Connecticut State Department of Consumer Protection

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Do Not Call Registry

If you are one of more than 200 million people who have registered with the national Do Not Call Registry through the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) , you are protected from legitimate telemarketers calling with information and offers. Unfortunately, scammers and bad actors often ignore the Do Not Call Registry.

 

This page has information that will help you understand what the Do Not Call Registry does and doesn’t do, how to avoid scams, and how to file a complaint.

 

Things to Know About the Do Not Call Registry:

 

  • The Do Not Call Registry accepts registrations from both cell phones and land lines. Most legitimate telemarketers do not call your number once you’ve been registered for 31 days.
  • You can register both your home land line and your cell phone. Your number stayson the registry until your phone service is disconnected, or until you request the number to be removed from the registry.
  • Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations prohibit telemarketers from using automated dialers to call cell phone numbers without prior consent from the consumer.

Exemptions to the “Do Not Call” Registry: 

 

  • A business about an existing debt, contract, or payment.
  • A business that has opened within the last year.
  • Prerecorded messages or emergency calls needed for health and safety.
  • Calls for which you have given prior express consent.
  • Calls that you have opted in to receive. Calls by, or on behalf of, tax-exempt non-profit organizations.
  • Calls from political campaigns.

 

The Do Not Call laws apply to consumer phone lines only. They don’t cover businesses that receive telemarketing calls.

 

Avoiding Scams

 

Scammers will ignore the Do Not Call Registry, and sometimes even impersonate it. The Do Not Call Registry will not call you. Here are some ways you can avoid scams:

 

  • If you get an unwanted call, don't engage the caller, don't press any buttons (even if they promise to remove you from their list). Hang up immediately.
  • Scammers often hide their Caller ID information. This makes it harder for consumers to file a complaint. Scammers have become very sophisticated. They can change their numbers in minutes, making tracking them very difficult.Your best defense is not to answer unknown calls. And again, if you do answer, hang up as soon as you realize it’s an unwanted call.
  • Consider call blocking. If the calls are coming from the same number, you may be able to use a service from your phone provider to block the calls. Other options that can help include smartphone apps that block calls and services like NoMoRobo. If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Don’t ever give your personal information over the phone to someone you don’t know.

 

To Register and File Complaints:

 

To Register for the National Do Not Call Registry:

 

To File a Complaint with the National Do Not Call Registry:

 

DCP maintains the list of Connecticut consumers who have registered for the Do Not Call Registry through the FTC.  To file a complaint, please email dcp.complaints@ct.gov.