FTC Reports Over 258 Million Numbers on Do Not Call Registry, Highlights Enforcement Gains

USA: FTC Biennial Report on National Do Not Call Registry

As of the close of fiscal year 2025, more than 258 million telephone numbers were listed on the National Do Not Call (DNC) Registry, reflecting an increase of approximately 4.8 million entries compared with the prior fiscal year.

Complaint Volume and Sources

The Federal Trade Commission recorded over 2.6 million DNC complaints during FY 2025, a rise from the previous year. The majority of these complaints involved automated robocalls rather than live‑operator telemarketing.

Common Unwanted Call Categories

Consumers most frequently reported calls related to debt‑reduction schemes, impersonation attempts (including alleged government, business, or personal contacts), and medical or prescription inquiries. Additional frequent categories included energy, solar, utilities, home‑improvement, and cleaning services.

Technology Trends and Enforcement

While illegal robocall complaints have generally declined since a 2017 peak, FY 2025 saw a modest uptick. The FTC attributes the overall reduction to enforcement actions targeting Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers, dialing platforms, and soundboard‑technology firms that facilitate large‑scale illegal calls.

Litigation Outcomes

Since the Registry’s inception in 2003, the FTC has pursued 173 lawsuits against 570 companies and 449 individuals, recovering nearly $400 million in penalties for violations.

Support for Call‑Blocking Solutions

The agency continues to back the development of call‑blocking and call‑filtering technologies. Major voice‑service providers now offer such tools, and the FTC supplies a daily list of DNC and robocall complaints to assist analytics firms in identifying abusive callers.

Data Publication and Congressional Review

An annual Do Not Call Registry Data Book provides detailed registration statistics. The most recent report was approved by the FTC commission with a 2‑0 vote before submission to Congress.

This report is based on information from Federal Trade Commission, licensed under Public Domain (U.S. Government Work). Source: Official U.S. Government release.