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BOSTON (WBZNewsRadio) - Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey has joined a nationwide Anti-Robocall Litigation Task Force to investigate and take legal action against telecommunications companies responsible. The Task Force is made up of 50 attorneys general who agreed, these providers are not doing enough to stop illegal robocalls. The Task Force will also focus on bad actors throughout the telecommunications industry to help reduce the number of calls residents receive.
According to the National Consumer Law Center and Electronic Privacy Information Center, Americans receive more than 33 million scam robocalls every single day. What's more, an estimated $29.8 billion dollars was stolen through scam calls in 2021 alone.
According to AG Healey's office, the Task Force has issued 20 civil investigate demands to 20 gateway providers.
“Not only are robocalls incredibly invasive and unwanted, but they put vulnerable consumers at risk of falling prey to scams that steal their personal information and money.” said AG Healey. “I’m joining my colleagues in combating this nationwide problem and protecting consumers in our state.”
This isn't the first time AG Healey has taken on robocalls. In 2018, AG Healey joined a multistate effort, alongside 34 attorneys general to call on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and telephone service providers to implement new technologies and policies that would block illegal robocalls.
In March of 2021, AG Healey's Office, along with 38 other states and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) stopped a telefunding operation that affected 67 million consumers.
AG Healey's Office said there are a number of things consumers can do to avoid scams and unwanted calls. You should be wary of callers who specifically ask you to pay by gift car, wire transfer or cyrptocurrency. Be on the look out for prerecorded calls from those posing as government agencies. Organizations like the Social Security Administration will not make phone calls to individuals. And if you do feel like you're on the receiving ends of the scam or robocall, just hang up, do not give out any information. You can report these calls to DoNotCall.gov.
WBZ's Brooke McCarthy (@BrookeWBZ) reports
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