4um: The FCC is finally cracking down on the use of spoofed local numbers to robocall you

Title: The FCC is finally cracking down on the use of spoofed local numbers to robocall you
Source: BGR News via Yahoo
URL Source: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/fcc- ... umbers-robocall-123724700.html
Published: Sep 28, 2018
Author: Andy Meek
Post Date: 2018-09-28 21:19:14 by Dakmar
Keywords: None
Views: 568
Comments: 6

It’s likely that many of you reading this have had your cellphone bombarded at some point with spam calls that trick you into answering by spoofing a local number. The purpose being so that you don’t see a 1-800 prefix or something similar that would let you know it’s not a real person.

Those kinds of spoofed calls have seemed to multiply with no end in sight, basically leaving callers helpless to stop them beyond blocking each number or just never answering your phone when you see numbers you don’t recognize. Thankfully, the FCC is finally moving to take action and has proposed a first-of-its-kind fine against one company accused of engaging in this practice.

The proposed $37.5 million penalty is against an Arizona-based company called Affordable Enterprises which the commission says made 2.3 million of these spammy marketing calls by using spoofed local numbers. Per a report from The Verge, one woman as a result of this company’s alleged practice had her number spoofed to fool callers and “she ended up getting five calls per day on her cellphone from people complaining about being spammed.”

According to the commission, this company’s effort started in 2016 and ran for a little more than a year. Reports The Verge, “Some calls are also said to have come from unassigned numbers or numbers from burner phones, which would also violate caller ID laws, because the actual caller’s name and number were hidden.

“The FCC says this is its ‘first major enforcement action against a company that apparently commandeered consumers’ phone numbers.'”

The Arizona company can still fight or settle with the FCC, which is why the fine remains a proposal for now.

we shared some details about last week, which predicted that almost half of all U.S. mobile traffic in 2019 will be attributable to scam calls." data-reactid="27">Meanwhile, in related news, we also have word that the FCC is finalizing an $82 million fine against a single telemarketer who made 21 million spam calls in an effort to sell health insurance. Unlike the other instance, this effort used unassigned phone numbers instead of spoofing existing local numbers. This all comes in the wake of a report we shared some details about last week, which predicted that almost half of all U.S. mobile traffic in 2019 will be attributable to scam calls.

“These fines could help to deter other bad actors, but ultimately, they won’t be enough,” The Verge notes. “Many robocalls now originate overseas, limiting what the FCC can do to fight them. Instead, the commission has been leaning on phone and tech companies to help out by giving them leeway to block calls that appear to be coming from spammers. Though at least so far, that obviously hasn’t been enough either.

“The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” ~ H. L. Mencken

“I am not one of those weak-spirited, sappy Americans who want to be liked by all the people around them. I don’t care if people hate my guts; I assume most of them do. The important question is whether they are in a position to do anything about it. My affections, being concentrated over a few people, are not spread all over Hell in a vile attempt to placate sulky, worthless shits.” - William S Burroughs

They fooled me for a while by using our area code and prefix, but now, if there's not a known entity showing, I just hit answer and then end immediately.

I got so fed up with them I changed my answering machine message to the disconnected service tone.

Cellphone companies could stop this shit yesterday - but they WILL NOT because they're getting PAID to participate in this spoof bullshit.

“With the exception of Whites, the rule among the peoples of the world, whether residing in their homelands or settled in Western democracies, is ethnocentrism and moral particularism: they stick together and good means what is good for their ethnic group."
-Alex Kurtagic

I accuse Hillary "Well, I would say that everyone should be believed at first until they are disbelieved based on evidence" Clinton of being behind it.