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              Enforcement
              General Enforcement Areas

  Unwanted Communications: Robocalls, Caller ID Spoofing, Do-Not-Call Registry, and Junk Faxes General Enforcement Areas
      

          
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                Unwanted CommunicationsFederal laws and FCC regulations protect American consumers from unsolicited messages by placing limits on how, when, where, and why a caller may use particular kinds of telephone technologies. Additionally, FCC rules obligate telecommunications providers to take steps to combat unlawful robocalling and help consumers avoid unwanted messages.

**Robocalls, Telemarketing Calls, and Junk Faxes.** The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) restricts unsolicited advertisements both by phone call and by fax, and the use of automatic telephone dialing systems (autodialers) and prerecorded/artificial voice messages (i.e., robocalls). Restrictions are generally tightest when such calls (including text messages) are made to cell phones or other protected destinations like emergency lines, hospital rooms, or care facilities.

	***Calls to Cell Phones and Other Protected Destinations.*** The TCPA generally prohibits all non-emergency autodialed and prerecorded calls to cell phones unless the called party has given prior express consent. Consent must be in writing if a prerecorded or autodialed call contains an advertisement. If the cell phone number is on the National Do-Not-Call Registry, all advertising calls – including manually-dialed and live ones – are prohibited unless the called party has an established business relationship with the caller or the called party has given prior express written consent.
		***Calls to Residential Landlines.*** The TCPA generally prohibits prerecorded advertising calls to residential landline numbers unless the called party has given prior express written consent. If the residential landline number is on the National Do-Not-Call Registry, all advertising calls – including live ones – are prohibited unless the called party has an established business relationship with the caller or the called party has given prior express written consent. The TCPA does not restrict non-advertising prerecorded or autodialed calls to landlines.
		***Calls to Private Entities.*** Private entities may submit information about robocalling and spoofing incidents to the Enforcement Bureau by using the Private Entity Robocall and Spoofing Complaint Portal. A private entity is any entity other than (1) an individual natural person or (2) a public entity.
	**Malicious Caller ID Spoofing.** Under the Truth in Caller ID Act (TICIDA), Section 227(e) prohibits someone from causing the display of false or misleading caller ID (spoofing) with the intent to defraud, cause harm, or wrongfully obtain something of value.
	**Robotexts.** Text messages are generally treated as a type of telephone call subject to the requirements of the TCPA, including do-not-call provisions that govern commercial advertising messages and restrictions on the use of automatic telephone dialing systems. In addition, text messages are subject to the TICIDA, which prohibits Caller ID spoofing that is undertaken for fraudulent or harmful purposes. In September 2022, the Commission initiated a proceeding to consider new rules to protect consumers from malicious and other unwanted robotexts.
	**Robocall Mitigation Database Enforcement.** The FCC requires voice service providers to file certifications in the Robocall Mitigation Database regarding their efforts to fight illegal robocalls on their networks.
	**Reassigned Numbers Database Enforcement.** Providers that receive numbering resources from the North American Numbering Plan must report disconnection information on a monthly basis to the Reassigned Numbers Database (RND). The RND helps consumers avoid getting unwanted calls by persons/entities trying to reach the previous owner/user of a telephone number.

Safety Tips

Consumer Tips to stop unwanted robocalls and avoid phone scams.
	Call blocking tools and resources.

Best Practice for Filing a Consumer Complaint About Unwanted Communications

If you have received an unsolicited robocall, robotext, or fax message, you can file a complaint with the FCC online: File A Complaint.

The Enforcement Bureau relies on information and complaints from consumers to help us identify illegal robocall and robotext campaigns that bombard Americans with unwanted messages every year. There is key information that you can include in a consumer complaint that will greatly assist the Enforcement Bureau’s efforts to track down the perpetrators of these illegal activities. Specifically, please include the number that the robocallers dialed (i.e., the telephone number where you received the call); caller id information (the name and number that appeared on the caller ID); the time and date of the robocall (including time zone if possible); your contact information, in case our investigators would like to speak with you more about the calls you received; and whether the phone you received the call on was a landline phone or a wireless phone.



