LAWRENCE CO. – Christy Meagher, Outreach Representative, from the Office of Attorney General Todd Rokita addressed the Lawrence County Commissioners this morning, delivering a stern warning about the persistent threat of robocalls and email scams targeting Hoosiers.
Meagher emphasized that Attorney General Rokita’s office is actively pursuing legal action against illegal robocallers and email scammers. “These annoying and illegal calls and emails terrorize Hoosiers and Americans across the nation,” Attorney General Rokita stated.
According to Meagher, Attorney General Rokita and his team have successfully secured tens of millions of dollars in penalties from illegal robocalling operations, achieving court wins and settlements that extend far beyond Indiana’s state lines. She highlighted that this success in combating robocallers and email scammers, including the challenging task of locating them, is a testament to the innovation and dedication within the Indiana Attorney General’s office.
“Everyone knows robocallers and these emails are a huge nuisance, but they pose dangers much worse than merely disturbing our peace,” Attorney General Rokita warned. Meagher further explained that these robocalls and scam emails are often part of criminal schemes designed to steal Hoosiers’ identities and their hard-earned money. She emphasized that these illegal calls and emails are the work of professional scammers targeting unsuspecting victims.
Since taking office, Attorney General Rokita has aggressively pursued robocallers, issuing fines and settlements totaling more than $390 million from various robocalling operations. Meagher noted that some of these operations are “amorphous and slippery figures that claim to have all the answers for unsuspecting U.S. victims of all ages, regarding Medicare rewards, Social Security Administration information, auto warranty ‘updates,’ or even posing as Amazon delivery personnel.”
A significant challenge in combating these operations is their tendency to move frequently from state to state, or even nation to nation, dissolving and then reappearing under new names. This makes pursuing individual robocallers a daunting, uphill task.
To help Hoosiers protect themselves, Attorney General Todd Rokita has joined other attorneys general in urging telephone companies to make more call-blocking services available to consumers.
Meagher provided a guide to available services:
Blocking Unwanted Calls Consumers can find more information on the FCC’s website: https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/stop-unwanted-calls-and-texts.
- Landline Phones: Some carriers offer options to block a limited number of calls or anonymous callers. Fees vary, so consumers should contact their service provider for details. Call-blocking gadgets or devices are also available for purchase online; however, caution is advised when dealing with unknown sellers, and it is recommended to review customer reviews and return policies. Most of these devices are compatible with landlines, VoIP, DSL, and digital voice services, and typically require a caller ID and an internet connection.
- Smartphones: CTIA-The Wireless Association® has compiled a list of call-blocking apps for iOS and Android smartphones, available at: https://www.ctia.org/consumer-resources/how-to-stop-robocalls. Before downloading any app, users should read the description and reviews from customers. Additionally, consumers should check their device manuals for built-in blocking features.
- Services through your telephone provider: Most telephone service providers offer some form of blocking services. Consumers should contact their provider or visit their website for details on available services and associated fees.
Filing a Complaint
- Blocking Unwanted Calls: The Indiana Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division is dedicated to protecting consumers from unwanted telemarketing calls. In June 2015, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) declared that federal law does not prohibit phone carriers from blocking robocalls and robotexts before they reach residential landlines or cell phones. The Attorney General is urging telephone companies that do not currently offer comprehensive call-blocking services to make them available to customers as soon as possible.
- Do Not Call List: All Indiana residents can register their home, wireless, or VOIP telephone numbers on the state’s Do Not Call list at any time. The service is free and easy to use. The list is updated quarterly on the first of January, April, July, and October. To register your number, click here. You can also call 1-888-83-9969 to add your number. If you’d like to verify your number is already on the Do Not Call list, click here. Once your phone number has been added to the list, you will no longer need to re-register. However, you will need to update your registration if your phone number or address changes.
- Who Can Call You – And Who Can’t: Most telemarketers are forbidden from calling or texting numbers on the Do Not Call list. Some telephone solicitors are exempt from this law and may continue to contact you. These include charitable organizations and newspapers (whose calls are made by volunteers or employees), licensed insurance, and real estate agents. Effective July 1, 2019, the Indiana legislature extended the exemptions to financial institutions, persons authorized by the Department of Financial Institutions under IC 24-4.4, IC 24-4.5, or 750 IAC 9, and communications service providers that offer broadband internet service. These entities may make sales calls to you as long as they already have an existing business relationship with you. An existing business relationship includes a transaction that occurred within the past 18 months or an inquiry from you that happened within the past three months.
- Robocalls: Campaigns can follow this guide to ensure they adhere to Indiana’s telephone privacy laws.
- Wireless Telephone Text Message: The new law defines a “telephone sales call” as including a text message sent to your wireless telephone number. If your wireless telephone number is registered on the Do Not Call list, then a telemarketer may not send you a solicitation by text.
- National Do Not Call List: Indiana citizens may also register with the National Do Not Call list. For more information, visit http://www.donotcall.gov/ or call 1.888.382.1222.
- Remove Your Number from the List: If you would like to revoke your registration, please click here.
- Report Do Not Call Violators: The Attorney General’s Office is committed to ensuring Indiana’s Do Not Call law is enforced. If you are on the Do Not Call list and you get a call from a telemarketer after the relevant quarterly list update, you can report it by filing a complaint. You may also call 1.888.834.9969 to request a complaint form.
Please provide as much information as possible, including the name of the telemarketing company, the location from which they are calling, the name of the person calling the phone number, and the product or service they are attempting to sell. Once you’ve completed the complaint form, mail it to: Data Privacy and Identity Theft Unit, Office of the Indiana Attorney General, 302 W. Washington St., 5th Floor, Indianapolis, IN 46204 - File a complaint with the FTC: If you encounter an impostor scam, report it to the FTC at ftc.gov or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP. The FTC works to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and provides information to help consumers. Complaints are entered into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure database used by law enforcement agencies.
- File a complaint with the Office of the Attorney General: If your number is registered on the Indiana Do Not Call list, you can file a complaint about an unwanted text message or call by visiting www.IndianaConsumer.com and clicking on “File A Complaint,” then “Do Not Call/Text Complaint.” For those without internet access, a complaint form can be requested by calling 888-834-9969. Complaints can also be filed with the Federal Communications Commission at 888-225-5322 or www.FCC.gov.
