The New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection is arming residents with new tools to combat the persistent nuisance of unwanted telemarketing calls. The agency is encouraging New Yorkers to register their phone numbers with the Do Not Call Registry and report any unwanted calls they receive after being on the list for more than 31 days.
A new state law, dubbed the “Seinfeld Law,” took effect on January 1, aiming to make telemarketing calls more transparent. The law requires telemarketers to disclose their name, company, and reason for calling within the first 30 seconds of a call. Additionally, they must inform consumers if the call is being recorded and offer an option to be placed on their company’s internal Do Not Call list.
“We’ve all been on the receiving end of annoying and unwanted telemarketing calls, and too many New Yorkers don’t know that there are tools available to help make them stop,” said Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley. “Every consumer should take the time to put their phone number on the Do Not Call Registry and report any instance of an unwanted telemarketing call so we can track down bad actors and take legal action against them.”
The Do Not Call Registry allows consumers to limit telemarketing calls from sales companies, although political organizations, charities, surveyors, and businesses with an existing relationship to the consumer are exempt. Registration can be completed online at DoNotCall.gov or by calling 888-382-1222.
State officials also warn against common telemarketing scams. Consumers are advised to avoid sharing personal or financial information over the phone, beware of “too-good-to-be-true” offers, and refrain from pressing numbers when prompted, as this may signal scammers that a number is active.
Last year, New Yorkers filed over 109,000 telemarketing complaints with the Federal Trade Commission. The Division of Consumer Protection urges residents to report each unwanted call individually, as complaints help authorities track violators. Businesses that violate Do Not Call laws can face fines of up to $20,000 per call.
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