Why Is Phone Spoofing Illegal?
Phone spoofing occurs when a caller intentionally transmits inaccurate caller ID information to a called party to conceal their real identities. Phone scammers regularly engage in this practice to disguise their identities and make Washingtonians believe their calls are legitimate. Sometimes, fraudsters spoof their targets’ phone numbers to call them. Those calls will appear as if they are calling themselves. In other instances, scammers may call with a phone number that seems familiar to their marks, with their local area codes. This practice, known as neighbor spoofing, attempts to fool residents into answering their calls and cheat them out of their money or obtain sensitive information.
In the past, caller ID spoofing required sophisticated technology that made it expensive and was available to only a few legitimate service providers. The widespread availability of third-party spoofing services, online and via mobile apps has now made spoofing easy and affordable. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and other IP-based telephony services also play a significant role in the upsurge of phone spoofing in DC. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) educates consumers on phone spoofing by providing anti-spoofing guides on its website. District of Columbia residents who are phone spoofing scams victims can file complaints with the District of Columbia Office of the Attorney General (OAG).
Phone spoofing also has legitimate uses in the District of Columbia. Law enforcement officers engage in phone spoofing while calling from personal lines in the course of criminal investigations as a way of securing their identities. Medical doctors also spoof their offices’ phone numbers when calling patients from their home phones or personal numbers. Some illicit use of caller ID spoofing in the District of Columbia include:
Impersonation scams:
Scammers hide their identities by spoofing the phone numbers of legitimate entities and trick their targets into answering their phones. They do this to extort them and get them to share their sensitive information and commit identity and financial thefts. Residents can, however, use applications that provide reverse phone number lookup services to identify spoofed calls and avoid impersonation scams.
Telemarketing scams:
These scams use spoofed robocalls to reach mass targets at a low cost. Phone scammers who engage in illegal spoofing ignore the FCC’s rule that mandates telemarketers to transmit their caller ID information when contacting residents. Sometimes, such robocalls will trick targeted residents into pressing a number to either opt-out of the call or speak with live agents. It is a scheme to verify if a person’s phone number is active so they can engage them for future scam calls. Websites that offer reverse phone lookup services can help differentiate between live calls and robocalls, spoofed or not. Washingtonians can report these scams to the FCC by filing complaints online or calling 1 (888) 225-5322.
Phone spoofing is illegal in the U.S. when used to dispossess residents of their money or sensitive personal and financial information. It is always hard for law enforcement to track and arrest fraudsters who engage in spoofing. The Truth in Caller ID Act of 2009, a federal law, makes it illegal to alter caller ID information to defraud and harm others.
How Do You Know If Your Number Is Being Spoofed?
Getting multiple phone calls and text messages from unknown numbers in response to conversations you did not initiate is a clear indication that your number is being spoofed. Quickly file a complaint with the FCC online to report it and absolve yourself of any fraud that may result from this spoofing. You can also contact the FCC at 1 (888) 225-5322.
How Can You Protect Yourself from Illegal Spoofed Calls?
Scammers often use illegally spoofed calls to trick their targets into answering their calls. You can protect yourself from illegal phone spoofing and avoid scams by doing the following:
- End calls from persons who call you with numbers that appear to be for the IRS or the Social Security Administration and request sensitive information.
- Use a reverse phone number lookup application to identify spoofed numbers and block them. You can also download call labeling and blocking apps from verified third-party sites.
- Do not be pressured into sending money even if it appears you are being called by law enforcement.
- Enroll your number on the FTC’s National Do Not Call Registry to opt-out of receiving telemarketing calls. Doing this will enable you to identify scam robocalls, either spoofed or not.
- File complaints of identified spoofed numbers with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or call 1(888) 382-1222 to report incidents of phone spoofing scams.
Does the District of Columbia Have Anti-Spoofing Laws?
The District of Columbia is generally subject to the federal statutes of the United States. It adopts any anti-spoofing legislation enacted by the United States Congress. Anti-spoofing laws in DC include:
Truth in Caller ID Act of 2009
In America, the Truth in Caller ID Act of 2009 prohibits the intentional use of caller ID spoofing for malicious purposes. It is against the provisions of this Act to falsify caller ID information to mislead, scam, or defraud residents. It also forbids phone spoofing in activities that constitute threats to public safety. The penalties for violating this Act include civil fines and cash fines between $10,000 to $1,000,000 for each violation upon conviction. Law enforcement agencies are exempt from the tenets of the Truth in Caller ID Act.
Spoofing Prevention Act of 2017
Senator Bill Nelson introduced S.134 on January 12, 2017, to amend the Communication Act of 1934 and broaden the prohibitions against illegal phone spoofing. This legislation, if signed into public law, will clamp down on the following:
- Individuals who live outside the U.S. and target call recipients within the United States with illegally spoofed calls.
- Text messages
The Senate received it and read it twice before referring it to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on January 24, 2017. It was unanimously consented to by the Senate on August 3, 2017. Afterward, the Senate passed it to the House on August 4, 2017, where it is currently being held.
The FCC has mandated telephone service providers to implement the STIR/SHAKEN protocols to address the proliferation of caller ID spoofing by June 2021. These protocols will help to authenticate caller ID information at the points where they originate and terminate once effectuated.
What are Common Phone Scams involving Caller ID Spoofing in the District of Columbia?
Phone scammers favor phone spoofing in many of their fraudulent schemes. It enables them to manipulate the information that appears on the Caller ID display of their targets and fool them into answering their phone calls. Washingtonians who are victims of phone spoofing scams can file complaints with the FCC or report to the FTC by calling 1 (888) 382-1222.
The following are frequently reported phone spoofing scams in the District of Columbia:
- Charity scams
- Utility scams
- Telemarketing scams
- Lottery scams
- Law enforcement impersonation scams
- IRS scams