Do robocalls seem to outnumber the number of genuine human calls you receive? Illegal robocalls aren’t just annoying; they’re also often scams. But you might be wondering how they even got your number in the first place.

Sometimes, robocalls are random. But sometimes, a company tries to trick you into getting your information and selling it. The FTC reported that in a recent situation, people looking for a quote to refinance their mortgage gave a certain company their name and number. But instead of giving quotes, the company took people’s information and sold it to telemarketers, who went on to make illegal robocalls about things like fake auto warranties, solar panels, hearing aids, and Social Security disability services.

To avoid situations such as this, it is important to protect your personal information. Before you enter your personal information on a website, research it. Search the name of the site plus “complaint,” “review,” or “scam.” If others have reported the site, avoid it. Some websites might also have small disclaimers that say that if you click a link or check a box, you’re agreeing to having your information collected and sold to other companies. If this is something you are not comfortable with, look elsewhere.

If after following those steps, you are continuing to receive robocalls, it is most important that you don’t answer calls from unknown numbers, and if you do answer such a call, hang up immediately.

Other tips to stop unwanted robocalls and avoid phone scams include:

• If you answer the phone and the caller, or a recording, asks you to hit a button to stop getting the calls, you should hang up. Scammers often use this trick to identify potential targets.
• Do not respond to any questions, especially those that can be answered with “yes.”
• Never give out personal information such as account numbers, Social Security numbers, mother’s maiden names, passwords, or other identifying information in response to unexpected calls or if you are at all suspicious.
• Talk to your phone company about any call-blocking tools they may have, and check into apps that you can download to your mobile device to block unwanted calls.

Report illegal robocalls. Reporting helps law enforcement and investigators stop. Report them at DoNotCall.gov