Hoosiers can fight annoying and illegal robocallers by following tips from Attorney General Todd Rokita

Hoosiers can fight annoying and illegal robocallers by following tips from Attorney General Todd Rokita

Attorney General Todd Rokita is advising Hoosiers to take measures to avoid falling victim to the schemes of annoying and illegal robocallers.

"Scammers frequently use robocalling in their efforts to steal Hoosiers' identity and take your hard-earned money," Attorney General Rokita said. "We constantly work to catch and hold accountable criminal perpetrators, but at the same time, we want to help Hoosiers take their own actions to avoid becoming victims."

Here are several tips for protecting yourselves:

• Don't answer calls from numbers you don't recognize.
• If you do answer and realize the caller is unknown to you, do not engage. Instead, hang up immediately. Do not press buttons or speak to the operator, as this confirms your number is active, leading to more calls.
• Register your number on the Do Not Call List at DoNotCall.gov. If your cell phone number is registered on the Do Not Call list, then a telemarketer must refrain from sending solicitations by text as well as calling. (If you'd like to verify your number is already on the Do Not Call list  click here.)
• Spot scams, such as pre-recorded calls supposedly from government agencies (IRS, SSA) or requests for payment via gift cards or cryptocurrency.
• Check provider options. Contact your telephone service provider to inquire about advanced call-filtering or blocking services, which can stop many robocalls and robotexts before they ever reach your phones.
• File complaints about robocalls (or "live" violators of the Do Not Call List) with the Indiana Attorney General's Office at our website or by calling   1-888-834-9969 or by email at [email protected].

A headshot of Attorney General Rokita is available for download.

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