Why Does It Seem Like the Do Not Call List Doesn't Work?

The “Do Not Call” list (https://www.donotcall.gov/) feels like it doesn’t work because, for many types of callers, it’s essentially toothless. Here’s why:

The Do Not Call List Doesn’t Work

Scammers Don’t Care: The list is enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the U.S., but it only applies to legitimate telemarketers—companies following the law. Scammers, especially those running robocalls or phishing schemes, ignore it completely. They’re already breaking rules, so a voluntary registry isn’t going to stop them.
International Calls: A lot of spam comes from overseas, where U.S. regulations like the Do Not Call list have no jurisdiction. These callers use spoofed numbers to look local, but they’re operating out of places the FTC can’t touch.
Loopholes for Legit Callers: Even law-abiding organizations can bypass the list. Political campaigns, charities, and companies you’ve done business with (or their affiliates) are exempt or can claim exemptions. That “you’ve recently interacted with us” clause is a wide-open door for some.
Tech Outpacing Enforcement: Robocall tech is cheap and fast—scammers can blast millions of calls daily with auto-dialers and fake numbers. The FTC and phone carriers play whack-a-mole, shutting down operations after the fact, but new ones pop up constantly. Enforcement can’t keep up with the volume.
Spoofing Hides Them: Callers fake their caller ID, making it hard to trace or block them. Even when reported, the number you see isn’t real, so pinning them down is like chasing ghosts.
Underfunding and Overload: Agencies like the FTC are stretched thin. They’ve fined offenders hundreds of millions—$208 million in one 2019 case alone—but collecting that money or stopping the calls proactively? Different story. Resources are limited, and bad actors know it.

It worked better in the early 2000s when telemarketing was mostly domestic and legit. Now, with scammers dominating and tech enabling mass evasion, it’s more of a feel-good relic than a shield. Blocking numbers yourself or using carrier tools might do more, though even that’s not foolproof.