Robocalls are automated phone calls often used for scams or telemarketing. Most sales-related robocalls are illegal unless you’ve given written permission. Violators face serious fines:
- Up to $50,120 per illegal call.
- $500–$1,500 per call for consumer lawsuits.
- $10,000 per call for intentional violations.
The FCC, FTC, and DOJ enforce these laws, targeting scam calls, spoofed numbers, and companies ignoring the Do Not Call Registry. Recent cases include fines of millions of dollars against offenders. You can protect yourself by reporting illegal robocalls, using call-blocking apps, and avoiding sharing personal information over the phone.
Robocall Company Faces $300M Fine From FCC
Robocall Laws and Who Enforces Them
Federal laws and agencies work together to shield Americans from the nuisance of robocalls. Understanding these laws and the agencies that enforce them helps clarify how penalties are applied, ultimately bolstering consumer protections.
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA)
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) is the backbone of robocall regulations in the U.S. It requires companies to obtain written consent before making robocalls and restricts them to specific hours – between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.. When a company does call, they must provide their name, the business they represent, and a way for you to contact them.
One of the TCPA’s key features is your right to revoke consent at any time and in any reasonable way. The law also prohibits calls to numbers listed on the National Do Not Call Registry.
Recent amendments to the TCPA now extend protections to AI-generated calls, making it illegal to use voice cloning without prior consent.
How the FCC and DOJ Enforce Penalties
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and state Attorneys General all play a role in cracking down on illegal robocalls.
The FTC has been particularly active, filing 167 cases against illegal robocallers and securing court orders for over $2 billion in penalties. Of that, $394 million has been recovered and used to reimburse defrauded consumers. The FCC, for its part, has issued enforcement actions totaling hundreds of millions of dollars against offenders. In 2022 alone, the FCC received approximately 119,000 complaints about illegal robocalls.
One notable case involved Globex Telecom, Inc., a VoIP provider accused of enabling a debt-reduction scam. In December 2019, the FTC and Ohio Attorney General reached a settlement requiring Globex to pay $1.95 million and adopt stricter client screening practices.
The DOJ primarily targets "gateway" providers that facilitate fraudulent calls. For example, in January 2020, the DOJ filed civil complaints against TollFreeDeals and Global Voicecom, alleging they transmitted scam robocalls from foreign call centers impersonating agencies like the IRS and Social Security Administration. Courts quickly issued orders to stop these companies from continuing their illegal activities.
Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, emphasized the collective effort to combat robocalls:
"Today, government agencies at all levels are united in fighting the scourge of illegal telemarketing. We are taking action against those who trick people into phony consent to receive these calls and those who make it easy and cheap to place these calls."
What Counts as a Robocall
Now that we’ve covered enforcement, it’s important to understand what qualifies as a robocall. According to the FCC, robocalls are autodialed calls that deliver pre-recorded messages. These messages can be generated by anything from traditional dialing systems to modern smartphone apps. Pre-recorded messages are audio tracks that aren’t delivered live.
The numbers are staggering – around 4.5 billion robocalls hit U.S. phones each month. Roughly one-third of these are telemarketing calls, while the rest include debt collection, political messages, and scams.
The TCPA explicitly bans telemarketing calls to residential lines that use artificial or pre-recorded voices unless the recipient has provided prior express written consent. Legitimate businesses can still make informational calls, like appointment reminders or delivery updates, but they cannot use robocalls to sell products or services without written permission.
The law also extends to text messages sent by automated systems, applying the same consent rules. This ensures consumers have control over both voice and text communications from businesses.
What Penalties Apply to Robocall Violations
When telemarketers violate robocall laws, they face serious financial and legal repercussions. These measures aim to discourage illegal practices and protect consumers from unwanted disruptions.
Fines and Monetary Damages
Telemarketers caught breaking robocall laws can face fines of up to $50,120 per illegal call. For large-scale campaigns, this can quickly escalate to millions of dollars in penalties. For example, in February 2025, the FCC proposed a hefty $4,492,500 fine against Telnyx LLC for facilitating government imposter robocalls on its network.
Under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), consumers can also seek damages. They may claim $500 to $1,500 per illegal call they receive, depending on whether the violation was intentional. For deliberate breaches, the FCC can impose additional civil penalties of up to $10,000 per call.
The TCPA also allows for class action lawsuits, enabling consumers to collectively demand compensation. In such cases, each call or text could result in penalties ranging from $500 to $1,500. Importantly, if a company continues to contact a consumer after receiving a "stop calling" request, every subsequent call is treated as a separate violation, further increasing the penalties.
Beyond financial consequences, regulators can issue direct orders to stop illegal calling practices.
Orders to Stop Calling
Regulatory agencies have the authority to demand an immediate halt to illegal robocalls. The FCC can issue warnings and impose fines on companies that violate do-not-call rules. If consumers file complaints, the FCC can swiftly enforce actions against violators of TCPA regulations or the Truth in Caller ID Act. Recent changes have also extended the statute of limitations for intentional TCPA violations from one year to three years, giving authorities more time to address these cases.
