By Fox23.com News Staff
OKLAHOMA — Attorney General Gentner Drummond is asking the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to strengthen “Know Your Customer” rules to stop scam robocalls before they reach the phones of Oklahomans.
“Know Your Customer” rules require phone companies to verify who is using their networks to make calls and what kind of business those customers are actually conducting. With that information, providers can cut off callers who use their networks for illegal robocalls or refuse to do business with them in the first place.
“Oklahomans are tired of picking up the phone to yet another scammer trying to steal their money or their identity,” said Drummond. “Phone companies are the gatekeepers of this network, and they have a responsibility to know who they’re letting through the door. Strengthening these rules means fewer of these calls ever reach our families and seniors in the first place.”
Even though phone providers are already required to know who their customers are, the current requirements aren’t strong enough. Drummond’s Office said Americans received more than 29.6 million scam robocalls and texts and lost nearly $2 billon to these scams last year.
Drummond and a coalition of 49 other attorneys general sent their recommendations to the FCC last week, which include:
- Require providers to under their customers’ business. Beyond verifying identity, providers should examine a customer’s business practices, reputation, history, intended use of services and compliance with state and federal law.
- Hold all providers to “Know Your Customer” standards, regardless of size. Scammers exploit providers of every size to access the network, and smaller providers are often the most common entry point.
- Require additional scrutiny of high risk customers. While “Know Your Customer” standards should apply universally, the attorneys general support ongoing monitoring of customers more likely to make illegal robocalls, such as those using high-volume calling services.
The letter follows reply comments sent by Drummond and a coalition to the FCC earlier in July, urging the agency to cut off scammers’ access to legitimate phone numbers.
Both letters are part of Phase 2 of Operation Robocall Roundup, an effort by the Anti-Robocall Multistate Litigation Task Force to crack down on robocalls nationwide.
