The so -called spam have become a true headache for most people. They interrupt at work, at home, even at dawn, so they arrive without prior notice from unknown numbers and, When you answer, there is no one to the other side.
Far from being a failure or an unimportant error, these calls respond to a Automated system looking for a single objective, which is to confirm that there is a person behind the phone. The annoying comes later, because if you pick up, even if you don’t say a word, you are indicating to that network that your number is active.
It is just what they want to know, as explained by the marketing expert Arcadi Mayorthere are platforms that They use robots to call millions of lines. If you respond, your number is saved, it is marked as valid and later you receive another call, this time with a real operator to the phone.
How the robollala work
It should be noted that these calls are not random or accidental, but that They are generated with two very specific methods. The first is based on previously acquired databases. Companies or entities collect large -scale numbers – sometimes legally, sometimes not so much – and introduce them into automated systems that call them one by one.
The second method is to generate random numberswhere a robot creates possible combinations within a range of telephone prefixes and spears test calls to see which ones they respond. In both cases, if you answer, you are registered.
There is no intention to speak with you at the beginning, they just want to know if you attend the phone. If you do, your number is saved as a useful line and in the following days you will receive a commercial call. Sometimes even several. On other occasions, if there are no operators available when you respond, the call simply hangs. But the system has already verified that there is someone behind.
Arcadi’s recommendation is clear: Do not answer numbers that do not have on the agenda. If someone needs to contact you urgently, most likely they write to WhatsApp, by email or insist otherwise.
But if you respond to these unidentified calls, you activate a mechanism that is very difficult to stop. From that moment on it is usual to receive more calls of the same type, even from different numbers, because many systems work with shared or sold lists between companies.
The ideal is to ignore that first attempt. If repeated, you can look for the number in services such as Listaspam or use an application that identifies calls, but the important thing is to avoid signs that the number is attended. Do not talk, don’t say «hello», don’t mark any number if it’s an engraved call. Just hang or let it cut alone.
Useful methods to reduce telephone spam
Automatically filters the calls of unknown numbers: Both Android and iPhone allow to silence all incoming calls that are not stored in your agenda. This function does not block the number, but prevents the mobile from sounding. So you can review then if someone important has tried to contact you, without interruptions.
Install apps that identify suspicious calls: Apps such as Truecaller, Hiya or Mr. Number use collaborative databases to show who calls. If other users have marked that number as spam, you will see an alert before answering. You can even block numbers known for issuing unwanted calls.
Activate the non -disturbing mode with exceptions: This function allows to silence all calls, except those of your favorite contacts. It is useful if you want to avoid inconvenience without disconnecting completely, so you will only receive notifications from the numbers that really interest you.
Complaint: You can report the numbers to the AEPD, especially if the call has commercial purposes and you have not given your consent. However, these systems use rotary numbers and often change constantly, so the impact of the complaint is limited.
Why do this type of call continue to increase?
Telephone spam has evolved over the years, where they were previously called manually by commercials, the majority are now automated. Mass marking systems use artificial intelligence to detect human responses, save active numbers and activate new sales campaigns.
Although there are regulations that limit this type of practices, legal gaps, as well as the use of platforms abroad hinder control.
Companies that sell databases or that offer massive call services know that, with minimal investment, they can obtain great results. That’s why you will continue to see it for a while. The more you respond, the more that system is fedbut if you ignore them, you will significantly reduce this practice.