Latest news with #robocalls
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Biden robocall producer found not guilty of criminal charges
A political consultant was found not guilty of 11 felony charges Friday over AI-generated robocalls that mimicked President Joe Biden's voice discouraging Democrats from voting in the 2024 New Hampshire primary. The charges against Steve Kramer included voter suppression and impersonating a presidential candidate. AG vows to keep working on voter integrity after target found not guilty Attorney General John Formella said his office will keep working on efforts to protect voter integrity after a judge found Steven Kramer not guilty of state felonies for making a robocall that mimicked the voice of former President Joe Biden that urged Democrats not to vote in New Hampshire's 2024 primary. On Feb. 6, he identified two Texas companies and one business owner as having placed those robocalls. After the verdict in Belknap Superior Court, Attorney General John Formella noted that the Federal Communications Commission had already fined Kramer $6 million and two telecommunication companies another $1 million for violations of federal anti-robocall regulations. Kramer had been paid $150 by a political consultant working for Democratic presidential candidate Dean Phillips to produce the audio used to call roughly 25,000 likely voters two days before the Jan. 23, 2024 primary. Judge Elizabeth Leonard allowed Kramer's defense team to claim he didn't commit a crime because New Hampshire's primary was a 'straw poll' as it wasn't sanctioned by the Democratic National Committee. 'That, ladies and gentlemen, was a brazen attack on your primary,' Kramer's lawyer Tom Reid told the jury, referring to the DNC's actions. 'And it wasn't done by Steve Kramer. 'He didn't see it as a real election, because it wasn't,' Reid said. Kramer's lawyers also argued the use of deepfake technology was protected speech rather than voter suppression. If convicted, Kramer would have faced decades in prison, with each felony carrying a prison term of up to seven years. He also faced 11 misdemeanor charges that each carried up to a year in jail. Kramer's lawyers argued he didn't impersonate a candidate because the message didn't include Biden's name and the former president wasn't on the primary ballot. Former Democratic Party chair testified at recent robocall trial Former Democratic Party Chairman Kathy Sullivan testified in the criminal trial of Steven Kramer who was found innocent of multiple charges regarding his manufacture of a robocall that mimicked the voice of former President Joe Biden to urge New Hampshire Democrats not to vote in the 2024 primary. All of those calls urged anyone with questions to call Sullivan's home telephone number. Biden honored the DNC calendar and refused to file to run or campaign in New Hampshire; he won the primary easily with a record write-in vote. All the calls left the telephone number of former Democratic Party Chair Kathy Sullivan. During the trial, Sullivan testified that her belief was that Kramer's goal was to suppress the vote. Kramer was paid $259,946 by Phillips's campaign to help the long-shot presidential candidate get on the ballot in New York and Pennsylvania. The campaign told media outlets that that work included production and distribution of a robocall that used Phillips's voice. But the Phillips campaign denied any knowledge of the Biden robocall. Kramer testified during the trial that he had no regrets even though his actions led to AI regulations in multiple states including New Hampshire. He said he came up with the stunt as a warning for how AI can be misused. He chose to use it in New Hampshire believing it would have the most impact. In a statement Friday, Formella said the state 'will continue to work diligently to address the challenges posed by emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to protect the integrity of our elections.' klandrigan@
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Here's what readers had to say about incessant robocalls, robotexts and scams
Columnist James E. Causey May 31 wrote about his frustration with robocalls, robotexts and frequent scam calls. We asked readers to share their experiences and advice for coping. The most colorful comment came from Alan Mark of Watertown who advised: "I use a pocket-size air horn to send them away. It works…" Thanks to everyone who sent a comment. Here they are: No financial loss on this end, but yes frustration. I no longer answer any calls on my cell or landline; if it's important, caller must leave a message. That gives me pause because as a nonprofit founder, I receive calls from practitioners, researchers, industry connects, or patients in high anxiety. Why haven't the powers that be outlawed robocalls? My husband likes to play with them, leading them on through extended untruthful conversation. I keep telling him that just adds his name to more lists as reachable. In my opinion, the national Do Not Call Registry list is far less than a functional system. This issue should be addressed by government restrictions. I don't care if it's state or federal, someone please fix this! Sherrie Palm, Mukwonago I have fun with telemarketers. Whatever they tell me they're selling, I tell them that is exactly what I do for a living. I tell them I'll buy their product if they buy mine. They hang up on me! Jim Labradori, Oconomowoc I never answer phone calls of numbers that I don't recognize. If it's someone, or something important they will leave a voicemail. Speaking of voicemail. If I get a call identified as "potential spam," I answer and hit mute. The automated dialer on the other end will hang-up after 5 to 30 seconds. This stops the automated caller from leaving an unwanted voicemail that I have to listen to and delete. I reply "stop" to unwanted texts and this seems to have lessened the amount that I receive. David Mancl, West Allis I recommend every person listen to the podcast :The Perfect Scam" by AARP. It has been available since about 2019. The episodes are about 30 minutes each and feature real people who