Ever received robocalls as a California Resident? A new lawsuit recently filed to fight back against these illegal calls
2023-05-28
Orange County residents have likely experienced the frustration of robocalls, those automated calls from scammers and telemarketers that won't stop. The National Do Not Call Registry reported that over 577 million robocalls were sent to California telephone numbers. This included calls to Orange County.
But now, California Attorney General Rob Bonta is fighting back. He recently announced a lawsuit against Avid Telecom. They are accused of facilitating billions of illegal robocalls across the country. These calls include numbers on California's Do Not Call Registry.
Avid Telecom is being sued. The lawsuit alleges that they were involved in various scams. These scams targeted people receiving Social Security Administration and Medicare benefits. In addition, these scams can damage vulnerable populations, who may be more likely to fall for them.
Avid Telecom also enabled employment scams, which targeted people looking for new job opportunities. These scams can exploit job seekers who may already be financially struggling.
Attorney General Bonta stated, "In addition to being a daily annoyance, robocalls can and do cause real financial damage. I'm taking Avid Telecom to court for delivering not hundreds, or thousands, or millions of robocalls - but billions of robocalls. Our coalition alleges that Avid Telecom has violated federal and state laws, and we are confident that we will prevail."
Avid Telecom sent or attempted to send over 24.5 billion phone calls to consumers between December 2018 and January 2023. Most of these calls were extremely short - 15 seconds or less. This is a red flag that they were likely automated robocalls. Sometimes the real company was not even shown on the caller ID, posing as sales calls.
Avid Telecom sent 7.5 billion calls to National Do Not Call Registry numbers. Of those, 577,879,156 were in California alone. Orange County was included in this number.
Registering for the National Do Not Call Registry allows consumers to avoid telemarketing calls, but robocallers rarely follow these legal restrictions.
Read the full complaint below.
The fact that this lawsuit is part of a bipartisan coalition of 49 attorneys general is encouraging. It shows widespread recognition that robocalls are a severe problem that needs to be addressed. Hopefully, this will be the first step towards stronger regulations and better enforcement.
AG Bonta's involvement in the nationwide Anti-Robocall Multistate Litigation Task Force is worth noting. This shows that he is committed to going after individual companies and finding systemic solutions to the problem of robocalls. This issue affects millions of people in the country. To make a real difference, a coordinated effort is needed.
The Attorney General's recent announcement is a positive development in the fight against illegal robocalls. It may not solve the problem quickly, but it is an important step. Companies must take responsibility for their actions. Orange County and beyond consumers will be safeguarded from scams and fraudulent activities.
Protecting yourself and your loved ones from robocall spam
Are you tired of receiving endless robocalls that seem to be scams? You're not alone. Millions of people nationwide are bombarded by these fraudulent calls every day. Fortunately, several local resources are available to help you report and prevent robocall scams.
The Orange County government has developed the Scam Tracker. It is an online tool to protect residents from scams and fraudulent activities. People can easily report suspicious calls they receive. They can also report suspicious emails, text messages, or other communications.
Reports can include the caller's identity, phone number, description of the call, and any other relevant information. People can use this tool to help others. It can alert them to potential scams and provide information to help them avoid becoming victims. In this way, people can prevent others from falling prey to scams.
Another helpful resource is the Federal Trade Commission's Do Not Call Registry. This national registry allows individuals to opt out of telemarketing calls. Once you've registered your phone number, telemarketers must stop calling you within 31 days. While this won't necessarily prevent robocalls from scammers, it can help reduce the number of unwanted calls you receive.
In addition to these resources, it's essential to remain vigilant when answering calls from unknown numbers. If you receive a suspicious call, don't be afraid to hang up and do some research before providing any personal information.
Watch the video below for info on the Senior Romance Scam.
Common scams to avoid
Criminals are constantly developing new ways of stealing money or property from people. Believe you have been a victim of check, bank card, or credit card fraud?
Contact the financial institution you used right away. Ask them to create a new account for you. Then, contact the Sheriff's Department immediately if you think you are being scammed.
Suspects are sending text messages to disability applicants and beneficiaries claiming to be from the government and asking for personal information. Unfortunately, victims of identity theft have fallen for this scam. Social Security never sends unsolicited texts, and any personal information given can be used or sold. More information is available on the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General's website.
To combat scam phone calls, research to find the actual number for the entity and call directly to verify their identity. Report the scam to the Social Security Fraud Hotline online or by phone at 1-800-269-0271.
If you are a victim of identity theft, place a fraud alert with the credit reporting agencies and provide them with a police report number. Next, obtain a copy of your credit report, dispute any unauthorized accounts, and check the inquiry section for unknown inquiries. Finally, call the telephone number for the strange questions and ask why they ran your credit.
Watch the video below for more on the text phishing scams.
Online Employment Scam
Suspects in this scam post ads or reply to online solicitations and communicate via text or email. They send fraudulent checks or ask for account information to deposit money into your account, then ask you to send them money via prepaid credit cards or wire transfer.
