Arizona AG asks feds to crack down on spoof, automated calls

PHOENIX — Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich asked the Federal Communications Commission on Monday to pass new rules that would block the number of spoof and robocalls received by consumers.

“What we want is the government to allow private provides to block certain numbers to decrease the amount of robo- or spoof calls a consumer gets,” he said.

Brnovich made his request in a letter that was signed by attorney generals from 29 other states.

In a release, Brnovich said the calls are often used by scammers to hide their identity and convince people to pick up the phone.

“Not every problem requires a government solution, but this is clearly an area where the federal government can act to help protect consumers from scam calls,” he said.

Current FCC standards prevent many companies from blocking numbers. Under the new rules, providers could block calls from invalid numbers, unallocated numbers and numbers whose owners requested it be blocked.

“We need to use every tool available to protect consumers from scam calls,” he said in the release. “The FCC should act to remove regulatory roadblocks preventing companies from blocking illegal calls.”

Brnovich’s office fielded 117 complaints about the calls in 2014. By last year, that number had increased 1,000 percent.

KTAR’s Griselda Nevarez contributed to this report.

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