By LawInspectsYes, it is illegal to sign someone up for spam calls, especially if they have specifically registered with the government to not get any spam calls whatsoever. This sure is a violation under the federal law right here in the United States. So, if you’re still going about it and signing up people for spam calls, especially without them knowing, then this is a legal trouble YOU are signing yourself up for. If you want to know about this matter by going a bit in depth, then just keep on reading.
What Exactly Are Spam Calls?
If you get a lot of calls on your phone informing you about “free vacations” or “car insurance,” then you should be aware of how annoying spam calls can be. Unwanted phone calls that are either automated or mass-dialed calls that have been made on your phone number without your permission are known as Spam calls. Most of these calls are done through robocall systems that deliver messages that have been pre-recorded. A few of them are scam attempts, and others, however, are just marketing calls with an aggressive tone, trying to convince you to buy something that you don’t need.
It might happen that your phone number finds itself on a spam list in case it travels through suspicious online forms, is leaked by data brokers, or is even typed by someone who simply wants to harm you in some way. In a report issued by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), it is stated that the majority of these calls are unlawful if made without your consent.
The Law That Protects You: TCPA
Before you get somewhat disheartened, just know that the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) is a federal law that was created with the intention of shielding people from unwanted calls and text messages. Basically, it is a law that bans the use of an automatically dialed call, a pre-recorded message, or the distribution of a text message to a large number of people without the approval of the one to receive the message, be that a business or a person.
And this rule is valid for all people, not only for telemarketing companies. If a person puts your number on a spam list without your permission, then they are breaking the TCPA. Plain and simple! And just so you know, the legislation also permits you to sue them in court.
Is It Actually Illegal To Sign Someone Up for Spam Calls?
Yes, it is prohibited. Such an act without permission is a violation of the TCPA and privacy protection laws. The fact that you say it was a ‘joke’ doesn’t matter; the reason is irrelevant, the action is illegal. No matter what! In this kind of situation, both the FTC and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) respond and treat it as a serious matter, and the punishment may be heavy.
What Happens If You Break the Law?
Talking about the penalty or the punishment, well, the TCPA provides for a $500 fine for each and every illegal phone call. In case it is found that the infringement was done knowingly, the fine for each call can be doubled to $1,500.
As an illustration, a fine can go as high as $15,000 for just ten spam calls. Several businesses have been slapped with hefty fines totaling millions due to this type of infringement. Hence, if it is a big company or merely a person making a prank, doing the act of spamming another person can bring you into a hot mess of serious legal troubles.