More about those #$%&#@% robocalls

From the Florida Consumer eNewsletter

July 27, 2019 1:00 p.m.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services maintains the state-specific Do Not Call list for Florida residents. We are committed to informing you about the latest developments to protect consumers from unwanted calls. Recently major strides have been made toward protecting consumers from unwanted robocalls and spoofed calls.

On May 23, 2019, the U.S. Senate passed the Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED) Act. The TRACED Act will help strengthen the FCC's ability to combat illegal robocalls with increased fines, longer statues of limitations, and by removing requirements which obligate the FCC to warn some robocallers before penalizing them.

On June 6, 2019, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved a ruling that makes clear that phone service providers may block unwanted calls if consumers are informed and have the opportunity to opt out of the blocking. This action empowers phone service providers to protect consumers from unwanted robocalls before those calls even reach the consumers' phones.

• Read more about the FCC's decision.

On June 25, 2019, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a federal and state coordinated effort to combat illegal robocalls – Operation: Call it Quits! This joint crackdown is part of an ongoing effort to help stem the tide of universally loathed pre-recorded telemarketing calls. It also includes new information to help educate consumers about illegal robocalls.

Additionally, the FCC hosted a summit on July 11, 2019, to identify any challenges phone service providers might have to implementing technology that will prevent spoofed calls and discuss how to overcome those challenges. The technology, called SHAKEN/STIR, will validate phone calls passing through the complex web of networks, allowing the phone company of the consumer receiving the call to verify that a call is from the person making it.

• Read more about SHAKEN/STIR and see what your phone service provider is doing to implement this critical technology.
• Learn more about the SHAKEN/STIR Robocall Summit.

We will continue to support measures which will protect you from unwanted and spoofed calls and take aggressive action against those who violate the Florida Do Not Call statute. To stay up-to-date on the latest developments, visit our Do Not Call webpage or sign up for our e-newsletter.

FTC ROBOCALLS Information

If you answer the phone and hear a recorded message instead of a live person, it's a robocall.

Companies need your written permission to use robocalls to sell things to you.

Why you're getting so many robocalls:

Often, it's scammers. The internet makes it cheap and easy for them to call frm anywhere in the world.

What you can do about them:

1. Hang up. If you press any numbers, you might get even more calls.
2. Use call blocking. Talk to your phone carrier and read expert reviews about your options.

Report robocalls to the FTC at www.ftc.gov/complaint

Learn more at www.ftc.gov/calls