At least three times a day (often more), day and night, we receive telemarketing or active number verification calls. In every case these callers hide behind spoofed numbers. Spoofed numbers are very often phone numbers registered and in use by private citizens. When any attempt to contact the spoofed number takes place, more often than not the caller reaches the actual owner of the number and an awkward and confusing conversation takes place. In many cases countless spoofed numbers are used for a single operation. They spoof their numbers in order to skirt the do-not-call list and avoid civil and criminal penalties. In many cases it’s not illegal to spoof a number.

It’s not as simple as blocking the number because businesses just call from a different spoofed number. Additionally, and unfortunately, not everyone can block these numbers. Many are the elderly still using twisted-pair lines and have to pay a premium, which they can ill-afford, to their carriers to stop these calls. The elderly are the primary targets of these callers. Even my 10 year old daughter gets these annoying calls daily. 

In order to put an end to this, companies such as this one http://m.spoofcard.com/?gclid=CPGFlIjy8cQCFYWVfgodnm4AxQ , and those who use them need to be stopped and new federal legislation is the only means to do so.

I propose something similar to the following:

"(a) It shall be an offense for any person, company, corporation or entity to conduct any business transaction or obtain information to facilitate a business transaction by using caller identification with the intent to disguise him / her / itself by using any telephone number by which he / she / it cannot be identified, contacted or complaints of misconduct be reported. 

(b) it shall be an offense for any person, company, corporation or entity to conduct business, solicit sales or collect a debt by any phone number that is registered for use by a third party, unaffiliated with said person, company, corporation or entity. Further no person, company, corporation or entity may conduct any business transaction or obtain information to facilitate a business transaction while failing to use caller identification to provide a telephone number by which he / she / it can be identified and contacted 

(c) It shall be an offense for any person, company, corporation or entity to knowingly offer, provide or facilitate any means by which a person, company, corporation or entity can / will / does violate section (a) of this section.

(d) In each and every instance in which a person, company, corporation or entity violates sections (a) and / or (b) he / she / it shall be liable for a civil penalty of $1,000 (one thousand dollars) payable to each and every person, company, corporation or entity whom / which it contacts by telephone.

(e) In In each and every instance in which a person, company, corporation or entity violates sections (a) and / or (b) by calling any mobile / cellular / wireless phone  he / she / it shall be liable for a civil penalty of $2,000 (two thousand dollars) to each and every person, company, corporation or entity whom / which it contacts.

(f) Regardless of any criminal prosecution that may or may not occur under this section the civil penalty shall stand in each and every instance".

 https://www.fcc.gov/about/contact

Please help me in letting the FCC know that legitimate and equitable businesses have no reason to hide behind unattributed phone numbers and that private citizens shouldn’t be forced to deal with angry callbacks from those seeking to report abuse received from these malicious calls.