Yes, It’s Bad. Robocalls, and Their Scams, Are Surging.

ronjor · Jun 10, 2019

Comr Starks Seeks Industry Plans For Free Robocall Blocking By Default

June 10, 2019
FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks sent letters to the major voice service providers seeking details about their plans to offer free, default call blocking services to consumers to combat disruptive and dangerous robocalls
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EASTER · Jun 10, 2019

ronjor said: ↑

Comr Starks Seeks Industry Plans For Free Robocall Blocking By Default
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Some forms of Robo must be just for nuisance only and if you dismiss them when they try to get you to answer they eventually go away.

That's whats happened for me. Here in Indiana I been on the No Call list for years however last summer a flood of those annoying call ins were set on some daily timer and I got them for weeks on end. Instead of getting upset I just ignored or answered and hug up so many times I think they realized it was only a waste of their time and moved on elsewhere. No Call list doesn't guarantee stops for those because a few squeak in apparently.

This year I been robo call free

hawki · Jun 17, 2019

"Robocalls are overwhelming hospitals and patients, threatening a new kind of health crisis...

In the heart of Boston, Tufts Medical Center treats scores of health conditions,...

But doctors, administrators and other hospital staff struggled to contain a much different kind of epidemic one April morning last year: a wave of thousands of robocalls that spread, like a virus, from one phone line to the next, disrupting communications for hours to come.

...At Tufts Medical Center, administrators registered more than 4,500 calls between about 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. on April 30, 2018, said Taylor Lehmann, the center’s chief information security officer. Many of the messages seemed to be the same: Speaking in Mandarin, an unknown voice threatened deportation unless the person who picked up the phone provided their personal information....

'They can't not pick them up,' said Steven Cardinal, a top security official at the Medical University of South Carolina. 'They don't have any indicator it's a spoof until they answer it.'..."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/tech...ew-kind-health-crisis/?utm_term=.ba591c7013d2

guest · Jun 20, 2019

Committee Leaders Announce Bipartisan Deal on Robocalls Bill
June 20, 2019
https://energycommerce.house.gov/ne...rs-announce-bipartisan-deal-on-robocalls-bill

Today, Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Ranking Member Greg Walden (R-OR) unveiled a bipartisan version of the Stopping Bad Robocalls Act (HR 3375) in the House of Representatives to stop abusive robocall practices.

“Americans deserve to be free of the daily danger and harassment of robocalls,” Pallone and Walden said. “It’s time we end the robocall epidemic and restore trust back into our phone system. We’re pleased to announce we’ve reached a deal on comprehensive bipartisan legislation to stop illegal robocalls.”

“The bipartisan Stopping Bad Robocalls Act offers consumers a way out by ensuring that every call they get is verified,” Pallone and Walden continued.
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The bipartisan Stopping Bad Robocalls Act:

Requires that phone carriers implement call authentication technology so consumers can trust their caller ID again, with no additional line-item for consumers, and includes a process to help rural carriers implement this technology.

Allows carriers to offer call blocking services to consumers with no additional line charge on an opt-out basis with important transparency safeguards to make sure important calls aren’t inadvertently blocked.

Requires the FCC to enact safeguards so companies can’t abuse robocall exemptions.

Ensures the FCC has the authority and the tools to take strong, quick action when it tracks down robocallers, including by extending the statute of limitations from one year to three, and in some instances four, years for callers violating robocall prohibitions. [...]

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ronjor · Jun 24, 2019

FTC and Law Enforcement Partners to Announce Robocall Enforcement Sweep Tomorrow in Chicago

WHAT:The Federal Trade Commission, in conjunction with other federal, state, and local law enforcement, will announce “Operation Call it Quits,” the latest joint-agency crackdown on telemarketers responsible for more than a billion illegal robocalls.
WHEN: Tuesday, June 25, 10:30 a.m. CDT
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hawki · Jun 25, 2019

ronjor said: ↑

FTC and Law Enforcement Partners to Announce Robocall Enforcement Sweep Tomorrow in Chicago
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"FTC announces major crackdown on robocalls

The Federal Trade Commission and law enforcement plan to file charges against several companies and individuals as part of a major government clampdown on illegal robocalls...

The FTC is announcing a major crackdown on illegal robocalls, including 94 actions targeting operations around the country that they say are responsible for more than 1 billion calls..."

