Action Line: Save Caller ID info to report spoofed numbers
BY PHIL MULKINS World Action Line Editor
Thursday, May 24, 2012
5/24/12 at 2:34 AM
Dear Action Line: I read your article on Caller ID spoofing as many of my family members suffer through many of these spoofed cell phone calls daily. When seeing an unusual area code I would answer and there was never anyone on the line. If I called the number back, it either didn't answer or said it was a discontinued number. I want to follow your advice and report caller ID spoofing to the Federal Communications Commission but how do we do so when all we have is the bogus number? - D.B., Tulsa.
The number you see spoofed on your Caller ID message window still has to come from a real source and this is why you must report the exact time of day and date of calls that come in and the exact caller ID window information shown. FCC has the wherewithal to backtrack the originator of such calls reaching your phone at that time on that date.
Start by reading FCC's "Caller ID and Spoofing" brochure, which can be found at tulsaworld.com/FCCCallerIDspoofing It explains how the Truth in Caller ID Act of 2009 prohibits caller ID spoofing "for the purposes of defrauding or otherwise causing harm" and gives instructions on filing a complaint and an online form at tulsaworld.com/FCCOnlineComplaint
Provide all the information FCC needs to process your complaint by thoroughly completing the online complaint form. When you open the form, it asks series of questions that will take you to the particular section of the form you need to complete.
FCC's "Form 1088 B: Live Telephone Call" asks for the phone number where you can be reached, the names and phone numbers of any companies involved with your complaint, the type of service that you are complaining about, telephone number or account number for any service you are complaining about, date of any bill you are complaining about; amount of disputed charges and amount of any refund you have received; a brief description of the event or action you are complaining about; and the resolution you are seeking, such as a credit or refund or a clearer explanation of the charge(s).
Dec. 16, 2011, the Federal Trade Commission announced "an Illinois-based telemarketing firm will pay $500,000 to settle Federal Trade Commission charges it interfered with consumers' requests to be placed on company-specific `do not call' lists and transmitted deceptive Caller ID names. The Department of Justice filed the complaint proposing the order on behalf of the FTC in U.S. District Court, for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division.
As part of its efforts to prevent unwanted and telemarketing calls, the FTC alleged Americall Group Inc. violated FTC's Telemarketing Sales Rule. The settlement order, found at tulsaworld.com/FTCAmericallGroup, resolves the FTC's charges against Americall. In addition to imposing the civil penalty, it prohibits the company from engaging in the conduct alleged in the complaint and from violating any provision of Telemarketing Sales Rule in the future.
Submit Action Line questions by calling 918-699-8888, emailing phil.mulkins@TulsaWorld.com or by mailing them to Tulsa World Action Line, PO Box 1770, Tulsa OK 74102-1770.
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