A new law going into effect on March 2, 2022, is aimed to combat robocalls and make it more difficult for scammers to contact Americans by creating standardized requirements for telemarketers. Senator Theresa Gavarone, who sponsored the bill, stated that this new legislation makes Ohio the hardest state in the country in which to conduct a robocall scheme.

Senate Bill 54 strengthens Ohio’s telecommunications fraud laws by criminalizing “spoofing,” a tactic largely used by scammers where foreign robocall companies purchase domestic numbers from U.S third party companies and use local area codes, making it more likely for someone to answer the phone.  The law also increases criminal penalties for robocalls in Ohio if the victim is elderly, disabled or a military member or their spouse.

Senate Bill 54 further gives more power to Ohio’s Attorney General to bring cases against scammers in state court, rather than federal court. Since 2020, the Ohio Attorney General has been developing tools to help combat robocalls, leading to the formation of a Robocall Enforcement Unit.
Although the legislation will cut down the number of Robocalls, the Ohio Attorney General’s office recommends following these simple tips to avoid being targeted by robocallers:

• Never interact with a suspected robocaller in any way.
• Avoid providing personal or financial information by phone.
• Register your phone number with the Do Not Call Registry online at DoNotCall.gov or by phone at 1-888-382-1222.
• Research services offered by your phone provider to block unwanted calls.
• Install a trusted and reliable app on your cellphone to block or warn of suspicious calls.
• In doubt, just don’t answer the phone.

If you have fallen victim to a robocall scam, call Lardiere McNair & Stonebrook Ltd., LPA, at (614) 534-1355 and schedule a free consultation.

For more information go to: https://www.ohioprotects.org/, or call 800-282-0515