Targeted Incentives

The FTC, consumers, and phone companies participate in this plan to reward consumers and incentivize phone companies to block illegal robocalls.

Suppose these illegal robocalls were actually a threat to national security. Do you think for one instant that we could not find out where the calls were coming from and who is behind them? Of course we could - and would!

Since the robocalls only target consumers and do not materially harm the phone companies there is no incentive for those who own and manage the phone systems to spend the time and money required to stop illegal robocalls. This plan provides the missing incentive.

Phone companies will need the cooperation of consumers so this plan also provides an incentive to get consumers involved. Those who receive a lot of illegal robocalls make the best participants, and they have the most to gain.

Consumers, who are on the FTC Do Not Call Registry, can sign up with their phone companies to be able to report robocalls. Phone companies will keep a database of reported robocalls, and the FTC will analyze the databases to determine which calls are illegal. The phone companies will pay a reward to consumers for each illegal robocall.

Consumers pay a monthly service fee to get involved, but can be rewarded many times over if they are receiving a lot of robocalls. Phone companies will like the prospect of collecting another service fee, but when they have to pay out rewards to their customers for the millions of illegal robocalls they will do what it takes to stop the robocalls.