TeleZapper2020's Mission:
This is a noncommercial, nonprofit site dedicated solely to helping consumers prevent unwanted and illegal calls to their cell and landline phones. We attempt to offer effective tools, links and suggestions to protect all phone users’ privacy, safety, and peace of mind from RoboCalls and tele-criminals.
NOW: TeleZapper2020's call blocking voice mail greeting FREE on YouMail: https://www.youmail.com/community/greeting/telezapper2020
Recent scam alerts from the FCC:
Watch out for these new tax scams
The FTC will never ask you to send money
That’s not your neighbor calling
Do Not Call registrations don’t expire
An increasingly popular tactic for scammers is the use of aggressive and threatening phone calls to scare unsuspecting taxpayers into giving away sensitive information. Con artists impersonate IRS agents and threaten jail time, license revocation and even deportation.
How to protect yourself: Get to know the IRS’s process and your rights by visiting its website. “The IRS never calls anyone directly, unless they’ve met you already or you’ve been talking to them for a long time. And they don't e-mail you,” says Pikelis. The IRS will also never ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone, or demand payment without giving you the opportunity to ask questions or appeal. Experts say that this scam is particularly harmful to older adults and other vulnerable people, who are more likely to engage in conversation out of loneliness. Keep a close watch on loved ones who may fall into these categories.
Always Follow TeleZapper’s Tele-Tips:
We welcome comments, suggestions and any information that will foster this mission. Contact us at: info@telezapper.com
NOW: TeleZapper2020's call blocking voice mail greeting FREE on YouMail: https://www.youmail.com/community/greeting/telezapper2020
Recent scam alerts from the FCC:
Watch out for these new tax scams
The FTC will never ask you to send money
That’s not your neighbor calling
Do Not Call registrations don’t expire
An increasingly popular tactic for scammers is the use of aggressive and threatening phone calls to scare unsuspecting taxpayers into giving away sensitive information. Con artists impersonate IRS agents and threaten jail time, license revocation and even deportation.
How to protect yourself: Get to know the IRS’s process and your rights by visiting its website. “The IRS never calls anyone directly, unless they’ve met you already or you’ve been talking to them for a long time. And they don't e-mail you,” says Pikelis. The IRS will also never ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone, or demand payment without giving you the opportunity to ask questions or appeal. Experts say that this scam is particularly harmful to older adults and other vulnerable people, who are more likely to engage in conversation out of loneliness. Keep a close watch on loved ones who may fall into these categories.
Always Follow TeleZapper’s Tele-Tips:
- Never answer a call when you do not recognize the Caller ID.
- If you do answer a call and determine it is an unwanted RoboCaller or telemarketer, hang up immediately.
- Never press any buttons on your phone after answering a RoboCall.
- Never engage in conversations with unwanted callers. Say nothing. Just hang up. Don't be embarrassed. They are intruding into your space.
- Never give out any personal information including Social Security #’s, credit card, debit card or any bank information to anyone calling you.
- Never call back a number from an unknown caller. If it’s important and legitimate, they will leave you a voicemail or contact you via alternate communication.
- If an unwanted caller gets to your voicemail, do not respond to any message left unless you can verify the legitimate purpose of the call with a trusted third party.
- Put your number on the Federal Do Not Call list. It is not perfect, but it does stop some sales calls from legitimate companies.
- Use free call blocking devices, services and apps that can slow down or stop unwanted calls altogether.
We welcome comments, suggestions and any information that will foster this mission. Contact us at: info@telezapper.com
Why are we sponsoring this website?
- 27 Million US consumers lost $7.4 Billion to phone scams in one year.
- Billions of illegal RoboCalls are expected to be made this year.
- The average American family is predicted to receive 1000 unwanted calls this year.
- The FCC and government agencies receive more than 5 million complaints per year on this issue.
- Seniors are most targeted by tele-criminals, followed by Millennials.
- 49% of scammed victims were contacted on their mobile phones.
- RoboCalls can originate from anywhere in the world, making perpetrators difficult to track and lost funds impossible to recover.
- Caller ID Spoofing makes it impossible to know who is really calling. Tele-criminals change their caller ID so often, the effectiveness of products, services and apps using blacklists is continually compromised.
- Neither the government or the phone companies can stop the surge of tele-criminal activity. It is up to each of us to learn and implement ways to protect ourselves.
