Like many people in Minnesota, you have likely received robocalls, or calls that use an auto dialer to send pre-recorded messages. These calls are commonly from solicitors trying to sell you a service or product. Robocalls are illegal in most cases, and many states...
Fewer robot calls coming your way
Minnesota residents may be getting fewer robot calls soon thanks to the Pallone-Thune Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act, or TRACED Act. The government updated the original Telephone Consumer Protection Act. Why the legislation was...
What to know about the Telemarketing Consumer Protection Act
Many homeowners in Minnesota receive robocalls, which are autodialed calls, and automatic text messages mostly from telemarketers attempting to sell products or services. The callers usually do not have permission to send these pre-recorded messages. The Telephone...
Will a new law put a stop to robocalls?
It’s not in your head – robocalls have become out of control in the last several years. In the U.S. alone, there were an estimated 58.5 billion robocalls in 2019, 44% of which were from scammers. While it’s already illegal in the U.S. to fake caller ID numbers or...
What is caller ID spoofing?
In a digital society, it is nearly impossible to avoid unwanted calls. It is rare for the average Minnesotan to be without a cell phone; therefore, the ringing or buzzing of a call from an unknown number is an inevitable occurrence. But who are these calls from? And...
Emailed faxes don’t violate the Telephone Consumer Protection Act
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced on Dec. 9 that emailed faxes aren't illegal under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). A spokesperson for the federal agency gave the FCC's reasoning for reaching such a conclusion when announcing their...
Feds: The Telephone Consumer Protection Act wasn’t violated
Plaintiffs in Illinois, who'd previously filed suit in U.S. district court accusing the owners of a medical marketing company of violating their rights by sending them text messages lost their Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) case last week. A judge ruled that...
Sneaky ways telemarketers get your phone number
Does it feel like an invasion of your privacy when telemarketers interrupt your work, your dinner or your leisure time? Well, it is! And you have every right to be frustrated. Most of the time, you don't even know how they got your number -- particularly to your...
How to protect your parents from a phone scam
Phone scammers are notorious for targeting senior citizens, as they find that they're more likely to go along with what they're asking. As the child of an elderly individual, it's difficult to imagine that someone would attempt to take advantage of them....
What is the National Do Not Call Registry?
There is nothing more frustrating than receiving one telemarketing phone call after the next. Many people receive as many as 10 calls per day. If you find yourself in this position, the National Do Not Call Registry may be able to help. You can register online or via...