Nuisance Calls in the US

Nuisance calls are not always outright scams. Survey companies, lead-generation outfits, "free quote" robocalls, and political pollsters all qualify. They're legal in many cases — but they are exhausting, and you do not have to put up with them.

Common signs

• Multiple calls a day from different numbers, sometimes with consecutive digits.
• Recorded voices asking survey questions or offering "free" quotes.
• Calls that ring once and hang up (ring-and-run schemes).
• Calls at odd hours, especially before 8am or after 9pm.

Typical scripts

• "Hi, I'm calling about your home's solar potential…"
• "This is an automated survey from your political party…"
• "Congratulations, you've been selected for a free Caribbean cruise!"

What to do

• Register at donotcall.gov (free, takes 31 days to take effect, lasts permanently).
• Use "Silence Unknown Callers" on iPhone or Google's spam filter on Pixel/Android.
• Report repeat offenders on GhostCallers — patterns build community awareness.

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