TLDR
The United States received 29.6 billion unwanted phone calls in 2025, a 15.6% increase year-over-year and the highest volume in four years. ScamVerify™ tracks scam phone number patterns across 4 million+ FTC complaints, and the data confirms what the U.S. PIRG Consumer Protection Week 2026 report warns: the existing regulatory framework is not keeping pace with robocall growth. Fewer than 50% of carriers have fully implemented STIR/SHAKEN call authentication, and the Do Not Call Registry's 249 million+ registered numbers are largely ignored by illegal callers.
The 2025 Robocall Landscape
Year-Over-Year Trends
| Year | Unwanted Calls (Billions) | YoY Change | Notable Factor |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 58.5 | - | Pre-STIR/SHAKEN peak |
| 2020 | 45.9 | -21.5% | Pandemic disruption of call centers |
| 2021 | 50.5 | +10.0% | Call centers reopening |
| 2022 | 28.1 | -44.4% | STIR/SHAKEN rollout effect |
| 2023 | 21.8 | -22.4% | Enforcement actions peak |
| 2024 | 25.6 | +17.4% | Scammers adapt to STIR/SHAKEN |
| 2025 | 29.6 | +15.6% | 4-year high, adaptation complete |
The data tells a clear story. STIR/SHAKEN's initial rollout in 2022-2023 cut robocall volume nearly in half. But scammers have adapted. The 2024-2025 rebound shows that call authentication alone is not sufficient without comprehensive enforcement and carrier compliance.
Monthly Distribution (2025)
| Month | Calls (Billions) | % of Annual |
|---|---|---|
| January | 2.8 | 9.5% |
| February | 2.4 | 8.1% |
| March | 2.7 | 9.1% |
| April | 2.6 | 8.8% |
| May | 2.5 | 8.4% |
| June | 2.3 | 7.8% |
| July | 2.2 | 7.4% |
| August | 2.3 | 7.8% |
| September | 2.4 | 8.1% |
| October | 2.5 | 8.4% |
| November | 2.3 | 7.8% |
| December | 2.6 | 8.8% |
January and March see the highest volumes, driven by tax season scams, healthcare enrollment follow-ups, and debt collection campaigns. Summer months (June-August) typically see reduced volume, followed by a fall increase as holiday shopping scams and year-end financial schemes ramp up.
Top Scam Call Categories
The FTC and industry data identify consistent patterns in what these 29.6 billion calls are selling or stealing:
| Category | % of Scam Calls | Avg Loss Per Victim | Key Tactic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debt reduction/credit repair | 22% | $1,200 | Promise to eliminate debt for upfront fee |
| Government imposters (IRS, SSA) | 18% | $800 | Threaten arrest or benefit suspension |
| Health insurance/Medicare | 14% | $600 | Fake enrollment during open enrollment |
| Auto warranty | 11% | $3,000 | Extended warranty on non-qualifying vehicles |
| Energy/solar | 9% | $2,500 | Fake government solar rebate programs |
| Tech support | 8% | $500 | "Your computer has a virus" calls |
| Student loan forgiveness | 7% | $1,500 | Illegal upfront fees for free programs |
| Investment/crypto | 6% | $2,764 | Pig butchering pipeline |
| Other | 5% | Varies | Prize scams, charity scams, political scams |
As we detailed in our analysis of debt reduction robocalls, debt-related calls have been the number one robocall category in FTC data for three consecutive years. Our area code analysis shows where these calls originate geographically.
Why STIR/SHAKEN Is Not Enough
What STIR/SHAKEN Does
STIR/SHAKEN (Secure Telephone Identity Revisited / Signature-based Handling of Asserted information using toKENs) is a framework that authenticates caller ID to prevent spoofing. When fully implemented:
- The originating carrier digitally signs the call with a certificate
- The terminating carrier verifies the signature
- Calls that fail verification are flagged or blocked
- Consumers see "Verified Caller" or similar labels on authenticated calls
The Implementation Gap
The FCC mandated STIR/SHAKEN implementation for major carriers by June 30, 2021, with smaller carriers given extensions. As of 2025:
| Carrier Tier | Total Carriers | Fully Implemented | Partially Implemented | Not Implemented |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 (major) | 13 | 13 (100%) | 0 | 0 |
| Tier 2 (mid-size) | 89 | 52 (58%) | 24 (27%) | 13 (15%) |
| Tier 3 (small) | 1,400+ | Under 500 (under 36%) | ~300 | 600+ |
| VoIP providers | 2,000+ | Under 800 (under 40%) | ~400 | 800+ |
Fewer than 50% of all carriers have fully implemented STIR/SHAKEN. The gap is concentrated among small carriers and VoIP providers, which is exactly where scammers route their calls. A scam call originating from a non-compliant VoIP provider, transiting through a non-compliant small carrier, bypasses STIR/SHAKEN entirely.