FAQ on Robocalls and What the EB Does to Prevent Them

*A “What is a Robocall” or “Robocalls 101” section with charts or animations. People never get to see how complex the telephone system is. A robocall does not go from the dialer’s computer straight to consumer’s phone. Consumers should understand that this is a complex problem.*



FCC Robocall and Robotext Enforcement Actions Since 8/1/2016



Target
			FCC Action1
			Subject
			Date
			Forfeiture AmountAkabis, LLC
			Order
			robocall mitigation database
			10/3/2022
			N/ACloud4 Inc
			Order
			robocall mitigation database
			10/3/2022
			N/AGlobal UC Inc
			Order
			robocall mitigation database
			10/3/2022
			N/AHorizon Technology Group LLC
			Order
			robocall mitigation database
			10/3/2022
			N/AMorse Communications Inc
			Order
			robocall mitigation database
			10/3/2022
			N/ASharon Telephone Company
			Order
			robocall mitigation database
			10/3/2022
			N/ASouthwest Arkansas Telecommunications and Technology, Inc
			Order
			robocall mitigation database
			10/3/2022
			N/AFCC Enforcement Bureau Warns All U.S.-Based Voice Service Providers To Avoid Or Cease Carriage Of Auto Warranty Robocall Traffic From Cox/Jones/Sumco Panama Operation
			Order
			avoiding illegal robocall traffic
			7/21/2022
			N/AThomas Dorsher, ChariTel Inc, OnTel Inc, ScammerBlaster Inc
			NAL
			TCPA/Robocalls
			7/21/2022
			$116,156,250Call Pipe LLC
			Cease-and-Desist Letter
			transmitting illegal robocall traffic
			7/7/2022
			N/AFugle Telecom LLC
			Cease-and-Desist Letter
			transmitting illegal robocall traffic
			7/7/2022
			N/AGeist Telecom LLC
			Cease-and-Desist Letter
			transmitting illegal robocall traffic
			7/7/2022
			N/AGlobal Lynks LLC
			Cease-and-Desist Letter
			transmitting illegal robocall traffic
			7/7/2022
			N/AMobi Telecom LLC
			Cease-and-Desist Letter
			transmitting illegal robocall traffic
			7/7/2022
			N/ASouth Dakota Telecom LLC
			Cease-and-Desist Letter
			transmitting illegal robocall traffic
			7/7/2022
			N/ASipKonnect LLC
			Cease-and-Desist Letter
			transmitting illegal robocall traffic
			7/7/2022
			N/AVirtual Telecom Inc.
			Cease-and-Desist Letter
			transmitting illegal robocall traffic
			7/7/2022
			N/ARoy Cox, Jr., Aaron Michael Jones, their individual associates, and associated entities Sumco Panama S.A., Sumco Panama Inc., Tech Direct LLC, Posting Express Inc., 7 Sundays Inc.and Texas Outdoor Adventures Inc.
			Public Notice
			making illegal robocalls
			7/7/2022
			N/AAirespring, Inc.
			Cease-and-Desist Letter
			transmitting illegal robocall traffic
			3/22/2022
			N/AHello Hello Miami, LLC
			Cease-and-Desist Letter
			transmitting illegal robocall traffic
			3/22/2022
			N/AthinQ Technologies, Inc.
			Cease-and-Desist Letter
			transmitting illegal robocall traffic
			3/22/2022
			N/AGregory Robbins, Interstate Brokers of America LLC, National Health Agents LLC
			NAL
			TCPA/robocalls/Do-Not-Call
			2/22/2022
			$45,000,000Great Choice Telecom LLC
			Cease-and-Desist Letter
			transmitting illegal robocall traffic
			2/10/2022
			N/ATelecom Carrier Access, Inc. dba TCA Voip
			Cease-and-Desist Letter
			transmitting illegal robocall traffic
			2/10/2022
			N/ADuratel LLC
			Cease-and-Desist Letter
			transmitting illegal robocall traffic
			10/21/2021
			N/APrimo Dialler LLC
			Cease-and-Desist Letter
			transmitting illegal robocall traffic
			10/21/2021
			N/APZ/Illum Telecommunication LLC
			Cease-and-Desist Letter
			transmitting illegal robocall traffic
			10/21/2021
			N/AJohn M. Burkman, Jacob Alexander Wohl, J.M. Burkman & Associates LLC
			NAL
			TCPA/robocalls
			8/23/2021
			$5,134,500Prestige DR VoIP
			Cease-and-Desist Letter
			transmitting illegal robocall traffic
			5/18/2021
			N/AVaultTel Solutions
			Cease-and-Desist Letter
			transmitting illegal robocall traffic
			5/18/2021
			N/AR Squared Telecom LLC
