Adults 18–44 are three times as likely to be successfully targeted by phone scams as those over 55, according to the Public Interest Network’s 2024 report on spam and scams. The report also says 25% of younger adults in that range reported being scammed more than once.
FCC posts step-by-step blocking tools
Brendan Carr said the Federal Communications Commission has posted new consumer guides to help stop illegal robocalls and texts. “As part of our ongoing efforts to crack down on illegal robocalls and text, the FCC has published step-by-step guides that enable consumers to turn on blocking and filtering tools,” Carr wrote on X. The guidance includes how to block numbers, filter spam, and control who can contact a person’s iPhone or Android, with instructions also organized by major providers AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon.
Why older Americans may be less vulnerable
The Public Interest Network report says older Americans are less likely to pick up unknown calls or respond to texts, and they use more preventive tools. It cites higher signup rates for the Do Not Call registry among older adults (57% vs. 30% for younger groups ages 18–64) and higher use of caller ID solutions (21% vs. 14%).
Who is more likely to say they were scammed
The same report notes gender differences: 79% of men said they were victims of scam calls over a 12‑month period, compared with 68% of women. It also says women were more likely to ignore spam calls or texts (65% vs. 54% for men), despite receiving about 5% more spam calls overall and per month.
Where robocalls are surging—and falling
A WhistleOut study found sharp state-by-state shifts since 2020. Louisiana saw the largest increase in robocalls at 792%, followed by Mississippi at 117%. Alaska, Indiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Kansas each experienced increases above 50%. Utah recorded the steepest drop at −34%, and declines were also reported in Nevada, Arizona, Idaho, New Jersey, Wyoming, Rhode Island, California, Colorado, and Connecticut.
Scam types the FCC warns about
The FCC says its guidance warns about more than a dozen scams, including collect call scams, cell phone fraud, and the “One Ring” scam. The agency also links to resources explaining federal rules on spam and solicitation.
If you want fewer spam calls and texts
The FCC’s new how‑to pages outline turning on built‑in spam filters, blocking known bad numbers, and tightening who can reach your iPhone or Android—plus carrier-specific tools from AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon.
