It’s a real headache, isn’t it? The endless stream of spam calls cloggin up our phone. Caller ID is supposed to help us recognize callers before answering, but the rampant practice of number disguise has made it almost impossible to trust what flashes on our screens. It’s a messy business that needs immediate attention and resolution.
The deception unfolds through key players: third-party service providers and rogue callers who mask their true phone numbers, telecom companies providing the service for these third-parties, and regulators with laws in place to combat this deceit. Yet, these regulations often fall short, failing to catch every offender and imposing penalties that, at best, are insignificant.
To make matters worse, an entire business model has grown around this chaos. Many carriers and tech companies now sell “spam call protection” as an add‑on or subscription service. Instead of simply fixing the problem at its root, they often:
- Offer basic spam blocking for free,
- Then upsell “premium” protection—advanced blocking, enhanced caller ID, and custom filters—for a monthly fee.
In other words, we’re being asked to pay extra to shield ourselves from a problem that exists largely because the system isn’t properly secured in the first place. Independent apps and security services also jump into the fray, charging users recurring subscriptions to maintain constantly updated spam lists, AI-based call screening, and call analytics. For some companies, the flood of spam calls isn’t just a nuisance; it’s a revenue stream.
All the while, I’m personally bombarded with 20–40 spam calls daily! It’s absolute madness. Despite registering my number on the Do Not Call Registry, it seems ineffective. The relentless intrusion is intolerable.
Telecom companies and regulators need to intensify their efforts against caller ID spoofing—not just by nudging customers toward paid “protection,” but by aggressively shutting down abusive traffic, enforcing authentication standards, and holding bad actors (and the networks that carry their calls) fully accountable. Regulators must not only pass rules but enforce them with meaningful penalties that actually deter violators, instead of allowing fines to become a mere cost of doing business.
Until they do, we must stay on guard, report spam calls whenever possible, and persistently lobby our regulators to enforce the existing laws effectively. And we should be openly questioning why consumers are footing the bill for protection from a problem that the ecosystem itself has the power—and responsibility—to fix.
Let’s not allow these scammers, or any businesses profiting from this dysfunction, to triumph!
So, readers, what are your thoughts? Are you as exasperated by spoofed phone numbers as I am? Have you felt pressured to sign up for a paid spam-blocking service just to breathe a little easier? Share your opinions, comments, and anecdotes below! Let’s engage in a continuous dialogue until we bring about meaningful change!
Leave a Reply