The National Do Not Call Registry is a free US list that tells legitimate telemarketers not to call your number. It stops unwanted sales calls from real companies that follow the law. It does not block calls, and it will not stop scammers, who ignore it.

What does the Registry actually do?

The FTC’s FAQ puts it plainly: the Registry “is a list that tells registered telemarketers what numbers not to call”, but “it doesn’t block calls.” Companies that sell by phone must download it and remove registered numbers from their lists. It is for personal numbers: business numbers and fax lines are not covered. Cell phone numbers are treated the same as home numbers.

How do you sign up?

It is free, and you can register in either of two ways:

  • Online at DoNotCall.gov. You get an email with a link to click within 72 hours to finish.
  • By phone: 1-888-382-1222 (TTY 1-866-290-4236), calling from the phone you want to register.

You can register up to three numbers at a time online. The FTC warns not to let anyone who calls offering to put your name on the Registry do it for you.

How long does it take, and does it expire?

Your number should appear on the Registry the next day, but it can take up to 31 days for sales calls to stop. Registration never expires. The FTC removes a number only if it is disconnected and reassigned, or if you ask to remove it. To check, go to DoNotCall.gov or call from the number to the same toll-free line.

Which calls can still reach you?

Being on the Registry does not stop everything. The FTC says these are still allowed, as long as they don’t also include a sales pitch:

  • Political calls
  • Charitable calls
  • Debt collection calls
  • Purely informational calls
  • Surveys

Companies can also still call if you’ve recently done business with them or have given them written permission. If you ask a company not to call, it has to stop, and the FTC suggests writing down the date you asked.

Why do scam calls keep coming?

Because the Registry is a rule for companies that follow the rules. The FTC says that being on it “won’t stop calls from scammers making illegal calls” and notes it’s easy and cheap for scammers to call from anywhere in the world. A scammer is not checking the list.

The FTC’s robocall page adds that a robocall selling something is illegal unless you gave written permission, whether your number is registered or not. Being on the Registry can still reduce the calls you get and make it easier to spot a scam call, according to the FTC.

For fewer unwanted calls, the FTC points to call-blocking and call-labeling services from your phone carrier or an app. Reviews matter, so look for independent ones before you choose.

How do you report an unwanted call?

  • If you did not lose money and only want to report a call, use the form at DoNotCall.gov.
  • If you lost money to a phone scam, or have information about the scammer, report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Include your number (the one that received the call), the number on your caller ID even if you think it is fake, any number you were told to call back, and the date and time if you can. The FTC cannot reply to every report, but it analyzes them. It also releases the numbers people report each business day to help phone companies and others working on call blocking.

If a robocall is trying to sell you something, hang up. The FTC says not to press buttons to speak to someone or to be removed from a list, because that can lead to more calls.

So is it worth registering?

Yes, if you want fewer sales calls from real companies, and it takes a couple of minutes. Just don’t rely on it for protection. For what to do when a call turns out to be a scam, use our checklist.

Sources: FTC pages read on 2026-10-08. The FAQ and robocall pages carry a September 2023 date, so check the FTC site for any later change.