robocalls
Latest
The FCC says robocalls that use AI-generated voices are illegal
The Federal Communications Commission unanimously approved a measure to make AI robocalls illegal.
US Senate begins collecting evidence on how AI could thwart robocalls
Witnesses called for greater action from the FCC and other government agencies.
FCC orders Avid Telecom to stop health insurance-related robocalls
The Federal Communications Commission has issued a cease and desist letter to Avid Telecom, the same company sued by nearly all Attorneys General in the US for alleged robocall activities.
FCC proposal would prevent spam callers from leaving ringless voicemails on your cellphone
The Federal Communications Commission could soon make it more difficult for telemarketers to leave ringless voicemails on your cellphone.
T-Mobile says it blocked 21 billion scam calls in 2021
T-Mobile announced that scam call traffic more than doubled in 2021 with attempts hitting an average of 425 million calls every week.
Verizon's call filtering app now blocks area code spoofing
Verizon's Call Filter app can now blocks neighborhood spoofing scams that use highly similar phone numbers.
The FCC is going to hold providers accountable for anti-robocall efforts
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is introducing a new database all voice providers will have to use to allow the agency to track the work they're doing to stop robocalls.
FCC fines two Texas telemarketers $225 million for making 1 billion robocalls
The fine is the largest in the agency's history.
FTC: Robocallers are now pretending to be Apple and Amazon
There’s a new robocall scheme that uses Apple’s and Amazon’s name to rip people off, and the Federal Trade Commission has issued a warning to raise awareness about it.
The FCC's new anti-robocall rules prevent surprise charges for consumers
Back in March, the FCC ordered all carriers and phone companies to adopt the STIR/SHAKEN protocol by June 30th, 2021 as an effort to combat robocalls. Now, the commission has announced new rules to clarify carriers’ obligations regarding the technology’s implementation. One of those new rules, for instance, protects consumers from surprise charges.
Research shows answering one robocall doesn't lead to more
Researchers used 66,606 fake phone lines to better understand robocalls.
T-Mobile's 'Scam Shield' offers free caller ID and spam call blocking features
T-Mobile completed its purchase of Sprint earlier this year, and with those regulatory hurdles out of the way the company is once again announcing some new features for its expanded customer base. The focus is on spam and robocalls, something that T-Mobile says is the number one complaint right now to the FCC. Starting today, T-Mobile is offering its customers a variety of free services to make identifying and avoiding spam calls easier, a program called Scam Shield.
FCC proposes record-setting $225 million fine against robocallers
The FCC has proposed fining robocallers a record $225 million for making 1 billion spoofed calls in just five months.
FCC won't warn robocallers before fining them
The FCC will no longer warn robocallers before it issues penalties, and it'll have more time to take action.
FCC proposal would help fight one-ring call scams
The FCC may allow voice service providers to block one-ring robocall scams.
FCC, FTC give providers 48 hours to block COVID-19 scam robocalls
The US government's quest to fight robocalls is taking on added urgency in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The FCC and FTC have demanded that gateway providers cut off COVID-19-related scam robocalls of overseas origin within 48 hours or else face "serious consequences." Other phone companies will have permission to block all traffic from those providers if they don't heed the warning, the agencies said.
FCC will require phone carriers to authenticate calls by June 2021
The FCC announced today all carriers and phone companies must adopt the STIR/SHAKEN protocol by June 30th, 2021. The regulatory requirement is designed to combat robocalls, specifically those that try to hide their phone numbers by allowing carriers to authenticate caller IDs.
Android 11 developer preview offers more control over robocalls
Android 11 might make life considerably easier if you're tired of fighting robocalls. Google has released a second Developer Preview for Pixel phones with frameworks that let call-screening apps not only verify calls, but tell you whether it's in your contacts and provide a reason for rejecting a call. Your carrier might know whether you feel a call is spam or something more innocuous.
FCC could require phone companies to authenticate calls
Today, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai proposed new rules that would require phone companies to adopt the STIR/SHAKEN protocol, an increasingly popular method for caller ID authentication. The rules are meant to combat robocalls, specifically those that spoof phone numbers, and the FCC is expected to vote on them later this month.
FCC asks telecom companies to help trace international robocalls
Last year, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) banned robocalls from international numbers. Now, it's calling on phone companies to help trace international robocalls back to their "fraudster" sources. Today, the FCC sent letters to seven gateway service providers asking them to help track down robocall sources, prevent apparently illegal traffic originating outside the US and provide more info on how they may be facilitating illegal calls.
