Howdy all, I had the opportunity to sit down with some FCC representatives visiting the Silver City Library and hear their recommendations regarding what to do about phone scams, slamming and a few other issues that they are concerned about. It was a small gathering and informative.
If you start getting phone service bills and don’t recognize the company billing you, the FCC wants to hear about it and help you correct the situation or (in case it is appropriate) help you understand what has happened. www.FCC.gov/consumers is a good website to visit if you are concerned or looking for help or guidance on any form of scamming related to communications. The FCC has a Consumer Affairs and Outreach Division that is there to help you and you can reach them through that website or call them at 1-888-225-5322, 8 am to 1 am Eastern time.
Another topic covered was robocalls (scam robocalls), the cell carriers and the FCC are working hard to reduce the prevalence of these, but we the consumers are the first line of defense. We can arm our selves with knowledge and common sense. If you get a robocall (or a cold call) asking you for money for any reason, it is a scam. Microsoft will not call you, The IRS will not call you, and folks offering free vacations over the phone are scammers. If we as consumers quit falling for these scams, they will stop making money from them and the scams will cease to be profitable. So, if you get a call from any organization asking for money, give them nothing, don’t give them money, don’t give them your name or any other information about you and do not engage them in any other way, simply hang up. What do you do if some organization you trust or wish to support calls and asks for donations? Find a valid means of contacting them (phone number, local location, etc.) by looking them up some other way (do not use the number supplied by them when they call you) and contact them using the publicly provided number, address, etc. to provide whatever is in your heart to provide. Please do not trust any information provided by a cold caller or robocaller.
The FCC continues to update their website as they encounter new types of scams and going to the consumer portal of their website is a great way to keep educated on what is currently possible and what kinds of scams are common. If you are concerned about any communications related issues the web portal is a great resource to help you decide if you are being scammed and if you need more help, their phone number is active to assist you and I, so use either or both if you have any questions or concerns. www.fcc.gov/consumer and 888-225-5322.
One last quick tip, if you have issues with a carrier or communications provider or broadcast TV, or radio the same web portal has a link for filing a complaint. These complaints are extremely important as they are a primary way for the FCC to gain information regarding licensed providers who are not meeting the needs or properly servicing the individuals or groups whom they are licensed (by the FCC) to serve.