Fitch Targets Companies Behind Illegal Robocalls in Nationwide Crackdown

Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch announced the state’s participation in Operation Robocall Roundup, a nationwide campaign targeting companies that enable illegal robocalls.

The initiative is part of the Anti-Robocall Litigation Task Force, a coalition of 51 attorneys general formed in 2022 to identify, investigate, and penalize businesses that facilitate fraudulent calls. As part of the operation, Fitch sent warning letters to 37 voice providers accused of violating Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules designed to prevent illegal robocalls.

“These calls and texts are more than a nuisance; they are often the gateway to scams,” Fitch said. “In June alone, people received more than 4.5 billion robocalls nationwide, and we’re taking decisive steps to hold the companies behind them accountable.”

According to Fitch’s office, the targeted providers failed to respond to government traceback requests, register in the FCC’s Robocall Mitigation Database, or submit plans outlining how they would reduce illegal calls. Officials say this negligence has allowed fraudulent callers to exploit their networks and reach consumers.

The task force also notified 99 downstream providers working with these noncompliant companies, warning them they are partnering with “bad actors.” This week, the FCC moved to remove seven offending providers from its mitigation database, effectively cutting them off from the nation’s phone system.

On average, Americans receive more than 13 robocalls per day. The crackdown is part of ongoing efforts to curb the billions of unwanted calls made each month.