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Idaho attorney general urges Congress to curb robocalls

From 2017 to 2018, the number of mobile scam calls jumped from nearly four percent of total calls to nearly 30 percent, according First Orion, a scam protection app.

BOISE, Idaho — How often do you answer your phone only to find out it’s a recording?
The number of annoying robocalls from unknown numbers is increasing.

"When I see a phone number that I don't recognize, I just don't even answer it. It’s that bad," said Boise resident Heather Hill.

From 2017 to 2018, the number of mobile scam calls jumped from nearly four percent of total calls to nearly 30 percent, according First Orion, a scam protection app.

"I get at least one a day, typically two, but the second never actually has someone on the other side," said Brandon Sulik, a Boise resident.

And if you are on the "Do Not Call List," you've probably learned by now that means nothing to robo-callers who still ring incessantly.

"There are such large databases out there," said Idaho Dep. Attorney General Brett Delange. "They have our phone numbers, there are some computer programs that just call every iteration number there is."

DeLange says the Gem State has joined the rest of the nation in signing a letter urging Congress to enact the Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act.

"I don't want to pretend that if they pass this act overnight things will get better but it is telling the Federal Communications Commission this needs to be priority number one," DeLange said.

While Congress figures out a solution, in the meantime, there are steps you can take yourself like downloading scam protection apps and reporting calls to the FCC and Better Business Bureau.

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