Media Contact:
Will Wiquist, (202) 418-0509
will.wiquist@fcc.govFor Immediate Release
FCC, FTC DEMAND ROBOCALL-ENABLING SERVICE PROVIDERS
CUT OFF COVID-19-RELATED INTERNATIONAL SCAMMERS
Agencies Target Companies Routing Scam Robocalls to Consumers about Fake
COVID-19-Related Refunds, Loan Reductions, and Social Security Threats WASHINGTON, May 20, 2020—The Federal Communications Commission and Federal
Trade Commission today demanded that gateway providers allowing COVID-19 pandemicrelated
scam robocalls into the United States cut off this traffic or face serious consequences.
This is the second such action taken during the pandemic, following a successful push in April
with similar letters from the agencies that led to the termination of other robocallers’ access to
American phone networks.
“We expect nothing less from these providers than shutting down this scam robocall traffic,”
said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. “These companies can access our nation’s phone networks to
provide legitimate services to consumers and businesses, not to facilitate floods of scam
robocalls. They need to stop this traffic and not let it back on their networks—or face losing
their access to the American phone system.”
“We never tolerate illegal robocallers, but it’s especially abhorrent when scammers exploit
pandemic-related anxiety,” said FTC Chairman Joe Simons. “These VoIP providers must stop
allowing illegal scam calls to reach consumers.”
The letters sent today give the companies 48 hours to cut off these scam robocalls. If they do
not, the FCC expects that domestic providers will begin blocking all calls from them. The FCC
and FTC will also consider other enforcement steps should the companies not comply.
The scam robocall campaigns routed to American consumers through these companies include:
Fake COVID-19 Refunds.—The scam robocall says: “We cannot provide services due
to COVID-19 but you have been charged $399. Press 1 to claim a refund.” RSCom
of Knoxville, Tennessee and Aurora, Ontario, is a gateway provider and is currently
allowing these fake COVID-19 related refund scam calls into the country from the
United Kingdom.
Social Security Administration COVID Scam.—The scam robocall says: “This is a call
from [the] Social Security Administration; during this difficult time of coronavirus, we
have to suspend your SS account.” PTGi Carrier Services of Washington, DC is
apparently responsible for this and another coronavirus robocall campaign, reportedly
originating in Germany.
Loan Interest Rate Reduction Scams.—The scam robocall campaigns state: “Due to
the Coronavirus pandemic, you may be entitled to no payments on your mortgage,
credit card debt or medical bills”; “Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, you may be
entitled to no payments on your student loans”; and “Due to the lockdown, we are
helping people to pay with 0% interest rates.” Intelepeer of San Mateo, California is
facilitating this robocall traffic from overseas.
The FCC and its federal partners have identified these providers as the entryways for these
robocall campaigns into American phone networks. The agencies work closely with the
Industry Traceback Group, a consortium of phone companies that help officials track down
suspect calls, managed by the trade association USTelecom. The Commission is also in the
process of codifying this process, per the recently enacted TRACED Act. In addition to
today’s letters to gateway providers, the FCC and FTC 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.
Following the April letters from the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau and the FTC’s Bureau of
Consumer Protection, three gateway providers stopped their facilitation of COVID-19-related
scam robocalls within 24 hours. The FCC and its traceback partners continue to monitor all
those providers should they again allow such traffic.
The FCC has been warning consumers throughout the COVID-19 pandemic of related robocall scams.
These warnings are available at: https://www.fcc.gov/covid-scams.###
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 officialaction.
See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974)
