UNDATED, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Telecom providers Verizon and AT&T are taking preventive measures to crack down on robocallers.
In an official press release Wednesday, Verizon announced that it will provide automatic protections for eligible Android phone users by using free robocall-blocking software. Apple and iPhone users will be required to download the company’s free Call Filter app to receive protection.
Verizon customers can expect the following services –
- If they receive a call from a number that’s been reported as fraudulent, that call will be blocked by the app and forwarded to voicemail.
- If a customer receives a known spam or nuisance call, they will see “Potential Spam” label instead of a name on the incoming call screen. This is essentially a warning of a potentially unwanted call, and they have the option to turn on blocking for these types of calls.
- If they receive a call from a known contact, nothing changes. Their contact’s name will appear on the screen, the same as it does today.
“Protecting consumers from robocalls shouldn’t have to be an opt-in benefit, it should be an automatic service,” Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in the press release. “Verizon’s swift action is a step in the right direction and I encourage the company to further its commitment by automatically enrolling ALL of its customers in this already-available technology to help further our efforts to end this public nuisance once and for all.”
The news comes just days after an alliance between Nessel, several other AG’s and telecom providers to better protect consumers from robocalls.
The press release notes that an estimated 900 million robocalls have been made to Michigan citizens this year.
