Overwhelmed by robo, spam calls and texts? Here’s what you can do

SHREVEPORT, La. ( KTAL/KMSS ) – Spam calls are one of a few things Americans from every walk of life can agree are an annoyance. A company that reviews and analyzes cell phone data said spam robocalls hit Louisianans the hardest.

According to WhistleOut , more than two-thirds of Americans reported receiving more spam calls in 2024 than in 2023. The company analyzed data and surveyed 1,000 adults about how they handle unwanted communications and learned that some states have it worse than others.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) indicates that U.S. consumers get about 4 billion robocalls per month, and technological advances are making it easier to bombard you with calls and the potential for scams. What’s worse, as AI technology advances, it increases the chance of being fooled.

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“Unfortunately, nearly half of Americans doubt they could identify an AI-generated robocall , leaving a potential opening for bad actors,” WhistleOut said in its reporting of the data.

Louisiana cell phone users, are y’all alright? According to WhistleOut, Bayou State residents get about 339 robocalls per person annually.

• Louisiana: 1,557,681,800 (339/person)
• Georgia: 3,345,440,200 (307/person)
• South Carolina: 1,309,819,500 (248/person)
• Alabama: 1,257,094,700 (248/person)
• Arkansas: 725,800,600 (238/person)
• Tennessee: 1,676,077,900 (238/person)
• Texas: 6,597,790,900 (220/person)
• Mississippi: 613,119,800 (209/person)
• North Carolina: 2,132,560,800 (199/person)
• Florida: 4,394,330,100 (198/person)

As the U.S. presidential election approaches, about one-third of Americans have been targeted by political spam calls, and the risk of political disinformation could increase.

Ammy Archer with WhistleOut said ignoring the calls – a practice many of us employ – is a great place to start because answering them lets them know your phone number is active. However, there are other alternatives.

• YouMail is a free app that offers screening features that stop spam calls and texts. It also removes your number from known spam lists and can inform authorities.
• Do Not Call Registry a database provided by the FCC that tracks phone numbers of individuals who requested telemarketers not to contact them. Anyone can register on the FCC website for free.
• FTC Fraud Report allows victims of fraud or those who managed to not be defrauded an outlet to report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission. The report is shared with law enforcement nationwide who warn other consumers and potentially use the info to shut scams down.
• Android and iPhones can block numbers and text messages.

The FCC has taken action by implementing policies to combat unlawful robocalls and malicious caller ID spoofing, including cutting off voice service providers that facilitate these calls, cease-and-desist notices, fines, caller ID authentication, and more; unfortunately, scammers and bad actors continue to find ways to work around these consumer protections.

Visit the FCC website to learn more about protecting your peace and identity . There are tips and links to report robocalls, and you can sign up for the National Do Not Call Registry.

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