WebProNews

Tag: robocall

  • Verizon and T-Mobile Complete STIR/SHAKEN Rollout

    Verizon and T-Mobile Complete STIR/SHAKEN Rollout

    T-Mobile and Verizon announced they have both rolled out the STIR/SHAKEN protocols in an effort to fight robocalls and spam.

    The STIR/SHAKEN protocols are designed to provide a way for carriers to verify the origin and authenticity of a call, and then pass that verification on to the carrier on the receiving end of the call, who then verifies it again. If the call is verified by all carriers involved, the recipient phone will display a “Caller Verified” badge.

    The first and second largest carriers announced they have both completed their STIR/SHAKEN implementation, offering an additional layer of protection to their customers.

    “This latest STIR/SHAKEN milestone is a key part of our overall efforts to combat these unwanted calls,” said Ronan Dunne, EVP and CEO of Verizon Consumer Group. “There is always more to be done, but this is yet another important step for the industry and customers should rest assured that we remain vigilant in our efforts to take down the bad guys and protect them.”

    “T-Mobile was first to implement number verification in 2019 because protecting customers against scammers and spammers is one of the most important things we can do as an industry,” said Mike Sievert, CEO T-Mobile. “To date, T-Mobile has protected over 80 million customers from more than 33 billion suspect calls – and counting. With the combination of Number Verification, free Caller ID and the scam blocking tools in Scam Shield, and by working with network providers of all sizes, we are providing the industry’s most comprehensive scam and spam protection for free to all our customers and working every day to make scammers jobs impossible.”

    The implementation of the protocol is good news for consumers.

  • FCC Sets Deadline For Carriers to Fight Robocallers

    FCC Sets Deadline For Carriers to Fight Robocallers

    The FCC has set a deadline for phone carriers to support the STIR/SHAKEN protocol, in an effort to fight robocalls.

    The STIR/SHAKEN protocol helps combat number spoofing, a favorite tactic of robocallers, whereby they make their number appear as though it is in the same exchange or area code as the recipient. When a call is placed, the carrier uses the protocol to confirm the authenticity of the call. If the call is placed to a number on another network, the carrier passes that verification on to the next carrier, who performs their own verification. Ultimately, when the receiving phone receives the call, if the number is verified, it will display that in the caller ID.

    The FCC had previously asked carriers to implement the protocol, but Chairman Ajit Pai was not happy with the level of adoption. As a result, the FCC has adopted new rules requiring carriers to implement the protocol no later than June 30, 2021.

    “The FCC estimates that the benefits of eliminating the wasted time and nuisance caused by illegal scam robocalls will exceed $3 billion annually, and STIR/SHAKEN is an important part of realizing those cost savings,” reads the press release. “Additionally, when paired with call analytics, STIR/SHAKEN will help protect American consumers from fraudulent robocall schemes that cost Americans approximately $10 billion annually. Improved caller ID authentication will also benefit public safety by reducing spoofed robocalls that disrupt healthcare and emergency communications systems. Further, implementation of STIR/SHAKEN will restore consumer trust in caller ID information and encourage consumers to answer the phone, to the benefit of consumers, businesses, healthcare providers, and non-profit organizations.”

    This is good news for everyone sick of being on the receiving end of robocalls and scam attempts.

  • FCC Chairman to Robocallers: This Is Not Going To Stand!

    FCC Chairman to Robocallers: This Is Not Going To Stand!

    FCC Chairman Ajit Pai blasted robocallers today in an interview on Fox Business. He said that the FCC has taken aggressive regulatory action and has told the Justice Department that robocalling in one of the FCC’s top consumer protection priorities: “We need you to make this an issue to send a signal to all of the robocallers out there, even the ones who are beyond our shores, that this is not going to stand for America consumers.”

    Ajit Pai, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, discusses how the FCC is aggressively fighting the annoying and time wasting robocall industry in an interview on Fox Business:

    FCC To Robocallers: This is Not Going To Stand

    There are two different parts of our plan (to combat robocalls). First, is taking aggressive regulatory action. We have told the industry that we expect them to adopt what is called call authentication. That is essentially a digital fingerprint for every phone call this year. If they don’t, the FCC will take action to make sure that they do.

