Two metro New York-area men are each facing fines of $25,000 for using false caller ID numbers to harass one of the men’s former spouse.
According to a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture issued in early August by the Enforcement Bureau of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the two men made at least 31 phone calls to the former spouse, “spoofing” the phone numbers of the spouse’s parents, her child’s school district and other entities to trick the woman into answering the phone, and then subjecting her to verbal harassment.
The FCC became involved in this case in late 2015 after being contacted by the National Network to End Domestic Violence. The Enforcement Bureau’s investigation ultimately identified the perpetrators, one of whom was subsequently arrested by the Nassau County Police Department and charged with stalking and aggravated harassment. That criminal case is ongoing.
The FCC’s action is based on the 2009 Truth in Caller ID Act and FCC rules that prohibit spoofing with the intent to cause harm, defraud or wrongfully obtain anything of value.
Read the complete text of the FCC’s Notice regarding the fines against two men spoofing phone numbers.
