Malcolm Rivera
Political robocalls and text messages have become a common occurrence, especially during election seasons. With the rise of digital campaigns, political organizations have increasingly turned to text messaging as a preferred mode of communication, surpassing traditional methods like mailers, phone calls, and TV ads. This shift can be attributed to the relatively low cost and high engagement rates of text messages. While these messages can be a nuisance, clogging inboxes and invading personal space, they are often not random. This paragraph will explore the reasons behind the influx of political calls and texts, as well as ways to manage or opt out of them.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Political calls are made by | Political parties, independent members of parliament, candidates for election, or interest groups (including trade unions) |
| Political calls are permitted | In certain circumstances |
| Political calls are not telemarketing calls | If they are not commercial |
| Political calls can be | Recorded messages or 'robo-calls' |
| Political calls can be | Research calls |
| Political calls can be blocked by | Third-party apps like RoboKiller |
| Political calls can be | Scams |
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What You'll Learn
Political phone scams
Scammers will try to inspire panic or anxiety, citing consequences and asking for personal information such as credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, or other sensitive data. These scams are particularly prevalent during election seasons, as scammers can easily impersonate campaigns, non-profits, government agencies, or other groups.
Some common types of political phone scams include:
- Cash donation scams: Scammers pose as political volunteers seeking campaign donations, then swindle voters by requesting credit card details.
- Political survey scams: Fake polling companies offer prizes or compensation for participation, but then claim to need credit card information to cover shipping costs, tricking people into sharing personal and financial information.
- Candidate impersonation scams: Scammers create realistic recordings that mimic candidates' voices to solicit donations.
- Voter registration scams: Scammers convince people that they can register to vote by supplying personal information over the phone, such as their Social Security number.
- Voting and petition scams: These scams involve soliciting personal information by stating that the recipient can vote by phone, which is not possible in the US.
- Voter suppression: Misinformation is spread, such as telling voters to stay home or vote on a different day to affect voter turnout.
To protect yourself from political phone scams, you can use third-party robocall and spam text blockers like RoboKiller, which is designed to prevent spam calls and texts. Additionally, you can forward unwanted text messages to 7726 ("SPAM") to report the sender, and campaigns should honour opt-out requests if you reply "STOP".
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Legitimate political calls
During an election season, it is common to receive an influx of calls and texts from political campaigns. While these calls can be annoying, they are often legitimate. Legitimate political calls are those that are simply informative, trying to persuade you to vote for a particular candidate, inviting you to an event, asking if you will be voting, or engaging with you to answer any questions. They may also be from political parties, independent members of parliament, candidates for election, or interest groups.
It is important to note that legitimate political calls are exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry requirements. However, they must follow specific rules under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). For example, political campaigns are prohibited from using autodialed or prerecorded voice calls, autodialed texts, and prerecorded voice messages to contact mobile devices without the recipient's prior express consent. This is enforced by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which has rules in place to prohibit anyone from transmitting misleading or inaccurate caller ID information with the intent to defraud or cause harm.
If you are receiving unwanted political calls, you can opt-out by replying "STOP" to text messages. You can also report unwanted calls by forwarding the messages to 7726 or "SPAM". Additionally, you can file an informal complaint with the FCC at fcc.gov/complaints.
To distinguish between legitimate political calls and potential scams, be cautious of calls or texts that try to inspire panic or anxiety, usually by citing consequences. Often, these scams will ask for your credit card number, Social Security number, or other personal information.
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Exemptions from National Do Not Call Registry
The National Do Not Call Registry was created by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to allow consumers to opt out of receiving telemarketing calls. However, there are several exemptions to the Do Not Call rules. These include:
Political Calls
Political campaigns are exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry. This means they can legally contact phone numbers on the list to solicit support. However, they must provide a way for consumers to opt out of future communications.
Nonprofit and Charitable Organizations
Nonprofit and charitable organizations are also exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry. Similar to political campaigns, they can solicit donations or support from phone numbers on the list. However, they must also provide a way for consumers to opt out of future contact. It is important to note that while charitable calls are allowed, telemarketers calling on behalf of charities are prohibited under the Do Not Call rules.
