Pennsylvania Attorney General launches effort against robocalls

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WKBN) — With a rise in automated spam and telemarketing calls, Pennsylvania’s Attorney General is rounding up help to prevent people from hearing a robot when they pick up their phone.

On Thursday, Attorney General Dave Sunday announced the first action under “Operation Robocall Roundup,” a multistate effort by the Anti-Robocall Litigation Task Force to crack down on robocalls across Pennsylvania and nationwide, according to a press release from the attorney general’s office.

“Robocalls are not just an annoyance, many of them are illegal. Robocalls are often a tool used by scammers to take advantage of the most vulnerable Pennsylvanians,” Sunday said. “Illegal robocalls will not be tolerated in the Commonwealth, and I am proud to stand with my colleagues to announce action that we expect will result in federal investigations and, ultimately, fewer of these calls.”

Sunday joined 50 bipartisan attorney generals in sending warning letters to 37 voice providers demanding that they immediately stop illegal robocalls being routed through their networks.

The providers receiving the warning letters have not complied with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules about responding to government traceback requests, and they also have not registered in the FCC’s Robocall Mitigation Databases or filed a plan that describes how they will reduce illegal robocalls on their telecom network, according to the press release.

The press release states that by disregarding these rules, these companies are allowing automated and robot callers onto their phone networks and then passing those robocalls downstream to other providers until robocalls reach the phones of Pennsylvanians.

If you live in Pennsylvania, you can sign up to be on the Pennsylvania Do Not Call list online at attorneygeneral.gov/dnc, or by calling 1-888-777-3406.

The Office of Attorney General Sunday stresses the risk of providing your phone number to businesses, rewards programs or entering contests that require you to submit your phone number.

According to the release, the FCC is looking into the matter.