Attorney General Curtis Hill today joined a coalition of 42 attorneys general calling on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to take further action to stop the growing proliferation of illegal robocalls and caller ID spoofing.
In formal legal comments delivered to the FCC, the attorneys general urged the FCC to adopt its proposed rules on enforcement against caller ID spoofing of calls to the United States originating from overseas, while also addressing spoofing in text messaging and alternative voice services. These provisions are included in the FCC appropriations authorization bill also known as the RAY BAUM’S Act of 2018.
The number of spoofed calls and the consumer financial losses tied to these scams have increased by nearly 50 percent in recent years.
“Hoosiers should be able to enjoy peace and privacy without the disturbance of unwanted calls and texts,†Attorney General Hill said. “Further, some of these calls are coming from scammers intent on stealing people’s identities or taking their money. We need stronger measures and better technologies aimed at stopping illegal robocalling.â€
Americans received almost 18 billion scam robocalls in 2018, and overall, robocalls increased in the United States by 57 percent from 2017 to 2018. The FCC reports that imposter scams have cost consumers $488 million in 2018.
