How to Deal With the Hope and Prayer Center Ministry Robocall

Like the Christian Prayer Center Ministry scam that made rounds across America in the early 2010s, the Hope and Prayer Center Ministry robocall scam took the pay-to-pray fraud format to a whole new level.

While robocalls are a huge problem in general, the Hope and Prayer Center Ministry robocall scam is particularly ominous since it preys on people’s emotions and religious beliefs.

How Does the Hope and Prayer Ministry Robocall Work?

To mask their ill intentions, some robocall scammers start off innocently, and the Hope and Prayer Ministry is the perfect case in point. This is what the first call would sound like:

“Hello, this is the Hope and Prayer Center Ministry calling today to see if you need urgent prayer. If you would like to have someone from our center pray for you, please press one. If you would like to no longer hear from us, please press three.”

If you press one, as most Americans would, you could expect to receive a second automated call asking you for a donation to the Hope and Prayer Center Ministry. While the second call would not state how much you will need to donate for the prayer, it will forward you to a service in charge of collecting the payments.

Whenever you see 956-275-9299 pop up on your phone, do not answer the call since it is coming from the Hope and Prayer Center Ministry.

Famous Pay-To-Pray Scams

The Hope and Prayer Center robocall is one among many pay-to-pray scams that have plagued America in recent years. The most famous ones include:

What Are Robocalls?

All automated calls are considered to be robocalls, regardless of them being or fraudulent. Typically, the caller leaves a voicemail or, if you answer the call, a pre-recorded message that tells you to press a certain number to get forwarded to a representative. Phone banks are essential to scammers, as the people working there are the ones in charge of stealing your money or personal information.

In general, a small number of people fall for robocall scams. Because of this, fraudsters need to use advanced autodialing technology to be able to dial millions of numbers as quickly as they possibly can. According to YouMail, in 2020, over ninety-five million calls are being placed every single day! That is why a robocall blocker is something you should consider getting if you already have not.

Another thing that robocall scammers do to ensure a satisfactory conversion rate is number spoofing. You are more likely to pick up a call coming from your area, and scammers know this!

Why Are Robocalls ?

Robocalls are difficult to manage from a standpoint. Politicians and charities use automated calls during their campaigns, and the government cannot prevent them from utilizing these channels of communication.

When it comes to companies and telemarketers, robocalls are hard to pull off legally. Both the Federal Trading Commission (FTC) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) put forth a set of rules that robocallers need to adhere to for the calls to be . Some of those rules are:

• Companies are not allowed to place automated calls before 8 a.m. and after 9 p.m.
• The caller has to have your express written consent to be able to dial you
• Businesses are not allowed to dial numbers found on the National Do Not Call list
• The caller needs to provide proper identification
• You must be provided with an option to opt-out of the calls

Express Written Consent Makes the Calls

If you are wondering how to stop robocalls placed by businesses, just do not provide them with an express written consent. These consents are defined by the E-SIGN Act and come in various forms, such as electronic signatures or checking a box on an online form.

FTC’s Do Not Call List

Another great solution for dealing with spam calls coming from businesses is to place your number on the FTC’s Do Not Call list. The problem is that scammers will not abide by this rule, so taking this precautionary measure will not save you from scam robocalls. To learn more about how to deal with spam calls, you can check out the FCC guide to robocalls.

Mandatory Identification

For a robocall to be , the caller must provide you with proper identification. At the beginning of the call, you should be presented with:

1. The caller’s identity
2. The identity of the company on whose behalf the call is being made

At the end of the call, you have to be left with the following information:

1. The company’s address
2. The company’s phone number

The Power Should Be in Your Hands

robocalls have to provide you with an option to opt-out of the company’s automated calls. This issue is typically resolved in two ways:

1. A pre-recorded message offers you to press a certain digit to opt-out of the company’s automated calls
2. A voicemail offers you a toll-free call-back number that you can call and place your number on the company’s do not call list

DoNotPay’s Way of Fighting Annoying Robocalls

The easiest way to fight back against robocalls is to use DoNotPay. You may have used our app for paying bills, lowering your bills, and many other things, but with our new Robo Revenge feature, you can track down scam robocallers and file a claim against them!

Accessing our services is incredibly easy—all you have to do is open DoNotPay in a web browser.

We have a unique and efficient way of dealing with scam robocallers. Here is what our process entails:

1. You get a scam robocall
2. The caller tries to steal your money or personal information
3. You open DoNotPay and select Robocall Revenge
4. We provide you with a free virtual credit card
5. You provide the scam caller with the virtual credit card information
6. We track them down based on the transaction details
7. We write a dispute letter so that you can file a robocall lawsuit against the scammer

Under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), individuals may be entitled to seek $500 for each robocall they receive without their consent, and this amount can potentially be tripled to $1,500 if the court finds the violation to be willful or knowing.

