According to AARP Alabama, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) estimates that nearly 50 percent of the 48 billion robocalls in 2018 were illegal and some predict the number will increase to 60 billion in 2019.

The term robocall is vague and includes calls that are legal as well such as school closing announcements, medical appointment reminders and others.

It is considered an illegal robocall when it comes from companies that you have not authorized to contact you, as well as attempts at outright theft and scams, according to Evey Owen, the Interim Associate State Director of Communications for AARP Alabama.

Owen continues with a survey by AARP that found that U.S. adults are more likely to answer a call seemingly from a local area code (59 percent), an area code where friends or family live (44 percent) or an area code and telephone exchange that matches their own (36 percent).

It is important to remain cautious when it comes to numbers you don’t know especially now with the robocalls on the rise.

Screen incoming calls by letting the calls go to a voicemail.

Add your number to the National Do Not Call Registry at www.donotcall.gov or at 1-888-382-1222.

Report scam calls to the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov or your state attorney general.

In February of this year, 39 Attorney Generals across the country began working to reduce the number of robocalls to cell phone customers.

Included in the 39 was our very own Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, who claimed that companies such as AT&T and Charter/Spectrum have been more proactive on the issue than other providers.

In May, Sen. Doug Jones, D-AL, was the co-sponsor to the Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED) Act that passed the Senate in a 97-1 vote.

Was citizens must do our part as well in fighting robocalls. Be smart of the incoming calls to your cell phones and landlines and report suspicious activities.