Scam calls are on the rise. How can you protect yourself?

Does it seem like every other call or text you get is from an unknown number trying to get you to click on a link or call back with your bank information?

Well, it’s not just you.

Robocalls and texts have hit a six-year high in 2025, according to a report by the U.S. PIRG Education Fund.

Not only have scam messages gone up, but so has the amount of money lost through those scams.

Between the first half of 2024 and the first half of 2025, money lost from scam calls increased by 16% with the average loss being $3,690, according to the PIRG report.

Consumer watchdog director at PIRG and author of the report Teresa Murray recent joined LAist 89.3's AirTalk, to share some advice on how to best protect yourself.

Why are scam calls increasing?

Unfortunately, robocalls and texts are a lucrative business.

“ The FTC found that the typical scam phone call, the person loses almost $3,700,” said Murray. “ Multiply that times five days a week, that's nearly a million dollars a year.”

Add to that PIRG’s findings that despite requirements from the Federal Communications Commission that all 9,242 phone companies operating in the U.S. implement caller I.D. authentication software, only 44% have completely installed the robocall fighting technology.

While most of the major providers are in compliance with the FCC’s requirements Murray commented that, “ phone companies are allowed to do a lot more than what they are" currently to protect customers.

Phone companies as the first line of defense

Cell service providers are allowed to label incoming calls as spam (if the company believes it's an illegitimate number) and give customers permission to send any unknown numbers straight to voicemail.

Phone companies also track how many calls or texts come from a number in a given time frame, how long those calls are and how many texts are replied to.

“So if the phone company, for example, sees a bunch of calls, and most of them aren't answered, and the ones that do get answered are only on for a couple seconds, that's a really clear indicator to the phone company that it's probably an illegal call,” Murray said.

Don’t pick up

The best advice is also the most obvious: if you get an unexpected call or text from an unknown number, just don’t answer.

Of course, that's easier said than done in the digital age.

Most illegal telemarketers use certain signifiers, or urgent language to coax you into answering. They may pretend to be an old friend from high school or a debt collector threatening to cut off your utilities.

“ The main word to remember here is unexpected,” Murray said. “We should never provide personal information or payment information to an unexpected phone call or text.”

Murray stressed the need to verify the caller or sender, especially when money is involved.

“ If it's a bank that says your account's been hacked, call the number on the back of your bank card or on your account statement,” she said.

If you pick up, don’t panic. Report it.

But what if you do pick up a scam call and realize after the fact?

Murray said the most important thing to do is report it.

“ The phone companies will work to identify that, but they also rely on you and me to report phone calls,” she said.

And don’t be embarrassed to admit that you fell for a robocall.

“ This happens to everybody. Young and old, rich and poor, all kinds of professions,” said Murray. “The tales of people who have lost their life savings or have suffered significant financial harm, it's across the spectrum. We all need to help each other.”

For more tips on what to do if you get a scam call or text read Murray's full consumer guide here.

Listen to the conversation