The FCC just fined a robocall company $300 million after blocking billions of scam calls (2024)

FAQs

The FCC just fined a robocall company $300 million after blocking billions of scam calls? ›

The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday cracked down on a massive illegal robocall operation responsible for billions of auto-warranty scam calls in recent years, with regulators imposing a record $300 million fine on what authorities said is the largest such network it has ever investigated.

This Declaratory Ruling ensures AI-generated voices in calls are also held to those same standards. The TCPA gives the FCC civil enforcement authority to fine robocallers. The Commission can also take steps to block calls from telephone carriers facilitating illegal robocalls.

The FCC announced the unanimous adoption of a Declaratory Ruling that recognizes calls made with AI-generated voices are "artificial" under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).

You can register your numbers on the national Do Not Call list at no cost by calling 1-888-382-1222 (voice) or 1-866-290-4236 (TTY). You must call from the phone number you wish to register.

Is it better to ignore or decline spam calls? It's better to ignore spam calls.

Call blocking can help stop robocalls from scammers. But some robocalls might still get through. If you get an illegal robocall, hang up and don't call back. Don't press a number, which could lead to more robocalls.

FCC Action

Chairwoman Rosenworcel has implemented policies and actions to help combat unlawful robocalls and malicious caller ID spoofing. The Commission under her leadership has also taken unprecedented enforcement actions to punish those who flout consumer protection laws.

Contrary to popular wisdom, we found that answering calls makes no difference in the number of robocalls received by a phone number.

Robocalls are made by many political parties in the United States, including but not limited to both the Republican and Democratic parties as well as unaffiliated campaigns, 527 organizations, unions, and individual citizens. Political robocalls are exempt from the United States National Do Not Call Registry.

If you receive a robocall trying to sell you something (and you haven't given the caller your written permission), it's an illegal call. You should hang up. Then, file a complaint with the FTC and the National Do Not Call Registry.

Does *61 block unwanted calls? ›

There is no universal number to block spam calls — it depends on your phone carrier. T-Mobile users can prevent robocalls for free by dialing #662# and turning on the Scam ID and Scam Block features. AT&T customers can block unwanted calls by dialing *61, or by dialing *60 on their landline.

Caller ID just got smarter about security

Now, you'll see the word Verified (or the letter V) appear any time the caller's telephone provider has confirmed that the call is coming from a legitimate telephone number.

If you accidentally answer a spam call, scammers know your number is connected to a real person and can target you with more spam calls. These targeted spam calls will try to trick you into giving up your personal information which allows cybercriminals to steal your money, your identity and even your voice.

Scammers can use the internet to make calls from all over the world. They don't care if you're on the National Do Not Call Registry. That's why your best defense against unwanted calls is call blocking.

Robocalls sometimes prompt you to take action, such as “press 1 to speak to a live representative” or “press 2 to unsubscribe” and so on. By following instructions, you confirm to the robocallers that you are a potential victim and invite further robocalls. Try to avoid taking any action.

When you call back a spam number, you're playing directly into the scammer's hands. You could expose sensitive data on the call or make yourself a target for further scam attempts.

FCC rules require telemarketers to display on Caller ID either their phone numbers and, if possible, their names, or the name of the company they represent. The display must include a phone number you can call during regular business hours to ask the company to stop calling.

The FTC takes the illegal callers' phone numbers you report and releases them to the public each business day. This helps phone companies and other partners that are working on call-blocking and call-labeling solutions. Your reports also help law enforcement identify the people behind illegal calls.

On February 8, 2024, the Federal Communications Communication (FCC) announced that using AI-generated voices in robocalls is now illegal across the United States. This decision directly affects robocalls using auto-dialing software to send pre-recorded messages over calls.