IMMOKALEE, Fla.—Annoying robocalls and scam texts are a common nuisance, but one local woman is desperate for relief. Claire Stewart-Rhiney, who attended a WINK Listens event in Immokalee, is inundated with these calls daily, hoping for a solution.
By midday, Stewart-Rhiney’s voicemail box is full of unwanted messages.
“Okay, people calling me, and I know that they’re calling, so I block, sometimes I block, but they call with different numbers, and sometimes they’re offering me 40,000, which I couldn’t even pay back 1000,” she said.
Stewart-Rhiney, who hosts a gospel radio show in Lehigh Acres, shared one of these voicemails with WINK News.
“I see here that we were able to get you approved, pending verification, for a personal loan of up to $50,000 with a predictable monthly payment of $400 per month,” the message said.
The barrage of calls and messages makes it difficult for Stewart-Rhiney to connect with those she actually wants to hear from.
“The issue of fake scam phone calls and fake scam text messages is the number one complaint that the FCC at the government receives from across the country,” said WINK Security Expert Rich Kolko, who has 20 years of experience with the FBI.
Kolko explained that engaging with these calls or messages validates your phone number, making you a target for future scams.
“The issue is the first time you answer that text or the answer to that phone call. What you’re doing is you’re validating your phone number as active, and you have now given the scammers that information, that they know that your phone number can be used to be a potential victim for being a scam,” he said.
Stewart-Rhiney remains hopeful that the government will intensify efforts to combat these calls.
“The FCC is working diligently on this issue, but it’s a tough, tough matter to fight. And in fact, the scammers are staying not just one, but probably 2 or 3 steps ahead of the government on this issue,” said Kolko.
The FCC has several strategies to tackle unwanted calls, including empowering phone companies to block illegal calls, requiring caller ID authentication, and making consumer complaint data available to improve call blocking solutions.
For iPhone users, steps are available to filter or block unwanted messages and report spam directly to Apple. These measures help prevent unknown senders from reaching you and ensure that only essential notifications are delivered to you.
As the fight against robocalls continues, individuals like Stewart-Rhiney are encouraged to utilize available tools and remain vigilant against these persistent interruptions.
To start a complaint about unwanted text messages, click here.
To ensure you’re on the “Do Not Call List,” click here.