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/roboca...nces-major-crackdown-operation-call-it-quits/

ronjor · Jun 25, 2019

June 25, 2019
FTC, Law Enforcement Partners Announce New Crackdown on Illegal Robocalls

U.S., state, and local enforcement stops companies responsible for over one billion calls
Each FTC case is described below:
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ronjor · Jul 1, 2019

Complaints about Government Imposter Scams Reach Record High, According to New FTC Data

July 1, 2019
As the nation prepares to celebrate the Fourth of July, the Federal Trade Commission is reminding consumers that scammers are increasingly trying to make a buck by falsely claiming to be Uncle Sam. Monthly complaints to the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Network about scammers pretending to be from the government reached the highest levels on record this spring.
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Surt · Jul 1, 2019

My Smart Call land line phone logged only 15 blocks in June, down from the usual 60-70.

Either some of the recent crackdowns and busts have made a dent or my phone company is getting on with something.

Hopefully a trend, not an anomaly.

ronjor · Jul 7, 2019

Robocalls are not only annoying — there’s an entire dirty industry behind them, FTC reveals

Kate Fazzini@KateFazzini Jul 5 2019
The FTC put names and faces last week on many of the people and shell companies behind those annoying, incessant robocalls.
Everything from get-rich-quick scams to medical alert subscription schemes and, of course, fraudulent debt consolidation services made up some of the players behind the mystery calls consumers receive every day.
Perpetrators of the schemes delivered hundreds of millions of robocalls and made millions of dollars in illicit gains, according to a series of complaints by the commission.
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ronjor · Jul 8, 2019

How T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon and Sprint fight robocalls on their network

Madeline Purdue, USA TODAY Published 5:00 a.m. ET July 8, 2019
LOS ANGELES — Answering the phone nowadays can be like playing Russian roulette — eventually, you’re going to answer a robocall, and that's a game nobody wants to play.
Robocalls are the no. 1 complaint from consumers to the Federal Communications Commission, and along with cell phone providers, they are fighting robocalls with a number of tools to make answering the phone less of a hassle.
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guest · Jul 8, 2019

Robocall ban should target texts and foreign calls, FCC chief says
Proposed new rules would extend robocall blocking to international calls and text messages
July 8, 2019
https://www.cnet.com/news/fccs-ajit-pai-targets-robocall-ban-for-texts-and-foreign-calls/

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai has proposed another set of robocall rules, this time to ban malicious calls that spoof caller IDs in text messages and international calls. The anti-spoofing rules will be voted on by the FCC Aug. 1, and they already have the support of more than 40 state attorneys general, Pai said Monday.

These new rules would close the loopholes in targeting international callers, including one-way interconnected VoIP calls, and scammers using text messaging. They are part of the FCC's "multi-pronged approach to battle the noxious intrusion of illegal robocalls, as well as malicious caller ID spoofing," Pai said.
According to Pai, robocalls often come from overseas, with scammers spoofing their numbers to trick people into answering. "Call center fraudsters often pretend to be calling from trusted organizations and use pressure tactics to steal from Americans," he said.
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FCC proposal: Chairman Pai Proposes New Spoofing Rules for Foreign Robocalls & Texts

Keatah · Jul 8, 2019

These agencies are toothless and the robocallers will find away around any attempts to block.

ronjor · Jul 9, 2019

AT&T will automatically block fraud calls for new customers

Jon Fingas, @jonfingas 09 July 2019
AT&T is making quick use of FCC rules explicitly allowing carriers to block robocalls by default. The network will start automatically blocking fraud calls (and issuing suspected spam call alerts) for new phone customers as a matter course, at no extra charge. You'll have to opt out if you don't want the company to screen calls this way. Existing customers, meanwhile, will see the feature automatically reach their accounts in the "coming months."
If you like the capabilities, you can turn it on right now either by downloading the AT&T Call Protect app or enabling it through your myAT&T account settings.
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ronjor · Jul 10, 2019

AT&T’s robocall-blocking expansion won’t block spam calls unless you pay extra

Jon Brodkin - 7/10/2019, 5:06 PM
With free version, you get "personal block list" instead of automatic blocking.
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ronjor · Jul 12, 2019

FCC commissioner blasts carriers for failure to fight robocalls

By Russell Brandom Jul 11, 2019
The Commission has called on phone companies to provide free call blockers, enabled by default.
“Despite historically clamoring for new tools, it does not appear that all providers have acted with haste to deploy opt-out robocall blocking services,” Starks told the carriers. “The Commission spoke clearly: we expect opt-out call blocking services to be offered to consumers for free. Reviewing the substance of these responses, by and large, carriers’ plans for these services are far from clear.”
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ronjor · Jul 24, 2019

House approves new rules to stop robocallers

By Makena Kelly@kellymakena Jul 24, 2019
‘These calls are undermining our entire phone system’
The Energy and Commerce Committee approved the Stopping Bad Robocalls Act unanimously last week and sent it to the floor, preparing it for today’s 429-3 vote. If it becomes law, the bill would make it easier for the government to impose tougher penalties on illegal robocallers and fraudsters and demand that carriers deploy call authentication tech like SHAKEN/STIR at a faster pace.
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guest · Jul 29, 2019

FTC Announces New Public Web Page with Interactive Do Not Call and Robocall Data
July 29, 2019
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/pre...s-new-public-web-page-interactive-do-not-call

As part of its continued efforts to help make the Do Not Call (DNC) data it collects more transparent and easier for consumers to use, the Federal Trade Commission today announced the debut of a new interactive public web page containing a wealth of information about the National DNC Registry and unwanted telemarketing robocalls.

