FTC’s Battle Against Telemarketing Triumphs: Discover the Dramatic Drop in Unwanted Calls

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has published the National Do Not Call Registry Data Book for the fiscal year 2024, marking the third consecutive year of decline in consumer reports of unwanted calls. This trend is attributed to the FTC’s comprehensive strategy against illegal telemarketing practices that includes new regulatory measures and innovative initiatives to address emerging threats.

The latest report reveals a significant drop in complaint volumes, with more than a 50% reduction in unwanted call reports since 2021. This achievement follows the FTC’s proactive efforts, including Operation Stop Scam Calls, the most extensive crackdown on illicit telemarketing to date, introduced in 2023. Additionally, the Commission has implemented a rule prohibiting impersonation of government or business entities and enhanced the Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) to safeguard businesses against unauthorized telemarketing activities.

Sam Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, remarked on the agency’s progress: “Illegal calls remain a scourge, but the FTC’s strategy to pursue upstream players and equip the agency to confront emerging threats is showing clear signs of success. In the years to come, it will be critical we continue this progress by confronting not only telemarketers but those firms who knowingly profit from scam calls.”

The data book, now in its 16th edition, provides comprehensive insights into the nature of robocall complaints, detailing the types of calls reported and offering a state-by-state analysis. In fiscal year 2024, medical and prescription-related calls topped the list, with over 170,000 reports, more than half of which were robocalls.

The registry saw over 4.2 million new sign-ups, bringing the total to more than 253 million active registrations. While overall complaints have decreased, debt-reduction calls, the third most common topic, experienced an 85% increase in reports. Despite this rise, complaints about robocalls fell to 1.1 million from 1.2 million in fiscal year 2023, continuing a downward trend from over 3.4 million in fiscal year 2021.

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Imposter schemes remained a prevalent issue, with 158,000 complaints filed, ranking second in reported topics. The FTC’s new Impersonation Rule addresses these by targeting those who falsely claim affiliations or endorsements, such as scammers offering free or reduced-cost solar energy.

A state-by-state breakdown shows New Hampshire leading in DNC registrations per capita, while Delaware, Ohio, Arizona, Illinois, and North Carolina reported the most complaints per 100,000 residents.

The FTC continues to make available the underlying data from the report on its website, where consumers can access information about the DNC Registry, telemarketer requirements, and file complaints about unsolicited telemarketing calls.

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