Robocallers’ Access To Legitimate Phone Numbers Questioned in States’ Plea to FCC

Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.

Robocallers’ Phone Numbers FCC Letter Overview: 

• Who: Attorneys general from all 50 states and the District of Columbia wrote a letter addressed to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
• Why: Attorneys general claim the FCC could do more to prevent robocallers from gaining access to legitimate telephone numbers.
• Where: The letter was issued from attorneys general across the nation.

Robocallers using legitimate phone numbers to place their calls were targeted this week by the attorneys general from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 

The attorneys general wrote a letter on Nov. 15 asking the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to do more to stop the robocallers from being able to get ahold of the real phone numbers. 

Under the FCC’s new STIR/SHAKEN protocol, telephone service providers are required to go further to authenticate issued telephone numbers using a digital certificate.

While the protocol makes it harder for robocallers to place calls from legitimate phone numbers, many have now started to obtain the numbers lawfully in order to continue placing the unwanted calls, the attorneys general’s say. 

“If a company that provides phone numbers fails to require meaningful identifying information from their subscribers, or blindly accepts unverified and likely false information about a subscriber, then illegal robocallers have the ability to use legitimate phone numbers to place calls with the same degree of anonymity that caller ID spoofing provides,” the letter said.

Robocall Restrictions Requirement Broader Action by FCC, Say State AGs

The FCC has said it plans to implement a more in-depth process needed for phone companies to obtain direct access to phone numbers.

Robocallers also may be given temporary phone numbers through untraceable means, making it easier for them to avoid detection, according to the attorneys general. 

The attorneys general say that, while they are pleased with what the FCC has so far done, it wants the agency to take a “broader” approach. 

“State AGs are pleased to support the Commission’s efforts to restrict access to numbering resources by illegal robocallers and urge further and aggressive action by the Commission to restrict robocallers’ ability to shield their identities and exploit consumers’ trust in our telephone system,” the attorneys general said. 

Three companies were recently warned to stop knowingly or negligently supporting illegal robocall campaigns or face removal from the Robocall Mitigation Database, in a recent move by the FCC’s enforcement arm. 

Do you believe the FCC could do more to prevent robocallers from accessing legitimate telephone numbers? Let us know in the comments!

Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

• SmileDirectClub Kept Texting People After Being Told to Stop, Class Action Alleges
• Comcast Illegally Robocalls Noncustomers, Invading Their Privacy, Class Action Alleges
• Harley Davidson Financer Called Motorcycle Rider’s Girlfriend 30 Times, Harassing Her, Class Action Says
• Orangetheory Gym Sent Unwanted Spam Text Messages, Class Action Says