Telephone calls that play prerecorded messages instead of immediately connecting to a live person when they are picked up are called robocalls. An automatic dialing-announcing device typically initiates these types of calls. Generally, spam calls and robocalls are regarded as unwanted calls. However, not all robocalls are unwanted. Robocalls are generally used to disseminate information to people and for sales purposes. This is because they are relatively cheap to make and can reach many people in a short time.
In the United States, robocalls that solicit funds in any way are considered illegal if they are made without obtaining prior permission from the receiver of the call. However, robocalls can be made without the call recipient’s permission if they belong to the following categories:
- Political robocalls
- Charity organization robocalls (these robocalls must only be made on behalf of a charity organization to people that have donated to the organization and current members of the organization)
- Debt collection robocalls
- Informational robocalls
- Market research robocalls
- Emergency or public service announcement robocalls
What are Idaho Robocall Scams?
Idaho robocall scams are phone scams that utilize illegal robocalls to obtain money and sensitive information from unsuspecting Idahoans. According to the Federal Trade Commission, robocalls constitute over 50 percent of all call complaints in the country. Data published by this commission for 2019 shows that out of the 5,422,298 do not call complaints reported, 3,786,771 were from robocalls. 26,112 of the robocall complaints were reported from the state of Idaho.
Most robocall scams are carried out through caller ID spoofing. Caller ID spoofing is a technique that allows a caller to intentionally disguise the caller ID information that is displayed on the phone of the receiver. Scammers use this technique to trick the receiver into picking the call by making their caller ID look like the call is being made from a reputable establishment or a government agency. Sometimes, the scammer may spoof their number so that the call looks like it is being made from the same area code that the receiver resides in. This particular form of caller ID spoofing is known as neighbor spoofing, and it works because most receivers are inclined to pick up a call from a number that looks familiar.
Regardless of the method used by the scammer, all robocall scams display at least one of the following characteristics:
- The call solicits funds.
- The call appears to be from either a familiar number, a well-known establishment, or a governmental agency.
- The call tries to pressure you into making swift decisions.
- The call states that donations or payments should be made through a particular method.
- The call asks you to press a number to stop receiving more robocalls.
- The call asks you to press a number to get transferred to a live person for more information.
Does Idaho Have Anti-Robocall Laws?
Idaho does not have any statutory laws that prohibit robocalls. However, Section 48-1003C of the Idaho Telephone Solicitation Act regulates automatic dialing-announcing devices in the state. According to this law, any person who uses these devices to make a robocall must state the name of the person on whose behalf the call is being made and its purpose. The person must also provide their contact details. All these must be done at the onset of the robocall.
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act and the Telephone and Consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act are also applicable in Idaho. These acts are federal laws that regulate robocalls in the United States.
Are there Special Requirements for Robocalls in Idaho?
There are no specific requirements for robocalls in the state of Idaho. However, any phone call made in the state to solicit funds must be made in compliance with the Idaho Telephone Solicitation Act. Some requirements of this act include:
- Any call made with the use of an automatic dialing-announcing device must indicate the name of the person on whose behalf the call is being made, the purpose of the call, and the contact details of the person that initiated the call.
- A telephone solicitation call must disclose all material matters that relate to the goods and services being offered.
- A telephone solicitation call must accurately represent the quality, price, and availability of the offered goods and services.
- A telephone solicitation call must not falsely advertise, represent, or imply any form of approval or endorsement from a governmental office or agency.
- A telephone solicitation call must not misrepresent the identity of the person on whose behalf the call is being made.
In addition to these, federal robocall requirements are also applicable in Idaho. Some of these requirements are:
- Robocalls made for solicitation purposes must not be made before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m.
- Robocalls made for political campaigns can only be made to cell phones, mobile devices, and protected phone lines if the receiver has given consent.
- Any automatic dialing-announcing device used to initiate a robocall must disengage and release the receiver’s telephone line not later than five seconds after the calling system has been notified that the call has ended.
How Do I Stop Robocalls?
Unwanted robocalls are disturbances that disrupt the daily activities of many Idahoans. These calls also pose a risk to unsuspecting Idahoans as scammers use them to obtain information and money from them fraudulently. In light of this, the Federal Communications Commission issued a mandate on March 31, 2020, requiring all phone companies in the country to implement the new caller ID authentication STIR/SHAKEN system. This system aims to tackle caller ID spoofing, robocalls, and phone companies are expected to have fully integrated it into their systems by June 30, 2021.
You can also reduce the number of robocalls that you receive by taking the following steps:
- Register your number with the National Do Not Call Registry. This limits the number of telephone solicitation calls you receive.
- Be conscious of the fact that scammers can spoof caller ID information.
- Download an app that flags suspicious numbers. Some of these apps also perform reverse phone number lookups.
- Block all numbers that have been flagged. You can do this by contacting your phone provider or downloading a call blocking app. Some phones also come with a built-in call blocking feature.
- Hang up as soon as you realize that you have picked up a robocall.
- Report all unwanted robocalls and robocall scams to the Idaho Attorney General’s Office, the Federal Communications Commission, and the Federal Trade Commission