Media Contact:
Will Wiquist, (202) 418-0509
will.wiquist@fcc.govFor Immediate Release
FCC, FTC DEMAND GATEWAY PROVIDERS CUT OFF ROBOCALLERS PERPETRATING CORONAVIRUS-RELATED SCAMS FROM
UNITED STATES TELEPHONE NETWORK Agencies Make Clear That Other Phone Companies Can—and Should—Block Traffic from Gateway Providers
That Do Not Comply WASHINGTON, April 3, 2020—The Federal Communications Commission and the Federal
Trade Commission today demanded that service providers do their part to stop coronavirus
related scam robocalls from bombarding American consumers. They specifically warned three
gateway providers facilitating COVID-19-related scam robocalls originating overseas that they
must cut off these calls or face serious consequences. Unless these gateway providers stop
bringing these calls into the United States in the next 48 hours, other phone companies will be
able to begin blocking all traffic from these gateway providers’ networks. The FCC and FTC
have been working closely with the U.S. Department of Justice on this first-of-its-kind effort to
stop scammers from reaching American consumers.
“When it comes to scam robocalls, if you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the
problem. These phone companies need to cut off this traffic and protect consumers from these
scams. The choice is simple: Move forward as responsible network providers or see
themselves cut off from the phone system,” warned FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. “During this
national emergency, it is unconscionable that these companies are abusing their access to our
nation’s telephone network by serving as conduits for scam robocallers who are subjecting
Americans to coronavirus-related fraud. This must end and must end now. And to any other
service provider that’s carrying or is thinking of carrying such traffic, be warned: If you do so,
you too will find yourselves excluded from our phone system.”
“The FTC will not stand for illegal robocallers that harm the public, particularly in the middle
of a health crisis,” said FTC Chairman Joe Simons. “These warning letters make clear that
VoIP providers who help illegal robocallers prey on fears surrounding the Coronavirus are
squarely in our sights.”
The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau and FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection wrote to three
gateway providers that are facilitating these scam COVID-19-related robocalls: SIPJoin of
Suffolk, Virginia; Connexum of Orange, California; and VoIP Terminator/BLMarketing of
Lake Mary, Florida. The companies have been identified by the Traceback Group, a
consortium of phone companies that help officials track down suspect calls, managed by the
trade association USTelecom. The Commissions also wrote to USTelecom to ask its members
to begin blocking calls from these providers if the flood of robocalls is not cut off within 48
hours.
These letters specifically cite two of the many COVID-19 related scam robocall campaigns.
One campaign offers a non-existent “free test kit” for COVID-19. These calls originate in the
Philippines. A second campaign offers HVAC cleaning services that robocallers falsely claim
will help fight COVID-19. These calls originate in Pakistan. As the FCC and the Industry
Traceback Group uncover other facilitators of scam robocall campaigns, the agency will also
similarly tell those companies to stop the traffic or face serious consequences.
Consumers receiving scam robocalls should consider filing a complaint with the FCC at
www.fcc.gov/complaints. Consumers should also review the FCC’s tips for protecting
yourself against malicious robocalls:
www.fcc.gov/robocalls.
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Media Relations:
(202) 418-0500
ASL: (844) 432-2275
TTY: (888) 835-5322
Twitter: @FCC
www.fcc.govThis is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.
Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action.
See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974)
