Cold call
Updated: 03/05/2023 by Computer Hope
![Orange rotary telephone icon.](/jargon/p/phone.png)
A cold call or cold contact is a phone call or SMS (short message service) from an unknown person or business attempting to sell a product or service. Cold calling is always done at random, with both people initially knowing little or nothing about each other. In many countries, there are rules, regulations, and services that help prevent individuals from getting cold called. For example, in the United States, the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) has the Do Not Call List, which helps prohibit any telemarketing cold calls.
Tip
Many scammers use cold calling to help find victims for scams like pig butchering. We recommend if you answer any cold call, you first ask to be removed from any list, and then immediately hang up and block the number.