Maine, the Federal Trade Commission and other law enforcement partners nationwide including Attorneys General from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, announced last month a new crackdown on illegal telemarketing targeting operations responsible for billions of calls to US consumers.

“Operation Stop Scam Calls” initiative builds on the efforts of Maine and other partners to combat the scourge of illegal telemarketing, including robocalls.  This initiative targets telemarketers and the companies that hire them as well as the lead generators who deceptively collect and provide consumers’ telephone numbers to roroballers and others, falsely representing that these consumers have consented to receive calls.  It also targets Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) service providers who facilitate tens of billions of illegal robocalls every year, which often originate overseas.

“These calls are one of the key ways for scammers to get financial and personal information from unsuspecting victims,” said AG Frey.  “My office hears from Mainers every day who have been victimized by these calls. I’m grateful for the partnerships across the country to prioritize this important matter.”