The Fight against Robocalls

 

Robocalls are phone calls made using an autodialer or a prerecorded or artificial voice message.

Robocalls are more than an annoyance, they are often the preferred tool of fraudsters. Stopping illegal robocalls is the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) top consumer protection priority.

To restore trust in our phone networks, the FCC is fighting illegal robocalls at every point of a call’s journey, from its source to your phone.

This includes empowering carriers to block more illegal robocalls before they reach consumers.  Thus, giving consumers better tools to distinguish legitimate calls from scams.  Also, enforcement has been stepped up against disrupting scam calls that originate outside of the United States.

Robocalls rules

FCC rules require a caller to obtain your prior written consent – on paper or through electronic means.   This to be done before they make a prerecorded telemarketing call to your home or wireless phone number. FCC rules also apply before making an autodialed or prerecorded call or text to your wireless number.

These rules do not apply to emergency calls about danger to life, safety, or property.

Types of permitted autodialed calls

FCC rules allow market research or polling calls and calls on behalf of tax-exempt non-profit groups to landline numbers. Calls about school closings or flight information are also permitted to your landline.

Opting out of autodialed calls

Prerecorded telemarketing calls must provide an opt-out option at the start of the message. You may opt out of any robocall or robotext at any time and in any reasonable manner, even if you previously gave consent for such calls.

Prerecorded voice messages

All prerecorded voice message calls must include the caller’s name, number, and business name at the beginning of the message.

Artificial intelligence and voice cloning

AI-generated voice calls are illegal unless the consumer has agreed to receive them or the caller is exempt.

Telephone solicitations

Telephone solicitations are calls that act as an advertisement. Phone solicitations are permissible with prior express permission or from tax-exempt non-profits. Telemarketing calls based on an established business relationship are not permitted to your landline phone without your advanced permission.

The fight against robocalls can even bring telecom rivals together.

AT&T and Comcast said Wednesday that they can authenticate calls made between the two different phone providers’ networks, a potential industry first and the latest in the long-running battle against spam calls.

The system, which uses a method developed in recent years, verifies that a legitimate call is being made instead of a one that has been spoofed by spammers, scammers or robocallers with a “digital signature.” The recipient network then confirms the signature on its side.

The companies said consumers will get a notification that a call is verified, but exactly what that will look like is not yet known.

Both AT&T and Comcast will roll out the system to home phone users later this year at no extra charge.

Filing complaints about robocalls and texts

FCC Complaints: You can report illegal calls or texts to the FCC. Choose the “unwanted calls” category and note if your number is being spoofed, blocked, or mislabeled.

What Happens Next: The FCC doesn’t resolve individual complaints but uses them to guide policy and possible enforcement under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act or the Truth in Caller ID Act. Your complaint may also be shared with other enforcement agencies.

FTC Complaints: Report phone scams or Do Not Call violations to the FTC.

Do Not Call Registry

The National Do Not Call Registry is a list of landline and wireless phone numbers that legitimate telemarketers agree not to call. You can register your numbers for free at donotcall.gov, or by calling 1-888-382-1222 (TTY: 1-866-290-4236). You must call from the phone number you wish to register.

Under FCC rules, telemarketers calling your home must provide their name along with the name, telephone number, and address where their employer or contractor can be contacted. Telemarketing calls to your home are prohibited before 8 a.m. and after 9 p.m., and telemarketers must comply immediately with any do-not-call request you make during a call.

Related:  If you answer your phone and hear this recording, hang up immediately – TUTORING YOU