Existing Business Relationship
Companies can call consumers on the National Do Not Call Registry if they have an established business relationship with the consumer, provided the consumer has not explicitly asked to be added to the company's do-not-call list. This relationship is typically based on a consumer's purchase, rental, lease, financial transaction, inquiry, or application regarding the seller's goods or services within a specific time frame, usually 18 months.
Business-to-Business (B2B) Calls
The National Do Not Call Registry primarily applies to consumer telemarketing calls, so business-to-business calls are generally exempt. This means that businesses can make telemarketing calls to other companies without violating the registry's rules, as long as they are contacting business phone numbers. However, this exemption may not apply if a business phone number is used for personal purposes.
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Political robocalls to landlines
While political robocalls to landlines are allowed, you can still take steps to reduce the number of unwanted calls you receive. Registering your number on the National Do Not Call List can help, as legitimate telemarketers will avoid calling numbers on this list. However, it's important to note that political campaigns are exempt from this list.
To stop political robocalls to your landline, you can also contact the campaign directly and ask to be removed from their calling list. When receiving a robocall, you have the right to revoke your consent for future calls at any time and in any reasonable manner, such as asking not to be called again.
If you believe you have received a political robocall that violates the TCPA or FCC rules, you can take further action. You can report the caller by forwarding the call information to 7726 (or "SPAM") or filing a complaint with the FCC. The FCC will investigate and take action against those responsible for illegal robocalls.
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Blocking political calls
Political calls and text messages can be annoying, especially if you're receiving them frequently. While it may be challenging to completely stop all political calls, there are several methods you can use to reduce them significantly. Here are some steps you can take to block or limit these unwanted interruptions:
Understanding the Source
Firstly, it's important to understand how political campaigns obtained your phone number in the first place. In the US, voter information is often public, and registering to vote makes your contact details accessible to various campaigns and voting organizations. Additionally, if you're affiliated with a political party or voting-related organization, you may have unknowingly provided your consent for them to contact you.
Withdrawing Consent
According to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), telemarketers and political organizations are required to obtain your consent before contacting you. You have the right to revoke this consent at any time. Simply replying "STOP" to a text message or asking not to be called again on a voice call can help you opt out of further communication.
Blocking Numbers
If you're receiving repeated calls or texts from the same number, you can block them directly on your phone. The process may vary depending on your device. For iPhones, you can filter unknown senders by navigating to Settings > Messages > Filter Unknown Senders. For Android devices, you can typically block a number by opening the Messages app, choosing the conversation, and selecting the option to block the number.
Using Third-Party Apps
There are also third-party call-and-text-blocking apps available, such as Robokiller, Should I Answer?, Hiya, and Truecaller. These apps can help identify and block unwanted calls and texts, but be aware that they may request sensitive information from you.
Spam Reporting
You can report unwanted political texts as spam by forwarding them to 7726 ("SPAM" on your dial pad). This helps identify and block spam messages, and you can also report them to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) if they violate their rules.
Do Not Call Registry
Although political campaigns are exempt from the National Do Not Call Registry, signing up for it may help reduce unwanted calls from other sources. Additionally, you can adjust your phone settings to filter out unknown numbers or enable spam protection.
By following these steps, you can significantly reduce the number of unwanted political calls and texts you receive. Remember, it's your right to choose how you want to be contacted, and you can always revoke consent or block numbers if you change your mind.
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Frequently asked questions
During an election season, it is common to receive an increased number of calls and texts from political campaigns. These are usually permitted by law and are not considered telemarketing calls.
Political calls are largely legal. However, they must follow certain rules outlined by the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). For example, political robocalls to landlines are allowed without prior consent, but there is a limit of three calls within any consecutive 30-day period.
To stop illegal political phone scams, you can use a third-party robocall blocker like RoboKiller, which is 99% effective at preventing spam calls. You can also turn on the Neighborhood Spoof Blocking feature to block callers who are not in your contacts and are calling from spoofed numbers.
If you receive a suspicious political call or text, you can report it by forwarding the message to 7726 ("SPAM"). If you believe the call or text does not comply with the FCC's rules, you can file an informal complaint with the FCC at fcc.gov/complaints.
