Meng, Barton and Lance Reintroduce Legislation to Combat Widepsread Telephone Scams Targeting and Defrauding Millions of Americans

Press Release

U.S. Reps. Grace Meng (D-NY), Joe Barton (R-TX) and Leonard Lance (R-NJ) today reintroduced legislation to combat a widespread telephone scam that continues to defraud millions of Americans, particularly seniors, veterans, immigrants and other vulnerable populations.

The Anti-Spoofing Act of 2015 would target "caller ID spoofing," a growing scheme in which con artists disguise their phone numbers to make it appear that they're calling from a government agency, bank, police department, credit card company, pharmacy or hospital. Once unsuspecting recipients answer the call, scammers ask for and often receive the person's personal or financial information, then use it to commit fraud.

Among the popular spoofing schemes is the Internal Revenue Service scam in which the fraudster displays the real IRS phone number on an individual's caller ID. The scammer claims to be an IRS employee and threatens arrest unless back taxes are immediately paid with a debit card or wire transfer.

"The problem of caller ID spoofing has gotten out of control," said Meng, Barton and Lance. "Millions of Americans continue to get ripped off by con artists and scammers who perpetrate this despicable crime, many losing thousands of dollars. It is way past time to reign in this disgraceful practice and this legislation would go a long way towards accomplishing that critical goal. We call on the House and Senate to pass our bill as soon as possible."

This legislation aims to combat spoofing by strengthening the Truth in Caller ID Act.

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