhones and Androids let you silence or block unknown callers.
- Installing a call-blocking app: Free and low-cost apps like AT&T's ActiveArmor, T-Mobile's ScamShield or YouMail can help stop spam and scam calls.
- Reporting the number: Reporting robocalls to the FTC helps it investigate and shut down criminal activity.
What to Do if You Get a Robocall
The best way to avoid a robocall is not to answer it. Not engaging with cold calls can make you a less attractive target and reduce how often scammers contact you. If you need to answer a call from an unknown number that turns out to be a robocall, follow these steps to minimize the damage:
- Hang up. When you realize the robocall is a scam, hang up the phone without saying anything.
- Don't press any buttons. When you interact with the call, you increase the likelihood of getting more calls because you showed interest in the first one. Pressing buttons could also connect you to a real person who might try to trick you into sharing personal or financial information.
- Don't say "yes." Some scammers ask questions, such as, "Can you hear me?" hoping you'll say "yes" so they can record your voice and use it to try to access your accounts and authorize financial transactions.
- Don't provide any sensitive information. If you end up talking to a real person, don't reveal any personal details like your name, address, SSN, email or credit card information.
- Report it. Reporting the fraud to ReportFraud.ftc.gov lets the FTC investigate and stop scammers, helping minimize the damage they do.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Am I Getting So Many Robocalls?
You may be getting robocalls because your information was compromised in a data breach, sold to a bad actor by a data broker or purchased on the dark web. You may also see an uptick in calls if you've answered previous robocalls, a signal that you're willing to engage with fraudsters.
Can I Ignore Robocalls?
Yes, and that's generally the best option if the caller isn't someone you know. However, some robocalls are legitimate. If the call is from a person or business you have a relationship with, such as your doctor, your child's school or your local pharmacy, it's probably a good idea to answer so you don't miss important information.
What Happens if I Say "Yes" to a Robocall?
If you say "yes" and the scammer on the other end of the phone records your response, they could use the recording to try to gain unauthorized access to your accounts or use the recording for other nefarious purposes.
Can a Robocall Hack My Phone?
A robocall can't hack your phone, but scammers use them to try to trick you into giving up valuable information or downloading malware onto your device to steal your money, personal information or identity.
What Are Robotexts?
A robotext is similar to a robocall, but instead of delivering mass messages via phone call, it delivers them via text message. Robotexts might try to trick you into clicking on links designed to get you to give up your personal data or payment information.
Protect Yourself—and Your Finances—From Robocalls
Robocalls are a useful tool for getting messages out to many people quickly, but scammers often abuse them to target potential victims. To avoid engaging with possible scammers, screen calls from unknown numbers as much as possible.
For an added layer of protection, especially if you suspect you've been the victim of a robocalling scam, sign up for credit monitoring for free from Experian. You'll receive alerts every time there's a change on your credit report so you can take steps to correct any issues that crop up.