have fallen prey to scams. They detail just about every kind of typical scam people encounter, from old school romance scams, to calls from loved ones who say they're in trouble, to phony computer issues, or bank/government notices, to the ones you mentioned with the phony house sales, etc. Most were phone or email during COVID-19 times, but as the years go by, they become more and more geared toward texts. also, AARP websites provide lots of info about the same. They are very concerned with elder abuse and scams, which cause heartache and loss of entire savings. When my late husband was still alive, he got a call from a guy who said he had my (step) daughter in custody after an 'accident.' They demanded money to release her. I told him it was a scam, but he couldn't reach her on my phone, I talked him into going to the police department, and they reassured us it was a common scam. We finally got ahold of our stepdaughter. She had her phone off at work. The police told us to hang up whenever we get such a call, not to even be polite. Then call the person allegedly involved. People get rattled and do foolish things because the scammers are relentless. 'If only' is a phrase of regret from people who don't pause to take a breather. Anyone can get sucked into scams. AI is going to make it even harder to discern what is real. Nancy Huber, New Berlin I just no longer answer the telephone (both landline and cell) unless I recognize the number or the name. I let everything else go to message. If it's a legitimate call they will leave me a legitimate message. Text I just never respond too. Perry Holzman, Two Rivers Several years ago I subscribed to a service called RoboKiller. For less than $100 per year, it intercepts every call placed to my cell phone number. As a result, zero robocalls get through to me. Non-robo callers can leave a message. Once I call a number back, the caller gets through to me thereafter. And the people I call frequently get through when they call me. Being free from receiving robocalls has been liberating. As a 'Senior citizen' at 75, I'm in the group of people most targeted by scammers. It seems odd in 2025 that the cell phone companies and our federal government can't figure out a solution to this plague. Peter Christianson, Pewaukee My new phone system allows me to block the phone number being used by the caller. After using it for a "possible spam call" I realized I had blocked the number of some friends. So I deleted all blocked numbers and started over, listening to each call before blocking. In the past three weeks, I have received over 50 spam calls that I have blocked. This is ridiculous. Whatever happened to the no call list? Leon E Burzynski, Waukesha I also get many calls and and texts asking if I want to sell my home. They know my address, which is creepy. I started replying no, but I might want to buy your home and ask them for their address. This usually results in stunned silence and ends the conversation rather quickly. Steve Stein, Oak Creek Replying STOP does not do any good because I feel most of the callers (robo or not) get their information from a third party and the third party does not get the STOP message. It's time laws are passed to more severely penalize those who call numbers on the do not call lists. It also seems to me that with all the great technology this country has, it could be used to block calls that emanate from the same general source, that's not a verifiable source. Lastly, it's time for do not call lists apply to political action calls. Joseph Streator, Oconomowoc Here are some tips to get your views shared with your friends, family, neighbors and across our state: Please include your name, street address and daytime phone. Generally, we limit letters to 200 words. Cite sources of where you found information or the article that prompted your letter. Be civil and constructive, especially when criticizing. Avoid ad hominem attacks, take issue with a position, not a person. We cannot acknowledge receipt of submissions. We don't publish poetry, anonymous or open letters. Each writer is limited to one published letter every two months. All letters are subject to editing. Write: Letters to the editor, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 330 E. Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 500, Milwaukee, WI, 53202. Fax: (414)-223-5444. E-mail: jsedit@ or submit using the form that can be found on the on the bottom of this page. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Readers share how they cope with flood of scam calls | Letters
Associated Press
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Consultant behind AI-generated robocalls mimicking Biden goes on trial in New Hampshire
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A political consultant who sent voters artificial intelligence-generated robocalls mimicking former President Joe Biden last year goes on trial Thursday in New Hampshire, where jurors may be asked to consider not just his guilt or innocence but whether the state actually held its first-in-the-nation presidential primary. Steven Kramer, who faces decades in prison if convicted of voter suppression and impersonating a candidate, has admitted orchestrating a message sent to thousands of voters two days before the Jan. 23, 2024, primary. The message played an AI-generated voice similar to the Democratic president's that used his phrase 'What a bunch of malarkey' and suggested that voting in the primary would preclude voters from casting ballots in November. 'It's important that you save your vote for the November election,' voters were told. 'Your votes make a difference in November, not this Tuesday.' Kramer, who owns a firm specializing in get-out-the-vote projects, has said he wasn't trying to influence the outcome of the primary election but rather wanted to send a wake-up call about the potential dangers of AI when he paid a New Orleans magician and self-described 'digital nomad' $150 to create the recording. 