Robocalls refer to automated telephone calls made using a computerized autodialer or a pre-recorded message. These calls are often used for various purposes, including telemarketing, political campaigns, debt collection, and scams. They can be a nuisance to recipients, particularly when used for fraudulent or illegal activities.
Caller ID spoofing is the practice of altering the caller ID information transmitted in order to hide the true identity of the caller. It exacerbates the problem of robocalling fraud by enabling robocallers to conceal their identity using various phone numbers. In response, the regulatory bodies have implemented regulations that allow carriers to offer customers advanced blocking tools. These tools include the capability to reject calls that are not listed in their contacts. With caller ID spoofing, nearly anyone can make a call using a different phone number, thereby circumventing traditional blocking and identification methods.
By spoofing a phone number, nearly anyone can call using: