State attorneys general ask FCC to help block foreign robocall scams
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WPEC) — All 50 state attorneys general along with the District of Columbia sent a letter urging the Federal Communications Commission to do more to fight robocalls.
Specifically, the group wants measures to stop foreign-based illegal robocalls attempting to scam Americans.
In 2020, Americans lost more than $520 million through robocall scams.
The letter insists the FCC require gateway providers make it harder for robocalls to enter the U.S. telephone network. Gateway providers are companies that let foreign calls into the United States.
One step is STIR/SHAKEN, a caller ID authentication technology that helps prevent spoofed calls.
The attorneys general also want the FCC to require gateway providers to:
- Respond to requests from law enforcement, state attorneys general or the FCC to trace calls within 24 hours
- Block calls when providers are aware of an illegal, or likely fraudulent, caller
- Block calls that originate from numbers that are on a ‘do not originate’ list, such as government phone numbers that are for incoming calls only
- Ensure foreign telephone companies ensure calls are being made from legitimate numbers.
The attorneys general are encouraging the FCC to require all telecommunications companies to block calls from a gateway provider if it fails to meet these requirements.
