How do I stop cold sales calls and robocalls to my small business?

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Decide how staff should handle the call

Write one response for a live sales caller: “We are not taking sales calls. Please remove us from your calling list.” Staff can then end the call. For a suspicious recording, hang up rather than pressing a key to speak to someone or opt out. The FTC’s phone-scam guidance warns against interacting with these robocall menus.

Keep the rule easy to use during a busy shift. Ask staff to pass a genuine customer message to the right person, but not to approve purchases, account changes or new vendors during an unsolicited call. Give them a named person to ask when a call is unclear.

Try the response with whoever covers the phone next. Use a harmless practice conversation within your team. Check that everyone knows how to end a sales pitch politely and how to take a customer’s name and callback number.

Start with your existing phone provider

Ask what spam labeling, blocking and screening are already included. Office landlines, internet phones and mobiles need different tools; the FTC’s call-blocking guide explains those categories. Ask your provider for the steps for your actual line and handset.

For eligible mobile lines, ask about the free basic protection in T-Mobile Scam Shield, Verizon Call Filter or AT&T ActiveArmor. These carriers also sell upgrades, so confirm the free choice before enabling anything that renews.

Change one setting at a time and note what you changed. Review missed calls and voicemail before making the filter stricter. If a wanted call was filtered, use your provider’s correction or allowed-number options. Ask a colleague to make a test call after you change how the line is answered.

Use mobile screening carefully

On iPhone, look in Settings > Apps > Phone for Silence Unknown Callers or newer call-screening options. Apple’s current Screen Unknown Callers menu includes Ask Reason for Calling and Silence. Read Apple’s current instructions for your software before choosing.

On Android with Phone by Google, look for Caller ID & spam protection in the Phone app settings. Google documents those controls; supported Pixels also have Call Screen. Model and country availability vary. Use the instructions for your phone rather than assuming the same menu exists everywhere.

Leave a clear voicemail greeting asking for a name, callback number and request. Put time aside to review it. Before silencing all unsaved callers, consider how a new customer, delivery driver or supplier would reach you.

Know the business limits of Do Not Call

The FTC says the National Do Not Call Registry covers personal numbers, not business numbers. It is not a blocker and does not stop scammers. Do not pay someone who promises that registration alone will clear your business phone.

That does not mean every business call is permitted. The FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule guidance explains business-call exemptions and limits, including rules against misrepresentations. Describe what happened in a complaint rather than trying to decide every legal issue yourself.

If the call threatens removal of your Google listing, follow our fake Google listing-call guide. Check the profile through your own account before paying or granting access.

Keep a short log and report problem calls

Record the date, time, displayed number, claimed company and what they asked for. Keep existing voicemails or messages. Do not call a suspicious number back just to complete the log.

Use the FCC complaint center for unwanted calls and spoofing, or ReportFraud.ftc.gov for a scam. Our reporting guide explains the routes. Review the log with staff before changing another setting.

Questions people ask

Should we block every unknown number?

Before doing that, decide how first-time customers will leave a message. Try labeling or screening first, review missed calls and keep a clear callback routine.

What is the first thing to do today?

Ask your existing phone provider what free spam protection your line includes, then give staff a short response for sales calls. Use the scam-call hub if the problem involves a family emergency or a different scam.