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Verizon offers free tool to block robocallers

Verizon offers free tool to block robocallers
CYNTHIA: JUST LOOK AROUND AND YOU’LL SEE HOW EVERYONE IS WIRED TO THEIR PHONES. TELEMARKETERS HAVE NOW FOUND A WAY TO OUTSMART US WITH SPOOFED LOCAL PHONE NUMBERS TO TRICK US INTO ANSWERING. >> THEY ARE NUMBERS THAT LOOK LIKE SOMEONE I KNOW, OR AREA CODE OR THE PREFIX LOOKS FAMILIAR. I ANSWER IT, IT TURNS OUT SOMEONE I DIDN’T WANT TO ANSWER. >> THEY DO USE LOCAL NUMBERS. THE USE AREA CODES MY PHONE IS IN WHICH IS THE DES MOINES AREA CODE. IT IS ALWAYS THE AREA CROWED -- AREA CODE I GREW UP IN. CYNTHIA: NOW THE FCC HAS GUIDELINES TO PUSH CARRIERS TO WEED OUT UNWANTED CALLS AND ADOPT A NEW AUTHENTICATION SYSTEM. T-MOBILE HAS A SCAM ID PROGRAM TO HELP CUSTOMERS SCREEN AND BLOCK CALLS. NOW THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT. VERIZON THIS WEEK WILL START OFFERING SOME FEATURES OF IT’S CALL FILTER APP FOR FREE. >> I HAVE VERIZON ALREADY SO I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN THAT. >> I WOULD BE INTERESTED AS WELL, WOULD YOU PAY FOR IT? >> ONLY IF IT IS FREE. CYNTHIA: IT’S ESTIMATED 48 BILLION ROBO CALLS WERE MADE LAST YEAR ABOUT HALF OF ALL CALLS AMERICANS RECEIVE. MOST OF US WELCOME NEW TECHNOLOGY TO HANG UP ON THEM. BUT JOHN TAYLOR SAYS HE HAS FIGURED THAT OUT. >> PROBABLY NOT ANNOYED AT ALL. IF I DON’T RECOGNIZE THE NUMBER, I’M NOT PICKING IT UP. THEY DON’T LEAVE A MESSAGE, IT’S A NON-EVENT FOR ME. CYNTHIA: THE FCC IS URGING ALL OF THE NATION’S CARRIERS TO ADOPT NEW ROBOCALL GUIDELINES BY THE END OF THIS YEAR. CYNT
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Verizon offers free tool to block robocallers
New technology is being released to stop robocallers from reaching your phone. KCCI's Cynthia Fodor shows how Verizon is offering a new free tool to block that spam.

New technology is being released to stop robocallers from reaching your phone. KCCI's Cynthia Fodor shows how Verizon is offering a new free tool to block that spam.

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