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| Engel, Wilson Crack Down on Prank Callers |
April 05, 2006 |
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Reps. Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Make Caller ID Spoofing a Crime
Washington, D.C. - Reps. Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Heather Wilson (R-NM), both members of the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, are taking action to prevent con artists from using fake Caller ID services to call into your homes.
New online technology enables callers to “spoof” the name and phone number that will appear on Caller ID. In so doing, a criminal can pretend to be a person`s bank and try to convince a person to give out credit card numbers, personal bank information or simply cover their trails as a telemarketer.
The problems are not limited solely to criminal conduct. Complaints flooded into some Congressional offices after constituents received nasty phone calls, which Caller ID identified as coming from Capitol Hill. Wilson is joining with Engel to introduce legislation to make Caller ID spoofing illegal. A bill to prohibit deceptive altering or disguising of caller identification on outbound telephone calls was introduced today in Congress.
“There are unscrupulous people who can go to a website, pay a fee and then create a new fraudulent identity,” Rep. Engel said. “These websites even provide optional voice scrambling and other disguising features. Essentially, the technology is out there for perfect scams using Caller ID. Unless this legislation passes, it would still be considered legal.”
"This is a deceptive practice that, in particular, is difficult for many seniors. It should be banned," Rep. Wilson said. "Phones are personal property for the owner`s use and convenience. They should not be deceived into answering unwanted calls."
Engel continued, “This bill is designed to prohibit deceptive caller identification. I have heard from my constituents that identity theft is a growing concern and, sadly, from many people who have been victims themselves. Spoofing technologies enable criminals to prey on unsuspecting people who may unknowingly give out private information. This legislation is immediately needed, and I look forward to working with my colleague Heather Wilson to move this legislation quickly to the floor for a vote. I remind people once again never to give out their personal information over the phone.”
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