COLUMBUS – Ohioans were plagued by more than 2 billion robocalls last year and the state’s attorney general wants to give residents more muscle to fight back against the growing nuisance.
With National Consumer Protection Week underway, David Yost announced the formation of a Robocall Enforcement Unit, staffed by attorneys and investigators, where consumers can report malicious robocalls so authorities can track down their sources or spot trends.
“Ohioans are tired of playing defense against annoying robocalls. Now it’s Ohio’s turn to play offense,” Yost said.
Tips to help combat robocalls:
“Just don’t answer”
Register with the Do Not Call Registry online or by phone at 1-888-382-1222.
Research services offered by your phone provider to block unwanted calls.
Install a trusted and reliable app on your cellphone to block or warn of suspicious calls
Never interact with a suspected robocaller in any way.
Never provide personal or financial information by phone.
-Source Office of the Ohio Attorney General
Ohioans were hit with an estimated 2.2 billion robocalls in 2019, according to YouMail, a service that tracks robocall traffic.
Consumers can report calls to the unit by texting “ROBO” to 888111 and answering a set of questions Yost says should take less than a minute to complete.
Consumers also can file complaints by visiting OhioProtects.org or calling 1-800-282-0515.
Even if a robocall does not cause a financial loss, Yost says reporting it to the Robocall Enforcement Unit can help investigators identify trends and improve protective measures.