The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has fined Texas-based telemarketers John Spiller and Jakob Mears a record $225 million for making almost one billion improper robocalls.
In a press statement, the regulator said most of the calls were illegally spoofed to sell short-term, limited-duration health insurance plans from firms like Blue Cross Blue Shield and Cigna.
The spoofed calls mean there was a misrepresentation of caller ID information, something against the law.
Picks for you
The commission adds that cases of robocalls on health insurance began rising in 2018. Approximately 23.6 million calls went out daily across networks of the four largest wireless carriers.
According to the FCC, Rising Eagle carrier accounted for the largest portion of health insurance-related robocall traffic.
Elsewhere, Spiller admitted to making millions of calls per day during the 2019 calling spree. The marketer even went to an extent of intentionally calling people on the Do Not Call list during the 2019 calling spree.
In addition to the highest fine in history, the FCC also announced it had formed a “Robocall Response Team” to coordinate anti-robocall efforts.
Warning to robocalls enablers
Furthermore, FCC issued cease and desist letters to companies in violation of FCC guidelines while making robocalls.
“Also, today’s cease and desist letters should serve as a warning sign to other entities that believe the FCC has turned a blind eye to this issue. We certainly haven’t, and we’re coming for you,” said FCC Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.
Controlling the robocall menace has been a challenge for the regulator due to legacy technology in the telephone system. The system enables scammers to fake local phone numbers and only require a handful of victims to make money.
