Ohio lawmakers answer the call to ban ‘spoof’ robocalls
COLUMBUS — Legislation designed to crack down on robocalls that “spoof ” phone numbers is headed to Gov. Mike Dewine’s desk after passing a final Ohio House vote Wednesday.
Senate Bill 54, which easily cleared both the House and, previously, the Ohio Senate, comes as Ohioans have been targeted with billions of robocalls in recent years, many of which appear as though they are coming from different, “spoofed” phone numbers — often, numbers that are similar to their victims’.
The people behind such calls could be prosecuted under the bill for telecommunications fraud, which is generally a fifth-degree felony but could rise as high as a first-degree felony depending on how much money the calls scam victims out of. SB54 would also make such violations a fourth-degree felony at minimum if the victim is elderly, disabled, or an active-duty service member or their spouse.
A fifth-degree felony conviction can bring up to a year in prison and a $2,500 fine; a fourth-degree felony is punishable by up to 18 months behind bars and a $5,000 fine.
The bill would exempt phone calls from numbers that are blocked or come up as “unknown,” so long as the callers leave voicemails accurately identifying themselves.
SB54 also aligns Ohio law with more robust federal laws against robocalls — meaning such cases could be prosecuted in state court, not just federal court. It further allows the Ohio attorney general’s office to investigate and prosecute alleged violations of those laws. Any civil penalties collected from illegal robocalls would be deposited in the state’s Telemarketing Fraud Enforcement Fund.
“Robocalls have plagued our state, and our constituents are sick and tired of them,” said state Rep. David Leland, a Columbus Democrat, during a Wednesday floor speech in favor of the bill. “This is a good bill that protects the citizens of Ohio.”
SB54, originally sponsored by state Sen. Theresa Gavarone, a Bowling Green Republican, passed the House 77-2, Republican state Reps. Jennifer Gross of Butler County and Ron Ferguson of Jefferson County were the only “no” votes.
Dewine spokesman Dan Tierney said Wednesday evening that the governor has yet to review the bill. “That being said,” Tierney added, “the governor has a long history of supporting efforts to crack down on fraudsters and scammers like those behind illegal robocalls.”
Attorney General Dave Yost, a Columbus Republican, has been a strong proponent of the proposals in the bill, which were included in a different, unsuccessful bill last year.
The attorney general’s office has also set up a system for people to report robocalls they receive to his office via Ohioprotects.org, texting “ROBO” to 888111, or calling 1-800-282-0515.