How the US Do Not Call Registry Works

The National Do Not Call Registry is a free list that tells law-abiding telemarketers which personal phone numbers not to call. It covers home and cell numbers, not business or fax numbers. It does not block calls on your phone and cannot by itself stop scammers who ignore the law. The FTC’s registry FAQ explains these limits.

Register or check your number

Go to DoNotCall.gov to register or confirm that your number is listed. Online registration requires you to open a confirmation link sent by email within 72 hours. The FTC says it can take up to 31 days for covered sales calls to stop, and registration does not expire unless the number is disconnected and reassigned or you request removal.

Why calls may continue

The registry applies to sales calls from companies that follow the rules. Some calls remain permitted, including certain political, charitable, debt-collection, informational, and survey calls. Companies you have recently done business with or given written permission to call may also contact you, subject to the FTC’s rules. Scammers may ignore the registry entirely.

If you receive an unexpected robocall, the FTC advises hanging up without pressing buttons. Pressing a number to be removed from a list can lead to more unwanted calls.

Where to report a call

If you did not lose money and simply want to report an unwanted call, use DoNotCall.gov. If you lost money or have information about a scammer, use ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Keep the displayed number, any callback number, and the date and time, even if you suspect the displayed number was spoofed. The reporting guide explains the difference.

For immediate interruptions, use device or carrier blocking options. Start with the iPhone or Android guide. Blocking reduces nuisance calls but does not identify a caller.