New PrivacyStar App Identifies and Eliminates Unknown and Unwanted Calls

CONWAY, Ark., June 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- PrivacyStar™, the only call management app that enables users to identify and file complaints about harassing or illegal calls directly to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), today announces a new Android app that lets users know who is calling and why, so they can choose to answer, block or report the call directly to the FTC.

PrivacyStar is available as a free download in the Google Play Store.

Over 140,000 U.S. telemarketing firms make more than 150 million calls every day and up to 20 percent of those are illegal, according to TMCnet and the U.S. Department of Justice. The growing telemarketing business is now over $500 billion, which is about the same size as the entire global advertising industry. Despite the persistence of telemarketing firms, PrivacyStar users are fighting back and accounted for 21 percent of all complaints submitted to the FTC in 2014, with many reporting harassing calls, threats of violence and vulgar language.

The new app gives consumers more control over their phones with several powerful new features, including:

• Enhanced Call Log – Puts all of your calls and texts in a single screen where you can easily identify any unknown number and why they called. Easily block or file a complaint against ANY caller
• Color Coded Threat Levels – Calls are associated with a color that lets the user know if the call is safe, suspect or a known offender using easy to understand green, yellow and red threat level indicators
• Caller ID/YD – Real-time pop-up display of incoming caller details regarding who is calling and why, because getting the name isn't usually enough to decide if you should answer a call
• Complaint Filing – Allows the option to report abusive call behavior directly to the FTC from within the app and connects users with consumer advocates to fight back when call offenses occur
• Directory – Quickly locate businesses by popular categories, get names for phone numbers you don't know or search by name when you need a phone number

"Our mission is to ensure that when your phone rings, you know who's calling and why," said Jeff Stalnaker, President of PrivacyStar. "We then give you control to take action as every month we block millions of calls for our users and we are really just scratching the surface. One thing we are especially proud of is helping people to easily file complaints as they may be eligible for cash compensation. Telemarketers have already paid PrivacyStar users millions of dollars due to their abuses."

PrivacyStar provides consumers with the tools they need to protect themselves from unwanted calls. The free Android solution for mobile automatically blocks all known scam callers with ScamBlock and provides users with free call blocking and unlimited complaint filing against offending numbers. Users can also look up numbers and file complaints via the PrivacyStar website at www.PrivacyStar.com.

Additionally, PrivacyStar aims to educate the public on their rights against calls from telemarketers and debt collectors. Federal legislation, like the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), help to prevent unwanted and harassing calls to unsuspecting consumers. PrivacyStar helps consumers to understand their rights so they can prevent unwanted calls from continuing.

Pricing and Availability
PrivacyStar is available as a free download in the Google Play Store.  Call blocking, ScamBlock, complaint filing and identification of known offenders is offered as an ongoing free service. Real-time caller ID and unlimited reverse number lookup are available as part of a 7 day free trial, with continued use provided at $2.99 per month or $19.99 per year.

About PrivacyStar
Founded in 2008, PrivacyStar is the only service to include real-time caller ID, unlimited call blocking, automatic scam blocking, as well as the ability to report abusive calls and texts directly to federal agencies. PrivacyStar has blocked over 100 million calls and files over 100,000 complaints each month directly to the Federal Trade Commission for Do Not Call, Telephone Consumer Protection Act and Fair Debt Collections Practices Act violations on behalf of its customers. PrivacyStar was the top contributing complaint supplier to the FTC in 2014, providing 21 percent of consumer call complaints against reported offenders.

For regular updates, follow PrivacyStar at www.twitter.com/PrivacyStar, become a fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/PrivacyStar, or visit www.PrivacyStar.com.

PrivacyStar is a registered trademark of First Orion Corp. All registered or unregistered trademarks are the sole property of their respective owners.

Media Contact:
Daloma Phillips
FortyThree, Inc.
831.401.3175
[email protected]

SOURCE PrivacyStar

Related Links

http://www.privacystar.com