The information will be updated quarterly. In the past, similar DNC and robocall complaint data was only available to the public annually in the FTC’s Do Not Call Data Book.
Finally, the new page will let users search for the types of calls that are currently prompting the most complaints to the Commission, and track the complaints over time to look for trends in the data.
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ronjor · Jul 30, 2019

How you can get paid if you've been robocalled
By Amy Davis - Reporter/Consumer Expert
Posted: 8:24 PM, July 29, 2019 Updated: 10:25 PM, July 29, 2019

HOUSTON - How many times a day does “Rachel” from “card services” call you?
If you feel like you talk to her -- and other robots selling health insurance and auto warranties -- more than you'd like, you are not alone. Unwanted phone calls are the top complaint from consumers to the Federal Trade Commission. Now, there’s a way you can turn those annoying rings into "ka-ching" and make money off of answering robocalls.
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ronjor · Jul 30, 2019

Avoid Spoofed Robocalls

What Is Spoofing?
Spoofing is when a caller deliberately falsifies the information transmitted to your caller ID display to disguise their identity. Scammers often use neighbor spoofing so it appears that an incoming call is coming from a local number, or spoof a number from a company or a government agency that you may already know and trust. If you answer, they use scam scripts to try to steal your money or valuable personal information, which can be used in fraudulent activity.
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ronjor · Aug 1, 2019

FCC Bans Malicious Spoofing of Text Messages & Foreign Robocalls

Document Dates

Released On: Aug 1, 2019
Adopted On: Aug 1, 2019
Issued On: Aug 1, 2019
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(See website.)

JRViejo · Aug 2, 2019

The FCC now has the authority to punish robocallers originating outside the US, as well as, those perpetrating scams via text.
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New robocall rules let FCC crack down on texts and overseas callers by Marguerite Reardon.

guest · Aug 4, 2019

It's much easier than you think to start a robocalling scam campaign
August 3, 2019
https://www.businessinsider.de/robocall-scamming-easy-online-search-2019-8

For the longest time, I pictured robocall scammers in a dark, damp room using some kind of seedy custom software that was probably bought from the dark web to make the billions of robo-scam-calls that Americans receive each year.
For some spammers, my imagined spammer HQ may be perfectly accurate.

But if you wanted to moonlight as a robocall spammer without delving in the depths of the dark web, you could just do a quick search online.
Indeed, just search for "robocalling services" on a search engine like Google or Bing, click on one of the results, setup an account, pay, and off you go.
When I asked Jim Tyrrell, senior marketing leader at networking services firm Transaction Network Services, if it really was that easy, he replied

"You're absolutely right," adding that "unfortunately, it doesn't cost a lot to set up an operation like that," and that it can be an extremely lucrative endeavor.
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guest · Aug 6, 2019

Google Voice forced to shut down SMS voicemail forwarding as carriers fight spam calls
Voice users won’t be able to get SMS transcripts of messages after August 9th
August 6, 2019
https://www.theverge.com/2019/8/6/2...-forwarding-feature-carriers-fight-spam-calls

Spam calls are a plague, and carriers are finally starting to fight back, but there’s been an unexpected casualty: Google Voice’s “get voicemail via message” feature. The company is pulling it because the messages are getting flagged as spam, via Brian Krebs on Twitter.

The feature transcribes voicemails from a Google Voice number and texts them to the recipient. But because so many of these voicemails contained automated transcripts of spammy robocalls, those SMS messages were starting to get flagged as spam. In order to avoid further issues, Google is shutting down the feature, which is expected to be completed by August 9th.

Robocalls have resulted in many carriers blocking Google Voice's "get voicemail via message" feature. Google says it will discontinue the feature effective Aug. 9 pic.twitter.com/AZVuWqGXt8
— briankrebs (@briankrebs) August 6, 2019
Google Voice users won’t be left out completely: they’ll still be able to get their voicemail transcripts via email (assuming they don’t get flagged by a spam filter there) as well as through the usual Google Voice apps and website.
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compleo · Aug 7, 2019

Who Owns Your Wireless Service? Crooks Do.

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