Advice for Old People Wanting to Avoid Robocalls

The AARP is a US interest group that issues advice on various topics to millions of older Americans. The size of the AARP audience means it is worth taking a look at the one-minute video they produced on how to avoid illegal robocalls. Their four tips can be summarized as:

  1. Do not answer the call if the number is unknown
  2. If you do pick up the call, do not respond to the automated message in any way
  3. Even if you did not understand the last suggestion, never speak to a person
  4. Do not trust the call based on the incoming number displayed

In some ways, these are sensible recommendations. In other ways, you might as well train old people to never pick up their phones again. Comms providers should take note of the implications for them: fewer calls being connected, and less revenue being earned. That means it is good business sense for telcos to be proactive in preventing robocalls, and they also need to give free anti-spam tools to customers so organizations like the AARP start recommending their use as well.

The AARP video on how to avoid illegal robocalls can be played below.

Eric Priezkalns
Eric Priezkalnshttp://revenueprotect.com

Eric is the Editor of Commsrisk. Look here for more about the history of Commsrisk and the role played by Eric.

Eric is also the Chief Executive of the Risk & Assurance Group (RAG), an association of professionals working in risk management and business assurance for communications providers. RAG was founded in 2003 and Eric was appointed CEO in 2016.

Previously Eric was Director of Risk Management for Qatar Telecom and he has worked with Cable & Wireless, T‑Mobile, Sky, Worldcom and other telcos. He was lead author of Revenue Assurance: Expert Opinions for Communications Providers, published by CRC Press.

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