Dealing with Spam Calls is a heck of a challenge, but do you know you can easily solve Spam Calls problem without doing much work, this article will help you to deal with this challenge and solve your problem
Imagine this scenario: you’re watching a horror movie alone, the weather is eerie, the lights suddenly go out, and your phone starts ringing, breaking the eerie silence. It’s an unknown number, and your heart starts racing. But instead of a spine-chilling revelation, it’s just another spam call trying to sell you something. These have become an infuriating and relentless part of our lives. They intrude upon our personal space, offering everything from credit cards to life partners.
In this article, we will delve into the world of spam calls, exploring how they work, why we receive them incessantly, and what can be done to stop them.
The Origins of Spam Calls
The term “spam” has a history dating back to 1937 when an American meat company introduced a canned meat product called “spam.” During World War II, it gained popularity among soldiers due to its no-cook convenience. However, nutritionists regarded it as junk food. Fast forward to the 1970s, a British comedian used the term “spam” in a spoof to refer to repetitive and unwanted things, giving birth to the term’s association with junk calls. Therefore, are essentially unwanted calls that reach a large number of people from anonymous sources.
The Global Epidemic
Spam calls are not limited to a specific region; they are a global problem. In 2021, the popular app Truecaller identified a staggering 37.8 billion spam calls worldwide. To put this number into perspective, it’s nearly five times the current global population. Spam messages, in addition to calls, inundated inboxes with over 182 billion messages in the same year. Countries like Brazil, Peru, and India top the list of most spammed nations. India, with its massive population, ranks fourth, with an overwhelming number of spam calls.
Why Do We Get Spam Calls?
Spam calls primarily serve two purposes: telemarketing and sales. These two categories account for a whopping 93.5% of all spam calls. Shockingly, one individual spammer in India managed to make a staggering 202 million calls in a year, averaging around 664,000 calls per day. While most of these calls are pre-recorded messages, the sheer volume is astounding. But how do spammers acquire our phone numbers? It’s primarily due to the lack of data privacy. Our phone numbers are not just a means of contact; they’re tied to various data sets that categorize us by age, location, employment, and net worth.
This information is gathered from sources such as banks, shopping websites, and social media platforms. Once you provide this information, your consent often becomes irrelevant, as your data can be sold to telemarketing companies and even criminal organizations. This data is readily available on online databases, making it accessible to anyone, including those with malicious intent.
The Impact of Spam Calls
The consequences of spam calls can range from annoyance to financial loss. More than 64% of Indians receive three or more spam calls every day. These calls primarily revolve around financial services, real estate, and various other offers. In some cases, spam calls can be downright dangerous. A survey of over 7,000 people in India revealed that over 83% had fallen for AI-generated fake voice calls, with 48% of them losing money, often substantial amounts exceeding 50,000 Rupees.
Spam calls are not confined to voice calls; they have also infiltrated popular messaging apps like WhatsApp, which is India’s largest user base with 487 million users. These calls often originate from countries in Southeast Asia and Africa, creating a daunting challenge for regulation.
Government Initiatives
The Indian government has taken steps to combat this problem. In May of a recent year, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) mandated all telecom companies to employ AI spam filters for calls and messages. These filters are designed to identify and block spam before it reaches users. However, the effectiveness of these measures remains limited, as spam call numbers have not seen a significant reduction.
The government is now considering new legislation to address spam emails and messages, possibly extending to communication on WhatsApp. Additionally, the idea of introducing a caller ID to identify the source of calls has been discussed, but it faces opposition from telecom companies due to privacy concerns.
While government regulations aim to curb spam calls, individuals can take steps to minimize their impact. Call-blocking apps are readily available to identify and block spam calls before they reach your phone. Activating the “Do Not Disturb” (DND) feature on your mobile phone is another option, and the National Customer Preference Register helps people stop spam calls by signing up for the DND service. However, it’s essential to note that these measures may not eliminate spam calls entirely.
In the battle against spam calls, individuals are facing a relentless foe akin to the Terminator. These calls continue to sprout like Hydra heads, making them challenging to eradicate entirely. Despite government regulations and personal efforts, spam calls persist as a global nuisance. However, as technology and regulations evolve, there may come a time when we can finally put an end to the incessant intrusion of spam calls into our lives. Until then, we must remain vigilant, employ available tools, and hope for a future where our phones ring with only genuine, welcomed calls.