An automated call that claims to want your opinion actually might be after your money. Phone surveys are exempt from rules that ban automated ­“robocalls” and calls to numbers on the federal Do Not Call Registry. Some companies believe, incorrectly, that beginning an automated sales call with survey questions makes it legal. The Florida company Caribbean Cruise Line agreed to pay $500,000 to settle claims that it robocalled millions of phone numbers with what seemed to be a political survey. People who ­responded were told that they could receive a free two-day Bahamas cruise for their trouble—but when they tried to claim this reward, they were connected to a salesperson who tried to talk them into paying for parts of the “free” cruise.

This fake survey has been shut down, but other companies use similar tactics.

What to do: If someone tries to sell you something during a phone survey, hang up immediately.

If a robocall tells you to press a button on your keypad to be removed from the call list, don’t do it. Pressing this is likely to increase the number of calls you receive. Instead…

Visit DoNotCall.gov to confirm that your phone number is on the Do Not Call Registry. This will reduce sales calls.

Visit Nomorobo.com to find out if its free robocall-blocking service is available for your landline and/or cell-phone carrier. Nomorobo was a winner of an FTC contest that sought ways to block robocalls.

Download a robocall-blocking app to your smartphone…or buy a robocall blocker for your landline from a retailer or Internet shopping website that sells electronics.

 

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