The relentless plague of spam calls shows no sign of abating, with the Federal Trade Commission fielding over 2.6 million complaints in 2025. New data reveals a sharp geographic divide in how Americans are hit by these unwanted interruptions, with Arizona topping the per capita list.
According to the FTC, the most common gripes centered on debt reduction (446,243 complaints), followed by imposter scams (246,228), medical and prescription pitches (208,228), energy and solar offers (35,378), and home improvement calls (28,571). The agency noted that the vast majority of these were robocalls, with only the home improvement category dominated by live callers.
Arizona residents filed the highest number of complaints per 100,000 people, outpacing the rest of the country. The top ten states also included Florida, Tennessee, Illinois, Nevada, Colorado, Michigan, Ohio, New Jersey, and Oklahoma. The numbers underscore how telemarketing and fraud operations continue to target certain regions more aggressively.
Beyond the top categories, the FTC recorded a broader range of complaints: debt reduction calls totaled over 1 million, medical and prescription pitches hit 830,850, warranties and protection plans 730,621, energy and solar 236,629, computer tech 126,221, home improvement 104,757, and vacations and timeshares 96,429. Most of these were automated, raising concerns about enforcement gaps.
Robocalls delivering recorded messages or collecting debt are legal under U.S. rules, but the FTC warns that any robocall trying to sell something without explicit written permission is illegal. Many are outright scams, the agency cautions. The caller ID displayed is often fake, making it nearly impossible to trace the source.
For those tired of the interruptions, experts recommend starting with phone settings. Apple users can enable the Silence Unknown Callers feature under Settings > Apps > Phone, which sends unknown numbers straight to voicemail. Android phones offer a similar block for private or unidentified numbers, and the Do Not Disturb mode can be configured to allow only contacts through.
Carriers often provide free call-blocking services, and the national Do Not Call registry remains a basic line of defense. Third-party apps like Nomorobo, YouMail, Hiya, RoboKiller, and TrueCaller offer more robust filtering, though many charge subscription fees. Landline users with VOIP technology can also use some of these apps.
The FTC strongly advises against engaging with spam callers. Pressing numbers to speak to someone or to request removal from a list will likely invite more calls, the agency warns. Scammers often use tactics like asking “Can you hear me?” to record a “yes” response, which can then be used for fraud. Cybersecurity firm Kaspersky recommends staying silent and hanging up immediately.
In a related development, Fidelity settled a data breach class action for $2.5 million, highlighting the broader risks of digital fraud. Meanwhile, overdose deaths dropped nationwide, though eight states bucked the trend, showing how regional disparities persist across multiple public safety issues.
