May 20, 2022
Carson City, NV –Today, Attorney
General Aaron D. Ford and the Federal Communications Commission today announced
a new robocall investigations partnership.
This Memorandum of Understanding between state and federal robocall
investigators establishes critical information sharing and cooperation
structures to investigate spoofing and robocalls scam campaigns. More than
twenty states across the country, including Nevada, have established formal
working relationships with the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau to support robocall
investigations and protect American consumers and businesses.
“Robocalls disrupt and disturb Nevadans every
single day and it’s more than annoying, in many cases it is illegal,” said
Attorney General Ford. “This Memorandum
of Understanding with the FCC will strengthen our fight to stop scams involving
robocalls.”
“The FCC and state leaders share a common
enemy: robocall scammers targeting consumers and businesses around the country
said FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.
“My team’s commitment to protecting consumers fits hand-in-glove with
state Attorneys General’s ongoing efforts to combat these scams. We share a goal – to protect consumers – and,
with agreements like this, we can also share the tools needed to achieve it. I thank state leaders for their cooperation
and their dedication to enforcing strong consumer protection laws.”
During investigations, both the FCC’s
Enforcement Bureau and state investigators seek records, talk to witnesses,
interview targets, examine consumer complaints, and take other critical steps
to build a record against possible bad actors.
These partnerships can provide critical resources for building cases and
preventing duplicative efforts in protecting consumers and businesses
nationwide.
The FCC offers partner states not only the
expertise of its enforcement staff but also important resources to support
state investigations. For example, the
MOUs may facilitate relationships with other actors in this space including
other federal agencies and robocall blocking companies, and support for and
expertise with critical investigative tools including subpoenas and
confidential response letters from suspected robocallers.
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