Phone calls that deliver pre-recorded messages when answered are known as robocalls. Telemarketers typically use robocalls to market goods and services. They are also used as a means of spreading information to many people at the same time. Sometimes, robocalls are referred to as spam calls. However, not all robocalls are spam calls. Spam calls are unwanted calls, while robocalls are not always unwanted and can even be used as event reminders.
Robocalls are usually made for any of the following purposes:
- To communicate necessary information like alerts, flight cancellations, updates and messages from healthcare providers, or as personal reminders;
- For emergency and public service announcements;
- For political campaigns;
- For market research;
- For telemarketing purposes (telemarketing robocalls can only be made to people that have given consent to receive such calls)
- For debt collection
- For soliciting donations to charitable organizations (these types of robocalls can only be made to people that have donated to the organization before or are current members of the organization)
Note that it is illegal in the United States to make a robocall that solicits for money without getting prior written consent from the call’s recipient.
What are Oregon Robocall Scams?
Oregon robocall scams refer to fraudulent phone scams targeted at unsuspecting Oregonians who use pre-recorded messages. According to data the Federal Trade Commission released, close to 70% of the do not call complaints recorded by the commission for 2019 were for robocalls. In the state of Oregon, 72,669 robocall complaints were recorded.
Robocalls are cheap to make, and they can be made to many people at the same time. This is usually done through the use of an automatic dialing device. Generally, robocalls that solicit funds can only be legally made to people that have agreed to receive these types of calls. However, robocall scammers illegally make these calls without getting proper authorization.
They do this by using caller ID spoofing to make their numbers look like an official government agency's number or a financial institution's number. Robocall scammers may also spoof their numbers to look like the call is being made in the same area code that the call's recipient lives in. All this is done to increase the chances of their targets picking up the phone. When the call is picked, a prerecorded message is played. These messages may vary, but they usually have the following characteristics:
- The message always solicits for money;
- The message always sounds urgent and requires you to take immediate action;
- The message states a preferred method of payment or donation, usually in the form of gift cards, wire transfers, or prepaid money cards;
- The message may also offer an option of pressing a number to stop receiving further calls or transfer to a live person for details.
Does Oregon Have Anti-Robocall Laws?
Robocalls made using automatic dialing and announcing devices are regulated in Oregon through the Oregon Revised Statutes Chapters 646A.370 – 646A.376. These laws provide requirements that must be followed by all robocallers in the state. Violators of these laws can receive civil penalties of up to $5,000 for each violation. Also, the Oregon Department of Justice is empowered to enforce federal anti-robocall laws in the state. These laws are the Telephone and Consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act and the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.
Are there Special Requirements for Robocalls in Oregon?
Chapters 646A.370-646A.376 of the Oregon Revised Statutes stipulates the requirements that must be met for all robocalls made in the state:
- All robocalls must be made between the hours of 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.;
- The robocall must not misrepresent or falsify the person on whose behalf the call is made, the phone number that is used to make the call, the location where the call originates, and the purpose for the call;
- The robocaller must not intentionally misrepresent, alter, or falsify their caller ID information;
- The automatic dialing device used to make the call must be disconnected not more than 10 seconds after the call is terminated;
- The robocall must provide a method for the recipient to opt-out of receiving further robocalls at least 10 seconds after the call starts;
- Robocalls must not be made to people that have opted out of receiving these types of calls;
- Robocalls must not be made to numbers that belong to law enforcement, fire protection, and emergency agencies;
- Robocalls must not be made to numbers that belong to hospital and health care facilities, suicide prevention or domestic violence counseling services, physician’s offices, and poison control centers;
- Robocalls must not be made to numbers that appear on an official list that was compiled by a government agency as a do not disturb list;
Note that exemptions to some of these requirements are made for representatives of public safety or law enforcement agencies and collection agencies defined in the Oregon Revised Statutes Chapters 697.005 – 697.095.
How Do I Stop Robocalls?
Unwanted robocalls can constitute a nuisance. Despite the legal requirements that regulate these calls, they are still a preferred method for illegal telemarketers and scammers that wish to defraud unsuspecting Oregonians. To stifle the increase of robocall and caller ID spoofing scams in the country, the Federal Communications Commission has mandated that all phone companies implement the STIR/SHAKEN caller ID authentication system before the 1st of July, 2021.
You can take some steps to reduce the number of robocalls you receive:
- Do not pick up calls from unknown numbers. You can download a phone lookup or a reverse phone number lookup app that shows you where an incoming phone call originates;
- Block all numbers that are flagged as suspicious with a mobile app. Some smartphones are preloaded with this as an in-built feature. You can also download a software app for this;
- Register your number on the National Do Not Call Registry;
- Report all unwanted calls to the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Communications Commission;
- Report all suspected or confirmed scams and frauds to the Oregon Department of Justice.