These 5 Tips Can Help You Avoid Being Targeted as a Spam/Scam Caller

Phone prospecting is the lifeblood of successful real estate sales. With few exceptions, agents who regularly work the phones tend to be top performers in the industry. Of course, if you’re an Espresso Agent client, you’re well aware of the value of phone prospecting.But what you need to remember is that, as a high-volume phone prospector, you face the potential of being identified as a spammer. Such an identification can have an obvious impact on your business.There are two primary ways to get flagged as a phone spammer:

• Algorithms embedded in 3^rd-party anti-scam apps can detect high volumes of calls make by particular numbers.
• You can have a complaint filed against you by a call recipient. In fact, complaints can be filed because the recipient objects to repeated calls coming from a number they don’t recognize.

Below you’ll find FIVE tips that can help you avoid being flagged as a spam caller. Consider these tips general guidelines. Carriers update their spamming policies frequent basis, so make sure you take the time to stay current on changes that might get you flagged.

1. Become very familiar with FCC regulations.
2. Also, familiarize yourself with applicable telemarketing laws on both a state and local basis.
3. Keep the user in mind.You’re not acting as a spam caller if you’re able to get prospects to answer and/or call you back. You can establish trust and prevent your customers from blocking your number if they’re able to check who is calling them. Be POLITE if you leave a voicemail message; tell them who you are and why you’re calling. Don’t do anything that would upset someone, such as hanging up or calling multiple times every day.
4. If you connect with a prospect, politely ask them to save your numberto prevent third-party scam apps from blocking you.
5. Use multiple numbers if possible.Different numbers minimize the number of calls per hour/per day made by a single number, which also reduces the chance of being flagged.

WHAT IF YOU DO GET FLAGGED?It’s possible your number has been mistakenly labeled by a carrier. If so, reach out to them to correct the problem. Just remember, each carrier has a different process for flagging, so you may need to contact each carrier separately to ask them to remove the tag.Another option is to use a different, valid Caller ID number, which may or may not be a practical solution.RESOURCESFollowing are links too carrier-specific rules and regulations with regard to tagging spam callers. In addition, the final section below includes links to popular spam-blocking apps, along with their contact information, should you need to request being unflagged.

• Verizon - https://voicespamfeedback.com/vsf/
• TMobile- https://calltransparency.com/
• AT&T- https://hiyahelp.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/requests/new?ticket_form_id=824667

Additional help with carriers:

• Call Transparency- https://www.calltransparency.com/ - Can help verify your numbers with Sprint/T-Mobile.
• Report a robocall- https://reportarobocall.com/trf/ - can help with Verizon/Sprint.
• Free Call Registry- https://www.freecallerregistry.com/fcr/ - Can help register/white-list your numbers with all four carriers. All numbers and information provided will be shared with all three Carrier Spam Monitoring Partners - HIYA, TNSI and First Orion

Popular Spam Block Apps:In addition, here are some of the most popular spam blocking apps and contact info if you wish to reach out about being unflagged with their apps.

• Robokiller:Most popular call blocking app, millions of people have this application. Once you are blocked by them, every single user with the app will automatically have your number blocked.
  • Contact Info: support@robokiller.com
• Nomorobo: No Scoring/Rating System. Very Popular Call Blocking App. Winner of FTC Robocall Challenge
  • Email: reports@nomorobo.com
• Icehook: Will be marked as "Scam Likely" if it falls into "highly_likely" / 81-100 Risk Level Range
  • Contact Info: https://www.icehook.com/contact
• TrueSpam: Uses 0 - 100 Scale, Flags occur @ 60 & above score
  • Contact Info: https://www.truecnam.com/contact_us
• Telo: Nuisance Score Flagged at 65 & above. We flag at a score of 65 to notify you before it becomes a nuisance type call at the threshold of 70.
  • Contact Info: https://www.telo.com