Consumer advocates: Expect more robotexts in 2022

BOSTON — Yma Arrington feels like her phone is constantly buzzing with numbers she doesn’t recognize.

“I couldn’t even tell you how many [robocalls I get] a week. A day? Over a hundred,” Arrington said.

But lately, Arrington has noticed more robotexts popping up on her phone.

“I just hit delete, delete, delete,” she said.

The Federal Communications Commission received around 14,000 consumer complaints about unwanted text messages in 2020, an increase of 146% from the year before, the agency said in a press release.

“We’ve seen a rise in scammers trying to take advantage of our trust of text messages,” Acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement. “It’s time we take steps to confront this latest wave of fraud and identify how mobile carriers can block these automated messages before they have the opportunity to cause any harm.”

The FCC proposed new rules on Oct. 18 that would require mobile wireless providers to block illegal text messaging, similar to what the agency is doing to combat robocalls.

The commission launched a Robocall Mitigation Database in April under the 2019 TRACED ACT to stem the number of fraudulent phone calls. Voice service providers had until a Sept. 28 deadline to register with the FCC to show compliance with anti-robocalling technology. The FCC said 4,798 phone companies had filed in the database as of Sept. 28.

Consumer advocates say this enforcement is leading to a decrease in robocalls, but the new regulations do not apply to text messages.

“It’s a good first step. It’s having significant impact. If you talk to anybody now, they’ll tell you they are getting less robocalls. But we need to do more,” said Deirdre Cummings, Legislative Director with the Mass. Public Interest Research Group.

MASSPIRG anticipates an increase in robotexts as a result of this loophole. Cummings said she and her husband have received more robotexts in recent weeks.

“The FCC is going to have to look at that. How do they provide those same protections? The regulations we have for robocalls should be applied to text messages,” Cummings said.

The company Robokiller estimates Americans will receive more than 86 billion robotexts in 2021, an increase of 55% from the year before.

Mass. Attorney General Maura Healey is concerned criminals who were calling people in 2020 are going to be texting in 2022.

“Criminals and scam artists are able to use texting now in the same way they were able to use a phone call,” Healey said.

The FCC has a section on its website dedicated to advising consumers on how to deal with robocalls and robotexts, including call blocking tools and resources.

Cummings said the good news is while robotexts are on the rise, they haven’t proven to be as effective at fooling people as an actual phone call.

“It’s harder to scam you with a text message, but it can be as dangerous. You want to make sure if you get a text message from someone you don’t know, ignore it,” she said.

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