Caller ID is useful in helping phone users avoid robocalls and scammers. However, scammers have found ways to trick caller IDs and transmit false information about their phone numbers to hide their identities. Counterfeiting a phone number this way is termed spoofing. Typically, scammers use spoofing to impersonate businesses, government agencies, banks, and individuals known to their targets. They do this in order to obtain personal information.
However, not all caller ID spoofing is malicious or illegal in the US. Callers may sometimes have legitimate reasons to hide their phone numbers. Caller IDs may be spoofed in some situations where law enforcement agencies are working cases or where a doctor places work calls from home. Note that number blocking is not the same as spoofing. No caller IDs are sent to receivers when callers block their numbers. Calls received from blocked numbers will show up as "unknown number" or "unknown." Under federal regulations, phone service providers are required to provide free number blocking service for calls between states.
Many of the frauds perpetrated by scammers through phone spoofing in Illinois fall under one of the following categories:
Impersonation
Scammers use number spoofing technology to make the official phone numbers of private organizations and government agencies appear on victims' phones. A common example is where a scammer pretends to be an officer of the IRS or Social Security Administration. Such fraudsters may threaten to revoke the licenses of targeted Illinois residents or deport or arrest them unless they pay certain fees right away.
Fraudulent Telemarketing
Some spammers use caller ID spoofing to trick residents into believing they are agents of reputable businesses, charities, and other organizations. They employ robocalls to deliver pre-recorded messages and invite call recipients to connect to live agents. The scammer is usually the live agent who tries to sell fraudulent products or sham schemes.
Harassment and Intimidation
Stalkers and fraudsters use spoofing technology to show a trusted contact number or name to trick victims into viewing or accepting abusive communication. Such calls range from verbal insults to death threats. Illinois residents may contact the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to file complaints on harassment or intimidation carried out by scammers.
How Do You Know If Your Number Is Being Spoofed?
If you suddenly start phone calls or text replies to conversations you did not initiate, chances are that your number has been spoofed. The most likely reason why your contact number will get flooded with unsolicited messages is that your caller identity has been used for fraudulent acts. If that happens, you can file complaints online on the FCC website.
Why is Phone Spoofing Illegal?
Caller ID spoofing may be necessary in certain cases, as earlier stated. However, when done with a malicious intent such as harassment and stealing sensitive information, it is considered illegal.The Truth in Caller ID Act prohibits anyone from transmitting inaccurate or misleading caller ID information with an intention to wrongly obtain any valuable item or information, cause harm, or defraud another person.
Illinois residents sometimes receive phone calls from numbers that look very much like their own. It is also possible that a phone call originating from another country is made to look like one coming from a local area. Scammers intent on defrauding Illinoisans of valuables are able to achieve this using spoofing technology. Fraudsters may also spoof caller IDs by changing their numbers to display as those of reputable businesses and service providers that Illinois residents trust, in the hope that they will answer calls from trusted sources.
How Can You Identify and Protect Yourself from Illegal Spoofed Calls?
It is not always possible to stop calls coming in from spoofed numbers. However, several steps may be taken to limit the number of incoming spoofed calls and the odds of falling victim to scammers. Some steps that may be taken include:
- Hang up any call seemingly from a trusted business where the caller is trying to obtain sensitive information that the business should already possess. Refrain from giving out sensitive information over the phone.
- Hang up any call where the caller claims to represent a law enforcement agent but threatens arrest if a certain fee is not paid.
- Download and install a call blocking application to filter identified spoofed numbers. Some phone service providers offer free call-blocking features. You may use such to block spoofed numbers.
- Register your contact number on the Do Not Call List of the Federal Trade Commission to stop receiving robocalls from legitimate but annoying sources.
- Report perceived callers employing caller ID spoofing online to the FCC or FTC. You may also reach the FCC on 1 (888) 225-5322 and the FTC on 1 (888) 382-1222.
Does Illinois Have Anti-Spoofing Laws?
Illinois SB1284 posits that an individual offends when they, in connection with a telecommunications service or VOIP service provider, deliberately causes any caller ID service to transmit misleading or inaccurate caller ID information with the intent to deceive, defraud, mislead, harass, cause emotional distress, or deceitfully obtain a valuable. The law classified a first offense as a Class B misdemeanor and a second subsequent offense as a Class A misdemeanor.
In addition to the SB1284, the federal anti-spoofing law, the Truth in Caller ID Act of 2009, also makes it unlawful for any person within the United States to transmit inaccurate or misleading caller identification with an intent to cause harm or defraud a call recipient. The Act specifies a fine of up to $10,000 per violation or $30,000 for each day of a continuing violation up to $1,000,000 for any single act or failure to act. Certain exceptions are made for agencies such as law enforcement agencies that are allowed not to transmit any ID while working some cases.
In order to combat illegal caller IDs, the Federal Communication Commission is also trialing a caller ID authentication system termed STIR/SHAKEN that would require telecommunication service providers to establish a protocol that precisely identifies subscribers with their phone numbers. STIR/SHAKEN is a framework of interconnected standards that employs Secure Telephone Identity Revisited (STIR) and Signature-based Handling of Asserted Information Using toKENs (SHAKEN). This framework validates the handoff of phone calls such that the telecommunication service provider of the call recipient may verify that a call is truly from the number displayed on caller ID. The FCC mandates that all voice providers implement STIR/SHAKEN before June 30, 2021. Upon implementation, it would provide helpful information to phone users about which calls to answer.
What are Common Phone Scams involving Caller ID Spoofing in Illinois?
Phone scammers often deliberately falsify the information transmitted to caller IDs to disguise as trusted persons or businesses in order to steal sensitive information or money from unwitting Illinois residents. Residents who have fallen victim to such nefarious acts may file complaints online with the FTC or call the FCC on 1-888-CALL FCC (225-5322).
Common phone spoofing scams perpetrated in Illinois include:
- IRS impersonation scams
- Sweepstakes/Lottery scams
- Government grant scams
- Grandparent scams
- Utility bill scams
- Banking scams
- Medicare insurance scams
- Charity scams