Bakersfield residents, and outlying communities within the 661-area code, were under siege in the month of August, as robocalls (companies that use an auto-dialer to place calls to landlines and cellular phones) skyrocketed, placing Kern County communities amongst the top- 10 listed cities across America for robocalls, while California residents received more of these calls than any other state in the nation.

Statistics were compiled by YouMail Robocall Index™, which tracks, records and disseminates caller information and provides services that “stops robocalls with its highly accurate caller ID and smart blocking technology, … 8.9 million robocalls were placed to area code 661 in August 2017, equaling roughly 7.8 calls per person affected.”

Kern County residents were inundated with call after call, especially from credit card debt bill collectors, for companies Citibank, Synchrony Financial, and Capital One, to retail debt collection for Best Buy, car loan spammers from Santander car financing, and home security sales, to free electricity utility scams, air conditioning telemarketers, and prison inmates.

“These worst offenders,” are not just calling the 661 area, but are also calling other regions across the nation.

By downloading the app on cell phones, even landlines are protected as robocallers receive a message that the number they are trying to reach is out of service, essentially fooling the automated caller, which makes the robocalls stop, according to Youmail Robocall Index™.

With Kern County consumers at the mercy of companies or individuals behind these flagged telephone numbers, some of whom prey upon unsuspecting residents, unaware that Kern County is being affected by unscrupulous telephone etiquette, and spam and scam behavior, Alex Quillici, CEO of YouMail Robocall Index™, provides some helpful measures. These tips take aim at reducing the likelihood of being the victim of relentless robocalls which can lead to being scammed.

“Don’t pick up calls from a number you don’t recognize,” instead allow voicemail to take the call. This “Invisibility is the best defense …” Quillici said. He also recommends using software products that “block unwanted callers and scammers.”