Scam Call Basics

Why doesn't the Do Not Call Registry eliminate scam calls?

The Do Not Call Registry was created for the purpose of stopping unwanted calls from legitimate telemarketing companies. In that endeavor, the registry experiences a high success rate, but it doesn’t stop all unwanted calls including scam calls.

The difference is simple. Scam calls are made by criminals, not legitimate telemarketing companies bound by Federal Trade Commission rules. Scammers place calls with the purpose of tricking you into giving them money or providing personal information they can use or sell for financial gain. These criminals are skilled in deception and often use technology to mask their location and identity, making it very difficult for law enforcement and government agencies to find them and enforce the rules relating to telecommunications services.

For additional information on the role of the registry, visit the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission’s Do Not Call webpage.

How is technology used in scam calls?

Unfortunately, advances in technology have made it cheaper and easier than ever to make scam calls from anywhere in the world. Technology has also made scam calls a more widespread issue and more difficult problem to solve.

Robocalls, spoofing and phishing are all possible through technology. These advancements allow criminals to hide their information and identity from both those they are attempting to scam and any law enforcement agencies looking for them. Tech also allows scammers to identify targets, make scams more believable and increase their likelihood of successfully scamming consumers out of money or valuable information.