robocalls
Prerecorded spam calls
Robocalls are automated telephone calls that deliver prerecorded messages, typically for telemarketing, political campaigns, or scams.
The term carries negative connotations—few people welcome them: I get five robocalls a day trying to sell me car warranties.
Laws restrict robocalls, but enforcement struggles to keep pace with the volume.
Cause of aggravation
- irritatingCausing mild frustration
- bothersomeCausing mild annoyance
- aggravatingCausing irritation or worsening
- frustratingCausing irritation, blocking progress
exasperating · infuriating · maddening · pesky · vexing · obnoxious · plague · screening
Persuasive commercial presentation
- cold callingUnsolicited sales contact
- lead generationAcquiring potential customer contacts
- outboundHeaded away from origin
- call centerTelephone support facility
scripted · conversion · prospecting · customer acquisition · product promotion · upselling · cross-selling · B2B
Intentional criminal trickery
- phishingFraudulent credential harvesting
- tech support scamFake technician extortion scheme
- grandparent scamFraud targeting seniors via fake relatives
- prize scamFake winning notification scheme
spoofed number · identity theft · con · deception · swindle · impostor · victim · wire transfer
Rejecting incoming phone connections
- spam filterSoftware blocking unwanted email
- blocklistCatalog of prohibited items
- call screeningReviewing callers before answering
- opt-outChoose not to participate
app · whitelisting · reporting · verification · authentication · tracing
Organized effort toward goal
- electionOrganized public voting
- candidatesThose seeking selection
- votingFormally registering a choice
- advocacyPleading for a cause
canvassing · outreach · constituents · endorsements · get-out-the-vote · primaries · caucus · party
Systematic opinion gathering
- questionnaireFormal inquiry form
- opinionSubjective personal belief
- feedbackReturned response data
- responsesAnswers or reactions
data collection · market research · public opinion · demographics · touch-tone · interactive
Automated call routing system
- voice synthesisArtificial production of speech
- text-to-speechConverting writing to audio
- speech recognitionMachines understanding human talk
- telephonyDistant voice communication systems
VoIP · software · algorithm · scripted · systematic · scalability
nuisance
Cause of aggravation
- irritatingCausing mild frustration
- bothersomeCausing mild annoyance
- aggravatingCausing irritation or worsening
frustrating · exasperating · infuriating · maddening · pesky · vexing · obnoxious · plague · screening · voicemail
sales pitch
Persuasive commercial presentation
- cold callingUnsolicited sales contact
- lead generationAcquiring potential customer contacts
- outboundHeaded away from origin
call center · scripted · conversion · prospecting · customer acquisition · product promotion · upselling · cross-selling · B2B · B2C
fraud
Intentional criminal trickery
- phishingFraudulent credential harvesting
- tech support scamFake technician extortion scheme
- grandparent scamFraud targeting seniors via fake relatives
prize scam · spoofed number · identity theft · con · deception · swindle · impostor · victim · wire transfer · gift cards
call blocking
Rejecting incoming phone connections
- spam filterSoftware blocking unwanted email
- blocklistCatalog of prohibited items
- call screeningReviewing callers before answering
opt-out · app · whitelisting · reporting · verification · authentication · tracing
campaign
Organized effort toward goal
- electionOrganized public voting
- candidatesThose seeking selection
- votingFormally registering a choice
advocacy · canvassing · outreach · constituents · endorsements · get-out-the-vote · primaries · caucus · party · polling
polling
Systematic opinion gathering
- questionnaireFormal inquiry form
- opinionSubjective personal belief
- feedbackReturned response data
responses · data collection · market research · public opinion · demographics · touch-tone · interactive
IVR
Automated call routing system
- voice synthesisArtificial production of speech
- text-to-speechConverting writing to audio
- speech recognitionMachines understanding human talk
telephony · VoIP · software · algorithm · scripted · systematic · scalability
- consumer hassleshidden fees, long lines, out of stock, late delivery, overcharging
- phone servicesvoicemail, caller ID, call waiting, call forwarding, call blocking
- unwanted callstelemarketers, telemarketing, cold callers, recorded messages, caller ID spoofing
- phone scamsscam call, vishing, phishing call, caller ID spoofing, spoofed number
- campaigningcandidate, campaign signs, canvassing, campaign manager, fundraising
- digital annoyancesspam, pop-ups, ads, malware, viruses