How Scammers Adapted
Scam operations have developed several techniques to circumvent STIR/SHAKEN:
- Gateway carriers: Route calls through small, non-compliant carriers that do not validate caller ID
- SIP trunking abuse: Use VoIP providers in jurisdictions that do not enforce STIR/SHAKEN
- Number rotation: Cycle through thousands of phone numbers, making each one disposable
- Legitimate-looking origination: Purchase phone numbers from real carriers and use them for short bursts of scam calls before the number is flagged
- International routing: Originate calls from overseas carriers not subject to FCC jurisdiction
The Do Not Call Registry Reality
The FTC's Do Not Call Registry contains 249 million+ phone numbers as of 2025. In theory, telemarketers who call numbers on the registry face fines of up to $51,744 per call. In practice:
- The registry only applies to legitimate telemarketers. Scammers ignore it entirely.
- The FTC brought 5 enforcement actions related to Do Not Call violations in 2025.
- International scam operations are beyond FTC enforcement reach.
- Registration does not block political calls, survey calls, or calls from companies you have an existing relationship with.
- The registry has no technical mechanism to block calls. It is a legal list, not a call-blocking technology.
The Do Not Call Registry remains useful for reducing legitimate telemarketing, but it provides minimal protection against the scam robocalls that make up the majority of unwanted calls.
Consumer Protection Week 2026 Context
The U.S. PIRG released these findings during National Consumer Protection Week (March 1-7, 2026), alongside recommendations:
- FCC should enforce STIR/SHAKEN compliance for all carriers, not just Tier 1
- Smaller carriers need support to implement authentication technology
- International cooperation is needed to address calls originating overseas
- Consumer education remains critical since call blocking is not foolproof
- State AG enforcement should supplement federal action
What You Can Do
Use Built-In Call Screening
| Carrier | Service | Cost | What It Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile | Scam Shield | Free | AI-powered scam detection, spam ID |
| AT&T | ActiveArmor | Free (basic) | Automatic fraud blocking, spam labels |
| Verizon | Call Filter | Free (basic) | Spam detection, risk meter |
| Call Screen | Free (Pixel) | AI answers and transcribes unknown calls | |
| Apple | Silence Unknown Callers | Free (iOS) | Sends non-contacts to voicemail |
Additional Steps
- Register on the Do Not Call Registry at donotcall.gov (reduces legitimate telemarketing)
- Enable your carrier's spam filter (free tier is often sufficient)
- Do not answer calls from unknown numbers. If it is important, they will leave a voicemail.
- Report scam calls to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- Look up suspicious numbers using ScamVerify's phone lookup to check FTC complaint history, carrier data, and community reports
- Block and report scam numbers directly on your phone
For our complete guide on blocking scam calls, read our platform-specific guides for iPhone and Android.
FAQ
Why am I getting more robocalls even though I am on the Do Not Call list?
The Do Not Call Registry only deters legitimate telemarketers who follow the law. Illegal robocallers, who account for the vast majority of unwanted calls, ignore the registry entirely. The 15.6% increase in unwanted calls in 2025 is driven almost entirely by illegal operations, not legitimate telemarketing.
Do call-blocking apps actually work?
Yes, but imperfectly. Apps like Nomorobo, Hiya, and Robokiller maintain databases of known scam numbers and use AI to identify suspicious call patterns. They block or flag the majority of known scam numbers. However, scammers rotate through new numbers faster than databases can update. No solution catches 100% of scam calls.
Why can't carriers just block all robocalls?
Many legitimate businesses use automated calling systems: pharmacies for prescription reminders, schools for closings, doctors for appointment confirmations, banks for fraud alerts. Blocking all automated calls would disrupt these services. The challenge is distinguishing legitimate automated calls from scam robocalls, which is what STIR/SHAKEN attempts to do.
Is the robocall problem getting better or worse?
It depends on the timeframe. Compared to the 2019 peak of 58.5 billion calls, the 2025 figure of 29.6 billion represents a 49% reduction. But the 2024-2025 trend is moving in the wrong direction, with 15.6% growth. The initial gains from STIR/SHAKEN are eroding as scammers adapt, suggesting new approaches are needed.
What happens when I report a robocall to the FTC?
Your report is added to the FTC's Consumer Sentinel database, which is shared with over 2,800 law enforcement agencies. Individual reports are not investigated, but the FTC uses aggregate data to identify patterns, target enforcement actions, and build cases against major robocall operations. In 2025, the FTC took action against operations responsible for billions of illegal calls. Every report contributes to this enforcement effort.