Another scam version involves "Secret Shopper" assignments where you send money or merchandise to the suspect. Finally, a third version specifically targets those offering childcare, with the suspect sending a large check for wages and wheelchair costs, then asking you to send the money to a third party. Once the bank discovers the check is fraudulent, you are responsible for the total amount plus fees.
Never follow a link from an unfamiliar source without knowing where it will take you to prevent falling victim to a scam. Instead, put your cursor or arrow over the link to see the actual destination.
Refrain from communicating with someone only using text or email and instead ask to speak with them face-to-face or over the phone. Be cautious of someone who won't do this or explain why.
If you think a check you have been sent is fraudulent, take it to the issuing bank to check or call them. You can also try contacting the business or individual listed as the account holder on the check. Additionally, report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission.
Never follow a link from an unfamiliar source without knowing where it will take you to prevent falling victim to a scam. Instead, put your cursor or arrow over the link to see the actual destination. Refrain from communicating with someone only using text or email and instead ask to speak with them face-to-face or over the phone. Be cautious of someone who won't do this or explain why.
If you think a check you have been sent is fraudulent, take it to the issuing bank to check or call them. You can also try contacting the business or individual listed as the account holder on the check. Additionally, report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission.
Watch the video below for more on these employment schemes.
Tech Support Scam
Suspects in this scam call you, claiming to be from Microsoft Tech Support, and talk you into allowing them access to your computer. They will then ask for personal information and may charge a fee.
Microsoft does not make unsolicited phone calls, and once they have access to your computer, they can obtain any information and place malicious software. To combat this scam, don't call them back; contact Microsoft directly and report the fraud to the FTC. You should also report it to the Orange County Sheriff's Department by calling 714-647-7000 or 949-770-6011.
Watch the video below for more information on the Microsoft tech scam.
Telephone Taxes Due Scam
If you receive a call or voicemail claiming you owe taxes, the caller may threaten you with consequences like arrest or deportation if you don't pay immediately. They might tell you to get a prepaid credit card and give them the number and code from the back and front. If you don't comply, they may try to appear to be from a police agency and threaten to arrest you. The caller ID number is often changed to appear to be from law enforcement.
A scam has asked people to provide their prepaid credit card numbers to access their funds. However, the IRS will only contact taxpayers via US mail and never ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
The Orange County Sheriff's Department does not collect taxes. So if you get one of these calls, do not call back or hang up.
If you think you owe taxes, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. Call the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 1-800-366-4484 if you don't owe taxes. You should also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission and call the Orange County Sheriff's Department to verify the call and file a report. Further information can be found on the IRS website.
Watch the video below for more on the IRS tax call scam.
Telephone Utilities Due Scam
This scam involves a person threatening to have a person's utility turned off unless they provide the numbers to a prepaid credit card. If the numbers are provided, the scammer can access the funds from anywhere in the world. Utility companies usually offer multiple payment methods and do not require just one.
To protect yourself from this scam, do not call back or hang up if you are talking to the scammer; contact your utility companyto verify, and call the Orange County Sheriff's Department at 714-647-7000 or 949-770-6011 to confirm whether or not an actual Sheriff’s employee is calling you and to file a report.
Watch the video below for more on the utility robocall scam.
Item Listed for Sale Check Scam
This scam involves listing something for sale on a platform such as Craigslist. The scammer contacts the seller and provides a story to make them believe they are sending a legitimate check for more than the asking price. The seller is then asked to cash the check, remove the purchase price, keep the money for trouble, and send the remainder through a prepaid credit card or wire.
It takes banks a few days to determine that the check is fraudulent, and the seller has already given away their money by then. The seller's account will be charged for the total amount of the check and any related fees.
To battle this fraud, conducting transactions with people you can meet in person is best. For example, take the check you receive to the bank it was issued from and explain the situation to the teller.
Additionally, it is essential to make the listing company aware of any scam incidents. You can also contact the Orange County Sheriff's Department at either 714-647-7000 or 949-770-6011 to file a report. In addition, sites such as Craigslist and eBay offer resources to help protect you from fraud.
Warrant for your Arrest Scam
This scam involves suspects calling people and pretending to be law enforcement officers, asking for payment of bail or fine to avoid arrest. The caller ID is often spoofed to make it seem like it's from a local law enforcement agency. However, the Orange County Sheriff's Department does not demand payment over the phone, and payments should be handled through the court.
To combat this scam, people should not call them back or hang up if they answer, call the Sheriff's Department at 714-647-7000 or 949-770-6011 to file a report, and contact the court directly to inquire about payment. The link http://www.occourts.org/locations contains court locations and contact information in Orange County.
Watch the video below for more on the arrest scam.
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Have you ever received a robocall related to one of the scenarios presented? Are you aware of other attempts to scam consumers not listed here?
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