telemarketers don't list the phone number they call from?

Question

Is it illegal for a Telemarketer, Phone Surveyor, or charity to not list their phone number so it shows up on your caller ID? I never answer any calls if my Caller ID shows "unknown name and number" or "Unidentified". Also, is it legal to spoof this number if they do list one? I sometimes get return numbers that show up on my caller ID and when I imediately call it back, it's disconnected or is not valid. I would think that this would be illegal but may not be. What are the rules regarding this?

Answer 1

The FCC rule is that if caller id identifying equipment is available in the area the solicitor is in they are required to show their name and a valid call back number. If it is not available it will say unknown caller/number.

Now anyone who calls from that area whether a business or a residence will have that message show on caller id when they call someone.

Also if a call has to pass through several switches before it gets to you the data can be dropped or corrupted and you would get that message for those calls also. This can happen even if they are calling from you own town.

A charity, bill collector or surveyor are not considered solicitors and they are not required to adhere to this rule. Unless they the charity is selling items to raise money then they become a solicitor.

To avoid as many solicitors as possible register for the federal do not call list. It will eliminate most solicitors but not all.

Answer 2

The easiest thing for them to do is to take out another phone number and program that into their computerized dialer as the source number. It is a valid and not-disconnected number. Of course it is not connected to anything so no one ever answers it.

Digital phone systems like they use are inherently going to say Unknown Name and Number so that is a form of spoofing but they never have a problem with it.