The Federal Trade Commission reported to Congress that more than 258 million telephone numbers are now registered on the National Do Not Call Registry, representing an increase of 4.8 million from the previous fiscal year. The biennial report reveals a complex picture of consumer protection efforts, with registry growth accompanied by rising complaint volumes.
The FTC received more than 2.6 million Do Not Call complaints in fiscal year 2025, marking an increase from the previous year. The vast majority of these violations involved robocalls rather than live telemarketing calls, highlighting the persistent challenge of automated calling technology in circumventing consumer protections.
Debt reduction schemes topped the list of commonly reported unwanted telemarketing calls in fiscal year 2025, followed closely by imposter calls where scammers pretend to represent government agencies, businesses, or even family members and friends. Medical and prescription inquiries also ranked high among consumer complaints, demonstrating how scammers exploit health concerns to target vulnerable populations.
Energy, solar, and utilities-related calls comprised another significant category of violations, along with home improvement and cleaning services solicitations. These sectors have increasingly utilized automated calling systems to reach large numbers of consumers at minimal cost, despite registry protections.
The FTC noted that robocalls have become the dominant method for illegal telemarketing due to technological advances in automated dialing systems. Voice Over Internet Protocol technology allows scammers to make pre-recorded calls in large volumes with little expense, contributing to the substantial increase in telemarketing robocalls over recent years.
Despite the uptick in fiscal year 2025 complaints, the report emphasizes that robocall violations remain substantially lower than their peak in fiscal year 2017. The FTC attributes this decline to comprehensive law enforcement strategies targeting the technological infrastructure that enables illegal calling.
The commission has pursued VoIP providers that facilitate illegal calls, recognizing that addressing the technical backbone of robocall operations can be more effective than pursuing individual callers. The FTC also filed lawsuits against dialing platforms and soundboard technology providers that supply software used to blast consumers with illegal robocalls.
Since the Do Not Call Registry's establishment in 2003, the FTC has filed 173 lawsuits against 570 companies and 449 individuals allegedly responsible for making billions of unwanted telemarketing calls. These enforcement actions have resulted in nearly $400 million in collections from violators, demonstrating the financial consequences of registry violations.
The report also addresses collaborative efforts between the FTC and Federal Communications Commission to combat caller ID spoofing, where scammers disguise their phone numbers to appear legitimate. This coordination reflects recognition that effective consumer protection requires multiple agencies working together to address different aspects of the illegal calling ecosystem.
Beyond traditional enforcement, the FTC has implemented strategies specifically targeting the technologies that enable illegal calls. The commission supports initiatives designed to spur development of consumer protection technologies, encouraging private sector innovation to complement regulatory efforts.
The registry continues to serve as a critical tool for consumer protection, providing a clear legal standard that legitimate businesses must respect. Companies that purchase or access registry data for compliance purposes help ensure that lawful telemarketers can distinguish between consumers who have opted out of receiving calls and those who remain open to such communications.
However, the persistent growth in registry numbers suggests that consumers remain concerned about unwanted calls despite existing protections. The 4.8 million increase in registered numbers during fiscal year 2025 indicates that telephone harassment continues to drive consumers to seek protection through the registry system.
The FTC's ongoing tracking of technology's impact on the registry reflects the dynamic nature of the telecommunications landscape. As calling technologies evolve, enforcement strategies must adapt to address new methods that scammers use to circumvent consumer protections.
Looking ahead, the commission faces the challenge of maintaining registry effectiveness while illegal callers adopt increasingly sophisticated technologies. The report suggests that success requires continued coordination between federal agencies, innovative enforcement approaches targeting technological enablers, and support for private sector development of consumer protection tools.
For consumers, the registry remains an important first line of defense against unwanted telemarketing calls, even as the FTC acknowledges that additional measures are necessary to fully address the robocall problem. The combination of registry registration, complaint reporting, and supporting federal enforcement efforts provides the most comprehensive protection currently available against illegal telemarketing practices.