A robocaller was fined $ 10 million.
Angela Lang / CNET
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission on Thursday imposed a $ 9.9 million fine for using fraudsters with fraudsters to intentionally inflict damages. The fraudster made thousands of robo-calls using pre-recorded racist, xenophobic and threatening messages, the FCC said.
The calls are aimed at the family of a victim, a local journalist, political candidates – and even as an apparent attempt to lead a jury that hears a domestic terror case, the agency said. The caller ID spoofing makes the calls appear to be from local numbers.
“Not only were the calls illegal, but the caller took it to new levels of atrocity,” FCC chairman Ajit Pai said. “With today’s fine, we once again make our commitment to aggressively crack down on those who illegally bomb the American people.”
The raid plagued people in Iowa, Idaho, Virginia, Florida and Georgia. He must pay the fine within 30 days, otherwise the case will be suspended to the justice department, the agency said.