WASHINGTON - The FCC's Robocall Response Team today took decisive actions to shut down an apparent homeowner-focused robocall scam campaign.

The FCC's Enforcement Bureau ordered telecommunications companies to effectively mitigate suspected illegal traffic from dialing platform PhoneBurner facilitating apparently illegal robocall traffic from real estate brokerage firm MV Realty to targeted consumers. The Bureau also demanded that voice service provider Twilio cease and desist from carrying the suspected illegal robocall traffic which it was apparently receiving from PhoneBurner. Twilio is the largest voice service provider yet to receive a cease-and-desist letter from the FCC.

According to lawsuits from the Attorneys General of Florida, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania, real estate brokerage firm MV Realty used misleading robocalls to 'swindle' and 'scam' residents into mortgaging their homes in exchange for small cash payments. The FCC's action not only targets calls from the robocaller but also the networks that apparently carried the calls around the country: Twilio.

Commission Leadership

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel: 'Mortgage scams are some of the most pernicious types of robocalls we see. Sending these junk calls to financially-stressed homeowners just to offer them deceptive products and services is unconscionable. That's why we are shutting down these calls right now.'

Enforcement Bureau

Enforcement Bureau Chief Loyaan A. Egal: ''Know Your Customer' (KYC) principles should be at the forefront of all communications service providers' business practices. It is concerning to see such a large provider allowing this kind of traffic on its networks. I hope and expect Twilio to immediately cease and desist. I also thank our partners in state Attorneys General offices around the country for their strong enforcement efforts against MV Realty.'

FCC Investigation

Between May 1, 2022 and December 6, 2022, the Traceback Consortium investigated prerecorded voice message calls that YouMail, a robocall tracking software company, flagged as robocalls made to wireless numbers without the consent of targeted consumers. The Consortium told Twilio, the voice service provider on whose networks these calls were traveling, about these calls and provided evidence. Twilio told the Traceback Consortium that PhoneBurner had obtained called parties' consent for the robocalls.

Contact:

Will Wiquist

Email: will.wiquist@fcc.gov

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