Robocalls and Phone Scams Surge 20% to Six-Year High, Consumer Watchdog Says

• by Shimanta Das
• October 18, 2026

If it feels like your phone never stops buzzing, you’re not imagining it. Americans are getting more robocalls and scam texts than ever before, according to a new report from consumer watchdog PIRG. The group found that robocalls have jumped 20 percent, reaching a six-year high in 2025—translating to 420 million more calls each month. The surge comes despite more than 15 years of federal efforts to combat the problem, leaving many consumers frustrated and wondering why so little progress has been made.

The PIRG report highlights a troubling gap between promise and reality. “You’d think that—given that it’s been more than 15 years since the first federal law to attack spam robocalls—we’d have seen more progress by now,” the report authors write. “We still don’t know whether to trust our caller ID and may worry we’ll miss an important call if we don’t answer.” The report also points to a concerning trend: a significant number of companies that reported “complete implementation” of call authentication technology in 2024 have shifted to “no implementation” this year. That technology, known as STIR/SHAKEN, is important because it allows phone companies to authenticate that a call is actually coming from the number it is displaying—helping to curb illegal spoofing.

Enforcement remains a challenge. Larger operations with significant financial losses are more likely to be prosecuted, but many smaller scammers slip through the cracks. Meanwhile, consumers are left to navigate a maze of unwanted calls and texts, often unsure which ones are legitimate. Reporting for TODAY, NBC’s Tom Costello shared an inside look at the rise of spam robocalls and offered tips you can use to stop them. Among the advice: don’t answer calls from unknown numbers, use call-blocking apps, and report suspected scams to the FTC.

The PIRG report serves as a wake-up call for regulators and phone companies alike. With robocalls at a six-year high, experts say stronger enforcement and better adoption of authentication technology are essential. For now, Americans are advised to stay vigilant and take advantage of available tools to protect themselves from falling victim to phone scams.