Protecting Yourself from Robocalls and Spam Texts

Most of our clients have received aggressive calls from Invesco regarding a proxy. While these calls are not a scam, if you've answered your phone lately only to hear about an extended car warranty or received a text claiming you've won a cruise, you're not alone. Americans receive an estimated 12 spam calls per month, with scammers continuously finding new ways to reach us. We want to provide you with some actionable items to help curb these scam calls and texts.

Understanding What You're Dealing With 

Not all unwanted calls are the same. Telemarketing calls come from legitimate businesses, while legal robocalls include appointment reminders and school notifications. The real concerns are illegal robocalls and scam calls, where fraudsters try to steal your money or personal information by impersonating the IRS, tech support, or even family members in distress.

These scams have become more sophisticated thanks to technology that allows scammers to make thousands of calls per hour and disguise their phone numbers to appear legitimate. Two-thirds of robocalls now originate from outside the United States.

Why Are You Being Targeted? 

Scammers aren't personally targeting you, they're using automated systems that dial numbers randomly or sequentially by area code. Your phone number may also have been sold by data providers to telemarketers or obtained through data breaches. If you've ever called a toll-free number, given your number to a business, or ordered something online, you're a potential target.

Protecting Yourself: Immediate Steps to Take

For Your Phone: 

• Register with the National Do Not Call Registry at donotcall.gov. While this won't stop all scammers, it reduces legitimate telemarketing calls and provides legal protection. 

• Download your carrier's free spam-blocking app: 

  • AT&T Call Protect 

  • T-Mobile Scam Shield 

  • Verizon Call Filter 

These apps work in the background to block or label suspicious calls. The basic versions are free and sufficient for most people avoid the upsells to premium versions. 

• Enable call screening on your smartphone: 

  • iPhone users (iOS 26 or later): Go to Settings > Apps > Phone > Screen Unknown Callers > Ask Reason for Calling. Your phone will use Siri to answer unknown calls and provide you with a transcript of who's calling and why. 

  • Android Pixel users: Open your phone app, tap More > Settings > Call Screen, and turn on "automatically screen calls." 

• Block individual spam numbers: When you receive a spam call, block the number through your phone's recent call list. While scammers may call from different numbers, this helps reduce repeat offenders.

  
  

For Text Messages: 

Spam texts, or "smishing" (SMS phishing), have become increasingly common. Here's how to protect yourself: 

• Never click links or reply to suspicious texts. Responding confirms your number is active and invites more scams. 

• Forward spam texts to SPAM (7726). This helps your carrier identify and block scammers. 

• Enable spam filtering: 

  • iPhone: Settings > Messages > Filter Unknown Senders 

  • Android: In your messages app, tap the three-dot icon > Settings > Spam protection 

• Block and report: Block the sender immediately and report scam texts to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

  
  

What Scammers Are After 

Common scams include impersonating the IRS (especially during tax season), offering fake extended warranties, claiming you owe money to debt collectors, and pretending to be tech support. Scammers build trust by researching you online or making educated guesses about services you use, then pressure you to act quickly through fear or urgency. 

They may ask you to: 

• Wire money or send funds through mobile payment apps 

• Purchase gift cards and provide the codes 

• Share bank login information 

• Grant remote access to your computer

Remember: Legitimate organizations will never demand immediate payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. The IRS will never contact you initially by phone or text.

If You've Been Scammed 

If you realize you've fallen victim to a scam: 

• Contact your bank immediately to stop or reverse payments 

• Change passwords for any compromised accounts 

• Report the incident to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov 

• Consider placing a fraud alert on your credit reports 

There's no shame in falling for a sophisticated scam—these criminals are professionals. The important thing is to act quickly to minimize damage.

The Bottom Line 

While technology is improving and regulations are tightening, spam calls and texts aren't going away completely. Scammers adapt quickly to new defenses. However, by taking these proactive steps and remaining skeptical of unsolicited communications, you can significantly reduce your exposure to these nuisances and protect your financial security. 

If something seems too good to be true or creates a sense of panic and urgency, trust your instincts. When in doubt, hang up and contact the organization directly using a phone number you find independently never use contact information provided by the caller. 

Your financial security is our priority. If you ever receive suspicious communications claiming to be from our firm or have questions about protecting your accounts, please don't hesitate to reach out to us directly. 

Stay safe and vigilant,