Is It Legal To Use Someone Else Phone Number

Question from Brenda: I'chiliad so frustrated with all the calls I'chiliad receiving from scammers who have spoofed someone else'southward phone number!

I've always heard that's illegal so why are and so many people doing it

And then tell me, is spoofing illegal or not?

Rick's answer: I know exactly what you hateful, Brenda. It really is frustrating to answer a call only to find out that the caller isn't the person whose proper name was displayed on the Caller ID screen.

A number of shady online services make it extremely easy to spoof a phone number and trick the recipient into thinking the call or text is from either someone they know personally or from a local business organization.

You' said you lot've always thought that spoofing is confronting the law, but surprisingly, information technology isn't. At least non on a federal level and every bit long as the call meets some specific criteria.

This passage from the Q&A'south section of the Spoofing and Caller ID page on the official FCC.gov website explains when spoofing is legal and when it isn't:

"When is spoofing illegal??

Under the Truth in Caller ID Human activity, FCC rules prohibit anyone from transmitting misleading or inaccurate caller ID information with the intent to defraud, cause damage or wrongly obtain anything of value. Anyone who is illegally spoofing tin can face penalties of up to $ten,000 for each violation. However, spoofing is not always illegal. There are legitimate, legal uses for spoofing, like when a physician calls a patient from her personal mobile phone and displays the office number rather than the personal telephone number or a business concern displays its cost-free phone call-dorsum number."

As the passage higher up conspicuously states, spoofing a phone number without the intent to harm or defraud the the recipient in some way is completely legal equally long every bit no bodily harm ends upwardly being caused.

What'due south more, while spoofing with the intention of harming the recipient in some manner is indeed illegal, proving that harm was intended or actually took identify tin be difficult from a legal standpoint.

Luckily, telemarketers ARE NOT immune to spoof their phone numbers in any case, and at that place are no gray areas.

If you lot receive a telemarketing telephone call from a spoofed number yous can utilize this simple online form to file a complaint with the FCC.

Bottom line: Receiving a call from a spoofed phone number tin can be confusing and irritating, simply unless the caller placed the call with the intention of causing you harm OR the call actually concluded up causing harm, the caller did not break the police.

Disclaimer: I'm a tech blogger, non a lawyer. The data provided above is based solely on the rules and regulations stated on the federal government'southward official FCC.gov website. You are complimentary to either use it or ignore it at your own risk.

I hope this helps, Brenda. Good luck!

Bonus tip: This postal service explains how to block calls from anyone who isn't on your smartphone's "Contacts" list.

Never miss a tip!Click hither to sign up for my complimentary Daily Tech Tips Electronic mail Newsletter!