Bipartisan Measure Seeking to Protect Residents from Scammers & Deceitful Telemarketers Passes Senate

Recently the state Senate unanimously approved a measure that seeks to better protect Pennsylvanians from scammers and other deceitful telemarketers.

Senate Bill 992 prohibits telemarketing calls being made on Sundays before 9 a.m. and after 7 p.m. on every other day of the week.

The proposed law expands protections to also cover text messages, voicemails and “ringless” voicemails – tools often used by telemarketers to evade existing restrictions officials say.

Named “Prohibiting Telemarketers from Spoofing Phone Numbers” the bills prime sponsor Republican state Senator Michelle Brooks (Serving Crawford, Lawrence (part) & Mercer Counties) says if the bill becomes law it will prohibit a telemarketer from spoofing phone numbers so the call appears to originate from the same local area as the recipient.

In addition, it establishes penalties for both telemarketers and the companies that hire them for illegal activity.

The bill would also prohibit the use of artificial intelligence or fake caller IDs to deceive or defraud consumers. A violation of the law carries a civil penalty of up to $1,000 or $3,000 if the person contacted is age 60 or older.

The bill now heads to the state House of Representatives for consideration.