New Schneider Bill Would Crackdown on Irritating Telephone Scam Calls
Discourage Dishonest Dialing Act would require FCC to implement technology to allow consumers to identify and decline scam calls that impersonate local numbers
Today, Congressman Brad Schneider announced new legislation to crackdown on telephone scam calls that impersonate local numbers by giving consumers the ability to recognize and shutdown these annoying calls.
Currently, many telephone scammers use technology to modify what phone numbers appear on caller ID, often impersonating a local phone number to trick individuals into answering their calls. H.R. 6822, the Discourage Dishonest Dialing Act, would require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish rules for alerting telephone subscribers when caller identification information cannot be confirmed. Making consumers aware when a "neighbor spoofing" call is inbound gives customers the power to ignore these intrusions and discourage their use by scam artists.
"Scam calls are more than just an annoyance, and with the new ability to impersonate local numbers, the risk of dangerous fraud, especially for seniors, is getting worse" said Schneider. "The Discourage Dishonest Dialing Act would shift the power back to customers by making it easier to recognize and ignore these bothersome interruptions. Hopefully cracking down on unethical scammers and pushy telemarketers is something even this divided Congress can agree on."
The bill text leaves the exact method of alert to the discretion of the FCC, which could be "a distinctive ringtone, distinctive caller identification information, automatic message, or some other method determined to be appropriate and technologically feasible by the Commission in consultation with providers of voice services."