Robocalls are pre-recorded messages sent via automated calls. These calls are usually delivered by an automatic dialer, which is a computer program. Immediately after the call connects, the pre-recorded message begins to play. The general purpose of these robocalls is to give information speedily at a cheaper rate, with little or no human involvement. Some robocalls are a variant of spam calls that are intended to market fake products and services.
According to the Federal Communications Commission, around 200,000 robocall complaints are made every year in America. The Do Not Call list is a government registry that collects numbers that do not want unsolicited robocalls and telemarketing calls. When your number has been on the registry for 31 days, you can begin reporting sales calls you dissent to. Recipients of robocalls are usually more receptive to robocalls if it has their consent.
Politicians initially used robocalls as a campaign tool. It was also used for legitimate telemarketing and for making public service announcements. However, in recent times, some robocalls are scams that attempt to defraud people. Therefore, it became illegal in the United States to use robocalls for sale pitches without first obtaining express written permission from the recipients.
What Are Pennsylvania Robocall Scams?
Generally, robocalls are not illegal in Pennsylvania. What is illegal are robocall scams. Robocall scams are robocalls without your written permission that will attempt to sell you things or scam you.
- Tech Support Robocall Scam: This involves scammers posing as a Technical Support staff for a big company like Apple. They offer false diagnoses on your computer and claim to be able to repair the faults. Instead, they install infectious software to your computer that helps them access your information.
- Stolen Identity Robocall Scam: These scammers do not initially steal your identity. However, they convince the victim that their identity has been stolen and then ask them to prove who they are. If the victim reveals their personal details to them, they end up stealing their identity. The fraudsters use those details to commit fraud or even apply for credit.
- Bank Robocall Scam: The scammer calls and poses as a representative of prominent credit card companies and banks. They tell the target that their card was stolen or that they detected unusual financial activities from their account. The fraudster goes on to ask for personal information like date of birth or credit card number. Since banks can call you in the same manner, it might be hard to spot the scam. However, no bank will ask for your personal information or pin.
- IRS Robocall Scam: The IRS scam involves the scammer pretending to be from the Internal Revenue Service or other loan collecting institutions. They threaten the targets with arrests and deportation if they do not make immediate payments. They may also attempt to get the victim's personal details.
- Charity Scams: Charity scammers use robocalls to pretend to be from charity organizations. They play on the kindness and good nature of unsuspecting victims and ask for money transfers. Holiday periods are the most common time of the year that fraudsters attempt this scam.
- Institutions of Government Robocall Scam: These scammers try to cause panic and alarm by tricking their targets into believing that they committed a crime or legal offense. Their "instructions" require the recipients to divulge your personal details or information.
- Emergency Robocalls: Emergency robocalls involve the scammer attempting to alarm the target with the kidnap or imprisonment of a relative. They may also pose as the relative and try to get the victim to transfer money to pay for their freedom.
How Are Robocalls Used in Pennsylvania Scams?
Phone scammers usually hide their identities by displaying fake caller ID information when using robocalls. This is similarly referred to as caller ID spoofing. Knowing fully well that residents may not respond to numbers they do not recognize, these fraudsters use government agencies or familiar organizations’ IDs and impersonate their employees. The calls are automated and require the recipients to select specific keys to talk with live agents. The call may also reel out phone numbers for the recipients to call back.
Most Pennsylvania robocalls try to get recipients to reveal information about their social security numbers or insurance plan. Only about 13.31% of robocalls are telemarketers, and although some businesses utilize robocalls legitimately, a whopping 43% of robocalls are said to be scam calls.
Does Pennsylvania Have Anti-Robocall Laws?
In May 2019, the Pennsylvania Attorney General, Joshua David Shapiro, led a bipartisan coalition of 42 members of the National Association of Attorneys General to demand anti-robocall laws. They implored the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to take extra measures to stop the growing increase of illegal robocalls. In making the demand, the Attorney General outlined the following as part of the phone companies’ agreement to prevent illegal robocalls. They were to:
- Offer some type of call-blocking services. This was to be made available at no cost for all types of telephone customers.
- Offer free and easy-to-use labeling tools for smartphone mobile and voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) residential customers.
- Monitor their networks to check for robocall traffic.
- Implement technology to verify that callers are coming from a verified source.
The coalition also demanded that phone companies assist the Attorneys General with anti-robocall enforcement by:
- Knowing who makes up their commercial customer base. This enables law enforcement to investigate and detain people who use the network to commit robocall scams.
- Making sure that suspicious callers face investigation and legal action. This will include notifying state attorneys general and law enforcement agencies.
- Requiring other service providers that phone companies are in a contract with to assist in traceback identification.
- Helping state Attorneys General and law enforcement to trace the sources of illegal robocalls.
Are There Special Requirements for Robocalls in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania passed House Bill (HB) 318, which expands and extends the protections given to Pennsylvania residential and wireless telephone subscribers. This expands the protection that the 1996 Telemarketer Registration Act (TRA) gives to telephone solicitation calls. The Governor of Pennsylvania, Tom Wolf, signed the bill into law on October 4, 2020.
The Act is binding on all telemarketers in the state of Pennsylvania and prohibits the following practices:
- The barring of caller ID and other screening products or services telemarketers offer to customers.
- The initiation of "cold calls." These are calls made to facilitate the sale of consumer goods or services.
- Using the Pennsylvania DNC list for any purpose other than determining whether a telephone number is on the list.
- Initiating telephone solicitation calls to a residential or wireless telephone number that is on the Pennsylvania DNC list.
- Failure to provide the telephone subscriber with the name of the caller who they are calling for and a telephone number or address at which the person or entity may be reached.
Pennsylvania law further requires telemarketers to begin robocalls with a clear option to exit them. In a state like California, a live operator is expected to state the purpose of the robocall in its introductory message. Also, no telephone solicitations are permitted on legal holidays. Some of these special requirements have proven helpful in reducing the high rate of robocall scams.
How Do I Stop Robocalls?
As opposed to what many people believe, robocalls are not synonymous with phone scams. Nonetheless, such calls can be disturbing and annoying. To effectively curb robocalls, phone users must take certain measures to limit the number of these calls reaching them. Some of the steps that Pennsylvania residents can take to combat robocalls include:
- Registering your number in the State’s Do Not Call Registry or the National Registry. Pennsylvania’s Do Not Call list requires you to register to your number every five years. Once registered, any robocall you receive without your permission is illegal, and the caller can be fined up to $1000.
- Blocking unwanted calls. Although most mobile phones have in-built call-blocking options, you can also use downloadable applications such as Truecaller, YouMail, and Hira. Some of these applications are available for free, while some require a subscription fee. With a call-blocking app, you can decide which calls you want to receive, sent to voicemail, ring silently, or stop entirely.