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Thursday, October 11, 2018

Attorney General Frosh Joins Fight to Stop Illegal Robocalls and Spoofing

Coalition of Attorneys General Asking the FCC to Allow Phone Companies to Do More to Block Illegal Robocalls – including Neighbor Spoofing

BALTIMORE, MD – Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh has joined a coalition of 34 attorneys general in calling on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to create new rules allowing telephone service providers to block illegal robocalls being made to unsuspecting consumers in Maryland and across the country.

New spoofing tactics used by scammers include “neighbor spoofing,” a technique that allows calls - no matter where they originate - to appear on a consumer’s caller ID as being made from a phone number that has the same local area code as the consumer.  This manipulation of caller ID information increases the likelihood that the consumer will answer the call, and it is being utilized by scammers at an alarming and increasing rate.

“Illegal robocalls are not just an irritant, but are utilized by scammers to gain access to consumers’ personal information, especially from seniors and other vulnerable populations,” said Attorney General Frosh. “Scammers frequently change their tactics to find new ways to steal valuable personal information.  The FCC must step up its efforts and allow telephone service providers to employ new technology to protect consumers.” 

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Will not happen based on current technology . Phone spoofing is here to stay .

Anonymous said...

I've eliminated the use of my cellphone as a marketing tool by telling the caller "I am a CIA Black Ops Officer and while you are telling me I need a credit card with an apr of 24% I'm tracing this call and I will further use my skills to find your work and home address and I'll show up at one of them! WHEN WE MEET I'LL GIVE YOU 24% of my violence and the rage you are creating in me when you call me unsolicited!!! DO YOU UNDERSTAND?" After doing this news must travel fast in the world of credit card solicitation because I don't get any more of these calls "Yo mother#ucke# why did you just call my _______!!!!! cellphone!!!" Try explain to these victims, LOL, that they have been robocalled!

Anonymous said...

Brian,

Maybe you can actually do something useful about this and uphold the already written laws prohibiting robocalling. Making new laws isn't going to stop the calling. What was the point of the do not call list? Was it to gather all the numbers in one place making it easier for the scammer to hack and collect them?

Doesn't seem like your agency makes any effort to stop and prosecute those already doing it. We get 8+ calls a day. Every day.

The situation has only gotten worse and you have done nothing to stop it.
It is ridiculous it has come to this point.
Such a violation to every aspect of our lives.
Do your job Frosh.
You have become ineffective and worthless in your position.

Anonymous said...

Odd that he has decided to take action now, when he has had the ability to do so for years.

Anonymous said...

It is no surprise that the government will need tpo pass laws and force the telecommunication companies to do this. They should be doing this on their own but aren't.