The Department of Telecommunications and Cable would like consumers to be aware of Caller ID Spoofing which is the practice of causing a number on the consumer's caller ID display to be different from that of the actual call origination point. In other words, it is possible to make a telephone call and have that person's caller ID show the call as being received from a number other than the actual number that the call is being made from.
Caller ID Spoofing has been used to commit identity theft since it misleads consumers into believing they are receiving a call from their bank or the IRS so they will give out their personal and financial information. In addition, credit card fraud is another likely risk since some credit card companies use a person's home telephone number to validate that customer's identity. Spoofing has also been linked to calls made by bill collectors, telemarketers, and prank 911 calls. At the very least, this practice misleads people causing them to answer calls they may otherwise not have answered and is a concern for consumers nationwide.
If you feel that you have been a victim of Caller ID Spoofing you should do two things:
- Contact the Federal Communications Commission ("FCC") consumer hotline at 1-888-225-5322 or file a complaint online.
- Contact the Office of the Attorney General by calling 617-727-8400 or file a complaint online.
Contact for Caller ID spoofing
Online
Phone
If you have Diversity, Affirmative Action or Equal Employment Opportunity questions or need a Reasonable Accommodation, please contact Diversity Officer/ADA Coordinator Andrea Nixon.
Open from 9 a.m.–5 p.m., M-F