    Secondly, in terms of enforcement, we have imposed fines (totalling $205 million since 2015) and we have referred those cases to the Department of Justice which is in charge of collecting those fines. We have emphasized to the Department of Justice that this is one of our top consumer protection priorities. We need you to make this an issue to send a signal to all of the robocallers out there, even the ones who are beyond our shores, that this is not going to stand for America consumers.

    FCC Chairman to Robocallers: This Is Not Going To Stand!


  • Nomorobo to the Robocall Rescue!

    Nomorobo to the Robocall Rescue!

    The latest tool in the battle against solicitor calls is Nomorobo, which went live as of yesterday. The goal of ‘no more robo’ is ultimately preventing robocalls, those calls that the FTC Do-Not-Call lists were supposed to take care of (according to Gizmag, the FTC receives about 200,000 robocall complaints a month).

    The service is free, but not many phone service carriers are compatible with it yet. If you have VoiP service with AT&T U-verse, Cablevision Optimum, SureWest, Verizon FiOS and Vonage you can sign up with Nomorobo. If not, the sign up form on the website says to ask your carrier service to add simultaneous calling, a requirement for Nomorobo to operate.

    The system works much like the CAPTCHA system—those strangely formatted letters and numbers you are sometimes asked to retype when filling out an online form—to ensure that the user (or caller) is not a robot. You input your phone service with Nomorobo which triggers a simultaneous calling option. When set up with the service, calls to your phone ring first at Nomorobo. The caller is compared against a “blacklist” and if on the list, the call is blocked. Then, if the calling phone is highly active or exhibiting other robocall behavior, the caller is asked to type a number on their phone before being routed to you—again, think CAPTCHA, humans will type the required digits, robots won’t.

    Beta testing over the past few months has reportedly blocked 80 percent of robocalls. The service also makes promises that legal robocalls such as school closings, medical calls and weather warnings will not be blocked.

    The FTC is in favor of the invention. Jessica Rich, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection says, “We’re aware and extremely pleased that potential technological solutions to help consumers block unwanted, illegal robocalls are making their way to the marketplace.”

    The FTC is so in favor, they sponsored a contest to solve the robocall problem, in which Nomorobo tied for first. Nomorobo is the brain child of Long Island software programmer Aaron Foss (also inventor of a dipping bowl for buffalo wings as well as a cancer treatment tool for children).
    Aaron Foss
    “People are screaming out for a solution,” says Foss (pictured here). “I hope to make their lives a little bit better.”

    Foss admits that his first-generation invention may require adaptation as robocallers figure out the loopholes in his better mousetrap. And he’s not afraid of competition, “The more products that are out there to stop these calls and protect people from these scams, the better it is for everyone.”

    [Image via Aaron Foss Twitter and Wikimedia Commons.]

  • Reverse Robocall Site Allows You To Get Revenge Against Politicians

    There’s really no time of the year quite like election season. It’s when we really get to see the best in everyone, specifically our politicians. We all know of the television commercials, where political opponents paint the other as someone who’s out to take your money and/or job. One strategy which is a staple of campaigning is the robocall.

    Robocalls are when a pre-recorded message is created and sent out to a large assortment of phones, using an autodialer. This tactic is generally associated with politicians who are looking to reach the greatest number of people. Because nothing sells your message like a robotic sounding telephone recording.

    If you’ve ever received one of these messages, you know it can be irritating. It’s hard to get revenge, like Seinfeld was able to pull off with an actual person trying to sell him something.

    However, there’s now a way to send your own robocall back to these politicians. It’s called the ‘Reverse Robocall‘. If you don’t mind spending a bit of money, and taking a few seconds to record a message then you can give them a taste of their own medicine.

    The premise is quite simple. When you visit the website you’re given a large assortment of politicians, each of which you can send your own pre-recorded message to. Want to give the candidates in the upcoming presidential election a piece of your mind, but don’t want to actually talk to them, you can easily do it. For more detailed instructions, here’s an official video from ReverseRobocall.com.

    The site was created by privacy activists Shaun Dakin and Aaron Titus. The idea came about due to Titus receiving a robocall at 4:30 am from his child’s school district. They’re also trying to build awareness for a piece of legislation titled ‘Mobile Informational Call Act of 2011 (HR 3035)‘, which will “amend the Communications Act of 1934 to permit informational calls to mobile telephone numbers, and for other purposes.“.

    Funny enough, you can send your own reverse robocall to everyone who is supporting the act.