SPRINGVILLE \u2014 Almost everyone has been caught off guard by a spam call, with telemarketers trying again and again to grab a person\u2019s attention.<\/p>\n
Seniors are especially vulnerable to these calls.<\/p>\n
John Stone and Ann Johnson-Stone are in their 80s and trying to enjoy their retirement, but said the scam phone calls have become extremely disruptive. They said they get more than 50 calls a day on just one of their cell phones, plus additional calls on their landline.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just constant. We can\u2019t have a meal. We can\u2019t do anything without these calls coming through,\u201d Stone said.<\/p>\n
They said it\u2019s hard to know which calls to answer. \u201cWe\u2019ve got family and lots of things going on and a lot of doctors involved with our care and so, you know, it\u2019s hard because we have to answer some of the calls,\u201d Johnson-Stone said.<\/p>\n
Experts have said the number one thing people can do to reduce spam calls is to stop answering the phone.<\/p>\n
Katie Hass, Director of the Utah Division of Consumer Protection, said, \u201cOnce you start answering some of these calls, you almost get into an algorithm where these robocall, farm, type places share your number because you\u2019re more likely to pick up.\u201d<\/p>\n
If it\u2019s a real person or a doctor\u2019s office, they will usually leave a message and people can know to call them back.<\/p>\n
Utah\u2019s Division of Consumer Protection also recommended adding your name to the Do Not Call Registry<\/a> operated by the FTC.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are hefty fines and penalties that come with anyone just placing a phone call to you that is a telemarketer,\u201d if your name is on that list, Hass explained.<\/p>\n It takes 45 days for the Registry to update with a person\u2019s number once they have added it.<\/p>\n Experts also recommend reaching out to phone providers to see what they recommend for specific phone models and plans.<\/p>\n