These stop orders often go hand-in-hand with additional legal tools, such as blacklisting and lawsuits, to address repeat offenders.
Blacklisting and Lawsuits
Robocall violators may face operational consequences that can cripple their businesses. The FCC maintains a Robocall Mitigation Database, which blacklists persistent offenders. Providers are then required to block all traffic from these violators, and in some cases, reclassify them as C-CIST (Critical Call Signaling Trust).
The FCC has also empowered gateway providers to shut down access points for international illegal robocalls. Legal consequences extend beyond government actions, as consumers can file individual lawsuits or join class actions against violators. Specifically, the TCPA allows consumers to sue telemarketers who ignore the National Do Not Call Registry, with penalties of $500 per call for every additional violation.
To further combat robocalls, phone companies now use advanced call analytics to block illegal calls proactively.
Recent Penalty Cases and Enforcement Actions
Major FCC Fines
The FCC has been cracking down on illegal robocalls with hefty fines and decisive actions, showing its dedication to protecting consumers from these invasive practices.
In May 2024, the FCC proposed a $6 million fine against Steve Kramer for allegedly using an AI-generated deepfake voice in spoofed robocalls to spread election misinformation during the New Hampshire presidential primary.
Also in May, Lingo Telecom faced a $2 million fine for transmitting spoofed deepfake robocalls with incorrect authentication details. This marked the first time the FCC penalized a voice service provider for failing to comply with its "Know Your Customer" requirements. Notably, Lingo had already been fined $1 million and issued a cease-and-desist order after a Biden AI robocall incident during the January 2024 New Hampshire Democratic presidential primary.
"Companies using America’s phone networks must be responsible for protecting consumers from scammers. We are tightening our rules to ensure voice service providers know their responsibilities and help stop junk robocalls."
– FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel
The FCC’s enforcement efforts didn’t stop there. In February 2024, the agency’s Enforcement Bureau accused a Michigan-based telecom company of originating illegal robocalls tied to the New Hampshire Presidential Primary election, featuring a deepfake voice of President Joe Biden. By May 2024, Alliant Financial also found itself under scrutiny, as the FCC issued a public notice to voice service providers about illegal traffic linked to debt consolidation loan robocalls from the company.
Other major penalties include fines of $225 million, $120 million, $82 million, $37.5 million, and a proposed $116 million for various robocalling schemes.
These enforcement actions underline the FCC’s commitment to tackling robocall schemes and set a precedent for further legislative measures.
New Laws That Increase Penalties
On top of its enforcement actions, the FCC’s authority to combat robocalls has been bolstered by new legislative measures. The TRACED Act, for instance, allows the agency to impose civil penalties of up to $10,000 per call for intentional violations.
The FCC has also introduced new classifications and rules to strengthen its fight against robocalls. Persistent facilitators of robocall campaigns are now labeled as a Consumer Communications Information Services Threat (C-CIST), enabling stricter enforcement actions. Additionally, the FCC has ruled that AI-generated voices used in robocall scams fall under the definition of "artificial" voices in the TCPA, making such practices illegal. New provisions also make it easier for consumers to revoke consent for calls and texts regulated by the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.
"There are far too many phone companies that count illegal robocallers among their clients, and that’s bad business. It is illegal to allow these junk calls to flood consumers’ phones, and there are consequences for phone companies that do not take immediate action to stop participating in these schemes."
– FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel
Efforts to close the "lead generator loophole" now require more specific authorization for each type of contact. These legislative and regulatory updates reflect the growing urgency to address the robocall epidemic, as U.S. consumers continue to receive an estimated 4 billion robocalls every month. In 2024 alone, the FCC has already fielded over 24,000 consumer complaints about unwanted text messages.
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How to Report Robocalls and Get Help
Now that we’ve discussed penalties and enforcement actions, let’s dive into how you can report illegal robocalls and find assistance. Taking these steps not only protects you but also contributes to ongoing enforcement efforts.
Filing Complaints with Government Agencies
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is your go-to agency for reporting illegal robocalls. You can file complaints online at fcc.gov/complaints under the "unwanted calls" section. To file a complaint, you’ll need to provide your email address, a detailed description of the issue, and any supporting evidence, such as screenshots.
Make sure to document key details, including the phone number, date, time, and any caller ID information. If you suspect your number is being spoofed, mention that in your report. For unwanted text messages, select the appropriate complaint category.
Your reports play a crucial role in shaping FCC policies and guiding enforcement actions. In addition to the FCC, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) accepts complaints about telemarketers who ignore the Do Not Call list or engage in fraudulent activities. If the robocall involves an IRS-related scam, you can report it directly to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) at tigta.gov or by calling 1-800-366-4484.
