Over 249 million consumers have enrolled in the registry in the last two years. The report includes updates on complaints and registry-related enforcement actions.
01/12/2024 2:40 P.M.
1.5 minute read
In a recent biennial report to Congress, the Federal Trade Commission revealed that over 249 million consumers have actively enrolled in the National Do Not Call (DNC) Registry over the last two years.
The report, covering fiscal year 2023, outlined that the FTC received over 2 million complaints about DNC violations, with the majority stemming from robocalls rather than live telemarketing. Notably, imposter scams, medical needs and prescription scam calls topped the list of reported call topics.
Impersonator scams, in particular, prompted the FTC to continue its rulemaking against business and government impersonation fraud. The report highlighted the prevalence of fake bank fraud warnings in text message scams, with scammers often impersonating well-known businesses.
The report emphasized the collaboration between the FTC and the Federal Communications Commission to ensure the registry’s effectiveness and accessibility for both consumers and telemarketers. In the face of advancing technology, the agencies actively encourage collaboration with private industry, government agencies, academia, and other stakeholders to develop strategies that keep pace with emerging challenges.
Technological advancements, including Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services, enable scammers to make inexpensive, high-volume calls globally. The ability to “spoof” caller ID information further complicates the identification of illegal telemarketers. The FTC’s law enforcement initiatives, as outlined in the report, have adapted to combat these challenges, evolving alongside ever-changing technologies.
The report also detailed the FTC’s enforcement actions, including pursuing VoIP service providers facilitating illegal calls, legal suits against platforms and soundboard technology providers, and the implementation of July 2023’s Operation Stop Scam Calls.
Additional Resources from ACA International
New FTC Data Book Reveals Significant Drop in Robocall Complaints
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