Everybody hates robocalls. In fact, they are the number one source of consumer complaints in the U.S., according to the Federal Communications Commission. But despite the government’s best efforts, from the Do Not Call Registry to tool-building competitions and international investigations into robocalling rings, the onslaught continues, reaching record numbers once again in August.

According to figures from call-blocking service YouMail, consumers reported a new high of 2.64 billion robocalls in the U.S. last month, increasing 9.6% from July and averaging out to 986 robocalls per second.

The robocall epidemic has been escalating, prompting increased efforts from the Federal Trade Commission and the FCC in recent months to slow it, including enhanced public outreach and partnerships with the public to create new call-blocking services. Robocall complaints have continued to rise since they reached record-breaking numbers in May, said Janice Kopec, coordinator of the FTC Do Not Call Program.

“Consumers are reaching a tipping point of frustration,” she said.

The Do Not Call registry allows members of the public to opt out of sales calls, but companies have found a variety of ways around the system. While legitimate telemarketers generally do not call numbers listed in the registry, many scammers will thwart the system completely. Though calling numbers on the list is illegal, perpetrators are hard to track down, particularly if they are offshore.

An array of private call-blocking services have been developed in response to the explosion of robocalls, but YouMail Chief Executive Alex Quilici said the problem is still “spinning out of control.” He said often these tools are unable to access important parts of the phone’s operating system like voicemail or call logs to make the service as effective as possible. While the government works to create a more comprehensive plan to combat the calls, consumers can use tools that automatically hang up on or block suspected robocallers to take matters into their own hands, but Quilici said first phone carriers have to loosen regulation to allow them.

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“Ultimately one of the biggest ways the government can solve the problem is to push the carriers to open up and make it easier for apps and services like ours to work,” he said. “Its really about pushing the carriers to be aware of services like ours and allowing us to work better.”

Starting this summer, the government has been doing just that. On July 22, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler called on major wireless and wireline phone companies to allow better tools and do more to fight robocalls, giving them 30 days to respond with “concrete, actionable solutions” to the problem.

“We will tackle robocalls on as many fronts as possible, whether by implementing new rules, issuing tailored declaratory judgments, encouraging new pro-consumer innovation or urging the private sector to step up and stop this scourge,” Wheeler said.

Companies responded by creating the Robocall Strike Force, which held its first meeting on August 19. Led by AT&T T, -0.41% , the collective of 33 companies including Apple AAPL, +1.57% , Google GOOG, +2.39% , Microsoft MSFT, +2.40% , and Verizon VZ, +0.35% , have pledged to put forth plans by Oct. 19. Speaking at the meeting, AT&T Chairman and CEO Randall Stephenson said government regulators, device makers, developers and carriers all have to work together in the fight.

“While many people like to portray this as a simple issue to address, it isn’t,” Stephenson said. “In parallel with technological solutions, we need our regulatory and law enforcement agencies to go after the bad actors. Shutting down the bad guys is a necessary step, and a powerful example to others. Our goal isn’t complicated: Stop unwanted robocalls. Easy to say. Hard to do.”

While these companies develop a playbook for fighting America’s most-hated spam, Quilici said the best way for consumers to thwart robocallers — at least for now — is to simply not pick up.

“In order to get rid of the robocall problem, it is going to require changing consumer behavior to destroy the economics of it,” he said. “The proposition we make is to just stop answering calls.”