If you’re looking for more tailored assistance beyond government resources, there are other options available.
Getting Help from ReportTelemarketer.com
In addition to filing official complaints, you can turn to specialized services for personalized support. ReportTelemarketer.com is one such service that helps stop specific robocalls and telemarketing violations. Using proprietary tools, they investigate the phone numbers you report to determine whether the calls are being made without proper consent.
If they confirm a violation, ReportTelemarketer.com can take action on your behalf by filing a cease-and-desist letter or a formal complaint. Their service operates on a contingency basis, meaning it’s entirely free for consumers – any legal fees are later recovered from the telemarketer.
Beyond halting unwanted calls, the service can also assist in recovering money from telemarketers who have violated your rights. Their legal team leverages consumer protection laws to support your case, while the platform provides educational tools to help you understand your rights under telemarketing laws. Additionally, they maintain a public database of reported telemarketers, all while ensuring your personal information remains secure.
Combining government resources with a specialized service like ReportTelemarketer.com gives you a stronger chance to stop illegal robocalls and hold offenders accountable.
Protecting Yourself from Illegal Robocalls
Now that you know the penalties for illegal robocalls, it’s time to focus on protecting yourself. The best approach combines smart habits with effective tools to block unwanted calls.
Adopt safe calling practices and stay vigilant. Avoid answering calls from numbers you don’t recognize. Scammers often use caller ID spoofing to make it look like they’re calling from a local number, so don’t assume a familiar area code means the call is legitimate. Never press buttons on automated calls claiming to stop future calls – this can confirm your number is active and lead to more scams. If a caller pressures you to act immediately or discourages you from consulting others, hang up and talk to someone you trust before doing anything.
Limit personal information shared over the phone. Avoid answering questions with simple "yes" or "no" responses, as scammers may record your voice for fraudulent purposes. Never share sensitive details or agree to payments via gift cards – legitimate companies won’t ask for these methods. If someone claims to represent a company you know, hang up and call the company directly using a number you’ve verified yourself.
Take initial steps to protect your number. Start by registering your phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry at donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222. While this won’t block every illegal robocall, it strengthens your legal protections and makes it easier for authorities to act against violators. Also, secure your voicemail with a strong password to prevent unauthorized access.
Use call-blocking tools for added protection. Check with your phone provider about their call-blocking services. Many carriers offer free basic options and affordable premium plans. You can also explore third-party apps like RoboKiller or Hiya Premium, which use crowdsourced data to filter out suspicious calls.
Be strategic with your phone number. Share your primary number only when absolutely necessary. For less critical situations, consider using a secondary number. To further protect yourself, avoid including your full name in your voicemail greeting – this limits the amount of personal information you inadvertently share.
If an illegal robocall does slip through, report it immediately. Your reports help authorities track down scammers and reduce harassment for everyone. By following these strategies, you can significantly cut down on unwanted calls and better safeguard your privacy.
FAQs
How can I report illegal robocalls and help stop them?
If you get an illegal robocall, you can report it to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Simply file a complaint on their website or use their online form, selecting the option for unwanted calls to ensure your report is properly categorized. You can also report scam calls and texts to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) through the Do Not Call Registry or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP. These reports play a key role in helping authorities track violations and take action against offenders.
In addition, platforms like ReportTelemarketer.com provide free services to help consumers report unwanted telemarketing calls and texts. They investigate these violations and take steps to stop the calls, such as sending cease-and-desist letters or filing complaints on your behalf. By reporting robocalls, you play a part in holding violators accountable and cutting down on these unwanted disruptions.
What are the differences between FCC, FTC, and consumer penalties for illegal robocalls?
Fines and penalties for illegal robocalls vary based on the enforcing authority. The FCC can issue steep fines, sometimes climbing into the millions of dollars per violation, particularly targeting companies running large-scale robocall operations. Meanwhile, the FTC focuses on violations like disregarding the National Do Not Call Registry, with penalties reaching up to $50,120 per call.
Consumers also have the power to take matters into their own hands by filing lawsuits against robocallers. Under laws like the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), these lawsuits can lead to damages ranging from $500 to $1,500 per call, depending on the nature of the violation. This provides individuals with a direct path to seek compensation from offenders.
While the FCC and FTC primarily handle large-scale enforcement through regulatory fines, consumer lawsuits offer a more personal way to address and recover damages from unwanted robocalls.
How do new TCPA rules affect the use of AI-generated robocalls?
Updates to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA)
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) has been updated to ensure that AI-generated calls follow the same legal rules as those made by humans. One key requirement is that businesses must secure prior consent from consumers before making these types of calls.
Looking ahead to 2025, new regulations will mandate that AI-generated calls include an immediate opt-out option during the call itself. Furthermore, using automated systems to contact consumers without their prior consent will be strictly banned. These changes are designed to give consumers more control and transparency when it comes to managing unwanted calls.