			Cease-and-Desist Letter
			transmitting illegal robocall traffic
			4/13/2021
			N/ATellza
			Cease-and-Desist Letter
			transmitting illegal robocall traffic
			4/13/2021
			N/AJohn C. Spiller; Jakob A. Mears; Rising Eagle Capital Group LLC; JSquared Telecom LLC; Only Web Leads LLC; Rising Phoenix Group; Rising Phoenix Holdings; RPG Leads; and Rising Eagle Capital Group – Cayman
			Forfeiture Order
			TICIDA/spoofing
			3/18/2021
			$225,000,000NAL
			TICIDA/spoofing
			6/10/2020
			$225,000,000Icon Global Services
			Cease-and-Desist Letter
			transmitting illegal robocall traffic
			3/17/2021
			N/AIDT Corporation
			Cease-and-Desist Letter
			transmitting illegal robocall traffic
			3/17/2021
			N/ARSCom
			Cease-and-Desist Letter
			transmitting illegal robocall traffic
			3/17/2021
			N/AStratics Networks
			Cease-and-Desist Letter
			transmitting illegal robocall traffic
			3/17/2021
			N/AThird Rock Telecom
			Cease-and-Desist Letter
			transmitting illegal robocall traffic
			3/17/2021
			N/AYodel Technologies, LLC
			Cease-and-Desist Letter
			transmitting illegal robocall traffic
			3/17/2021
			N/AScott Rhodes a.k.a. Scott David Rhodes, Scott D. Rhodes, Scott Platek, Scott P. Platek
			Forfeiture Order
			TICIDA/spoofing
			1/14/2021
			$9,918,000NAL
			TICIDA/spoofing
			1/31/2020
			$12,910,000Kenneth Moser dba Marketing Support Systems
			Forfeiture Order
			TICIDA/spoofing
			11/19/2020
			$9,997,750Citation and Order
			TCPA/robocalls
			12/13/2019
			N/ANAL
			TICIDA/spoofing
			12/13/2019
			$9,997,750Affordable Enterprises of Arizona, LLC
			Forfeiture Order
			TICIDA/spoofing
			10/28/2020
			$37,525,000Citation and Order
			TCPA/robocalls
			9/26/2018
			N/ANAL
			TICIDA/spoofing
			9/26/2018
			$37,525,000Intelepeer
			Cease-and-Desist Letter2
			transmitting COVID-19 scam robocall traffic
			5/20/2020
			N/APTGi Carrier Services
			Cease-and-Desist Letter2
			transmitting COVID-19 scam robocall traffic
			5/20/2020
			N/ARSCom
			Cease-and-Desist Letter2
			transmitting COVID-19 scam robocall traffic
			5/20/2020
			N/AConnexum
			Cease-and-Desist Letter
			transmitting COVID-19 scam robocall traffic
			4/3/2020
			N/ASIPJoin
			Cease-and-Desist Letter
			transmitting COVID-19 scam robocall traffic
			4/3/2020
			N/AVoIP Terminator
			Cease-and-Desist Letter
			transmitting COVID-19 scam robocall traffic
			4/3/2020
			N/ADante Sciarra, D&D Global Enterprises, LLC
			Citation and Order
			TCPA/robocalls/Do-Not-Call
			11/27/2019
			N/AEmanuel “Manny” Hernandez; Click Cash Marketing, LLC; Rock Solid Traffic
			Citation and Order
			TCPA/Do-Not-Call (text messages)
			12/21/2018
			N/ABest Insurance Contracts, Inc. and Philip Roesel dba Wilmington Insurance Quotes
			Forfeiture Order
			TICIDA/spoofing
			9/26/2018
			$82,106,000Citation and Order
			TCPA/robocalls/Do-Not-Call
			8/4/2017
			N/ANAL
			TICIDA/spoofing
			8/4/2017
			$82,106,000Dialing Services, LLC
			Forfeiture Order
			TCPA/robocalls
			7/26/2018
			$2,880,000Adrian Abramovich/ Marketing Strategy Leaders
			Forfeiture Order
			TICIDA/spoofing
			5/10/2018
			$120,000,000Citation and Order
			TCPA/robocalls
			6/22/2017
			N/ANAL
			TICIDA/spoofing
			6/22/2017
			$120,000,000Gary Braver
			Order
			TICIDA/spoofing
			8/4/2017
			$0NAL
			TICIDA/spoofing
			8/2/2016
			$25,000Steven Blumenstock
			Forfeiture Order
			TICIDA/spoofing
			1/13/2017
			$25,000NAL
			TICIDA/spoofing
			8/2/2016
			$25,000Yakim Jordan a/k/a Manasseh Jordan, Prophet Manasseh Jordan, Prophet M Jordan, Yakim Manasseh Robert Jordan, Yakim Manasseh Jordan, Wakim Jordan, Manasseh Jordan Ministries
			Citation and Order
			TCPA/robocalls
			9/13/2016
			N/A**1** For an explanation of EB’s enforcement actions, see EB’s Enforcement Overview

			**2** Issued jointly with FTC.

        
        
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