Why Are Virtual Credit Cards Necessary?

Virtual credit cards help keep your personal information and money protected. Also, they allow us to track down the scammers based on the transaction details. Keep in mind that DoNotPay can only assist you with domestic scam callers. To help you file a claim against an international robocaller, we would need their address, and that information is virtually impossible to acquire.

DoNotPay Puts Your Number on the FTC’s Do Not Call List

Placing your number on FTC’s Do Not Call list can help you push back annoying telemarketers. You can do this on your own by:

1. Opening FTC’s Do Not Call website
2. Clicking Report Unwanted Calls
3. Providing information about the unwanted call you have received
4. Submitting your request

In case you do not want to waste time on reporting an unwanted call, DoNotPay will gladly do it for you!

If you are wondering how to check if a number is on the Do Not Call list, you can do it by visiting FTC’s website or by giving them a call.

The Best Robocall Blockers

Due to the severity of the robocall problem we are facing as a nation, many phone carriers and third-party companies started providing their users with robocall blocking services. If you still have not made your mind up about which app to use, here is a list of the best ones available:

How to Protect Yourself From Scam Robocalls

Using DoNotPay’s Robo Revenge feature not only helps you track down scammers but send demand letters to them for up to $3,000 in compensation as well. There are other precautionary measures you can take to lessen the impact of robocalls on your life:

• Do not answer unknown calls
• Do not reveal your personal information
• Place your number on the National Do Not Call Registry

It Is Best Not to Answer

Whenever you receive a call from an unknown number, it is probably best not to pick it up, especially if the number is too similar to yours. Sometimes, fraudsters do not even ask you for money or personal information. They can record your voice and use it to authenticate purchases over the phone. Not answering is your safest bet.

Never Share Your Personal Information

Some scams can seem incredibly believable, and that is why you should try to avoid providing unknown callers with your personal information. A lot of the time, fraudsters will be on the lookout for your personal information because it will allow them to pull off more lucrative scams, such as credit card or identity fraud.

Stay Safe With the FTC’s Do Not Call Registry

Despite being annoying, some robocalls are perfectly . You can check the Do Not Call list exceptions to learn more about them.

To keep yourself protected from telemarketers’ spam calls, you can put your number on FTC’s Do Not Call list. You do not have to worry about the Do Not Call list expiration because once you place your number on the list, it will stay there until you change your mind.

How to Block Robocalls on Your Smartphone

Smartphones nowadays allow you to block specific numbers or even block all unknown calls. While these features can help you keep spam telemarketers at bay, they are not particularly useful with scam robocalls. Fraudsters often change their numbers to avoid getting caught by the authorities.

Blocking Robocalls on iOS Devices

If you are using an iOS device, you can block specific numbers or silence all unknown callers. To block a certain number, you need to:

1. Open the Phone app
2. Tap Recents
3. Tap the info icon next to the number you want to block
4. Select Block this Caller
5. Tap on Block Contact

To silence unknown callers, you should:

1. Go to Settings
2. Select Phone
3. Turn on the switch that says Silence Unknown Callers

Blocking Robocalls on Android Devices

Android device users have the option to block a certain number or block all unidentified numbers. To do the former, you have to:

1. Open the Phone app
2. Tap on Recent Calls
3. Tap the number and select block or report as spam
4. Confirm that you want to block this number

To block all unidentified numbers on an Android device, you should:

1. Open the Phone app
2. Select Settings
3. Turn on the switch that says Block Unidentified Numbers

The Most Common Robocall Scams

Some robocall scams are more common than others. Over the past few years, these are the ones that have plagued America the most:

What Makes DoNotPay Different?

Unlike most other digital assistants, DoNotPay offers a wide variety of services that make a difference in your day-to-day life. Start using our services by opening DoNotPay in your web browser. Apart from helping you report robocalls, we can also give you a helping hand with:

• Dealing with bills you are unable to pay for
• Jumping the phone queue when getting in touch with customer service reps
• Dealing with issues with credit cards
• Fighting speeding tickets
• Getting refunds for delayed or canceled flights
• Canceling subscriptions or memberships
• Disputing traffic tickets
• Suing people and companies in small claims court
• Scheduling a DMV appointment fast and easy
• Contesting parking tickets
• Getting revenge on other robocalls