Published February 15, 2026

Your phone rings. You do not recognize the number. You answer — and hear a pre-recorded voice trying to sell you something. Sound familiar?

You have probably experienced this dozens (or hundreds) of times. But here is what most people do not realize: that call was very likely illegal. And under the TCPA, it could be worth $500 to $1,500 to you.

But how do you know for sure? Here are the telltale signs:

1. It Was a Pre-Recorded Message

If you answered the phone and heard a recorded voice (not a live person), that is a strong indicator of a TCPA violation. Companies need your prior express written consent to send pre-recorded calls to your cell phone. If you never signed up to hear from them, they broke the law.

2. You Never Gave Permission

Think about it: did you ever give this company your phone number? Did you ever agree to receive calls from them? If the answer is no, you likely have a valid TCPA claim.

3. The Caller Did Not Identify Themselves

Federal law requires telemarketers to identify themselves and the company they represent at the beginning of the call. If they jumped straight into a pitch without telling you who they are, that is another violation.

4. It Came Before 8am or After 9pm

Telemarketing calls are restricted to the hours of 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM in your local time zone. Any marketing call outside these hours is a violation — period.

5. You Asked Them to Stop and They Called Again

If you have previously told a company to stop calling you and they continue, each subsequent call is a willful violation — which means $1,500 per call instead of $500.

6. You Are on the Do Not Call Registry

If your number is registered on the National Do Not Call Registry and a company calls you for marketing purposes anyway, that is a separate violation with additional penalties.

What To Do Next

The moment you identify an illegal call:

1. Do not hang up immediately. Listen for a few seconds to identify the company or note any details.
2. Write down the time, date, and phone number. Do this right away while it is fresh.
3. Save any voicemails. Voicemail recordings are powerful evidence.
4. Log it in RoboHero. Open your dashboard and document the violation. It takes less than 60 seconds.

Every illegal call is an opportunity. The sooner you start documenting, the stronger your case becomes.