'Maybe I'm a villain today, but I think in the end we get a better country and better democracy because of what I've done, deliberately,' Kramer told The Associated Press in February 2024. Ahead of the trial in Belknap County Superior Court, state prosecutors sought to prevent Kramer from arguing that the primary was a meaningless straw poll because it wasn't sanctioned by the Democratic National Committee. At Biden's request, the DNC dislodged New Hampshire from its traditional early spot in the nominating calendar, but later dropped its threat not to seat the state's national convention delegates. Biden did not put his name on the ballot or campaign there, but won as a write-in. The state argued that such evidence was irrelevant and would risk confusing jurors, but Judge Elizabeth Leonard denied the motion in March, saying the DNC's actions and Kramer's understanding of them were relevant to his motive and intent in sending the calls. She did grant the prosecution's request that the court accept as fact that the state held its presidential primary election as defined by law on Jan. 23, 2024. Jurors will be informed of that conclusion but won't be required to accept it. Kramer faces 11 felony charges, each punishable by up to seven years in prison, alleging he attempted to prevent or deter someone from voting based on 'fraudulent, deceptive, misleading or spurious grounds or information.' He also faces 11 misdemeanor charges that each carry a maximum sentence of a year in jail accusing him of falsely representing himself as a candidate by his own conduct or that of another person. He also has been fined $6 million by the Federal Communications Commission, but it's unclear whether he has paid it, and the FCC did not respond to a request for comment earlier this week. The agency was developing AI-related rules when Donald Trump won the presidency, but has since shown signs of a possible shift toward loosening regulations. In April, it recommended that a telecom company be added back to an industry consortium just weeks after the agency had proposed fining the company for its role in illegal robocalls impersonating the FCC. Half of all U.S. states have enacted legislation regulating AI deepfakes in political campaigns, according to the watchdog organization Public Citizen. But House Republicans in Congress recently added a clause to their party's signature 'big beautiful' tax bill that would ban states and localities from regulating artificial intelligence for a decade, though it faces long odds in the Senate.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Robocaller behind millions of illegal calls in Ohio permanently banned, attorney general announces
A robocaller responsible for billions of illegal calls has been permanently banned in seven states, according to Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Texas-based robocaller John Spiller previously offered telemarketers robocall dialer and Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services through his companies Rising Eagle Capital Group, JSquared Telecom, and Rising Eagle Capital Group-Cayman. TRENDING STORIES: Man with filet knife arrested after standoff in Mercer County Local spa accused of operating as brothel; 2 arrested Popular music center gets a new name, $60 million gift to transform the venue Yost said this led to massive amounts of robocalls and often targeted numbers on the Do Not Call Registry. Spiller received a court order that barred him from making or facilitating robocalls in 2023. However, he used different names to create new companies that would continue facilitating the same types of illegal robocalls, according to Yost. These violations prompted eight attorneys general, including Yost, to seek a contempt of court order. Yost announced that a federal judge in Texas found Spiller in contempt of court on Thursday. Spiller is permanently prohibited from launching future telecommunications companies or operating in the telecom industry and must pay $600,000 in fees for violating the 2023 court order. He also cannot collaborate with the people who helped his operation, use aliases in government filings, or make deceptive statements, according to Yost. 'This scammer's line is dead — and it's not coming back,' Yost said. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost was joined in this effort by the attorneys general of Arkansas, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota and Texas. 'The judge's latest ruling sends a strong message that bad actors cannot evade court orders by simply operating under different business names,' Yost said. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Spam texts and robocalls are more than a nuisance. People are being scammed.
If you're anything like me, you've probably reached your limit with the incessant barrage of spam text messages and calls that flood your phone. It seems that every few minutes, I get yet another unsolicited message — whether it's from a random number trying to convince me to sell my home or a marketing survey asking for my thoughts on everything from the current state of the economy to the performance of President Donald Trump. The most frustrating part about these intrusions is the constant prompt to type "Stop" if you wish to opt out. Yet, I've noticed that responding in this way often feels counterproductive; instead of putting an end to the harassment, it seems to only add my number to even more lists of groups that bombard me with relentless messages. The frustrating cycle worsens when I receive a call from an unknown number. If I don't answer, I might miss an important call. Conversely, when I do pick up and hear, 'Hello, James, we've been reviewing your property and are ready to extend a generous offer to you…' I want to scream. Robocalls and scam texts are not only frustrating; they can also lead to significant financial losses. I usually don't allow the caller to finish their second sentence on a spam call before I interrupt and tell them to remove me from their call list. When they are aggressive — and some can be — I resort to a few choice colorful words, much to my wife's dismay. I added my number to the national do-not-call list in 2024 because I was overwhelmed by the numerous spam calls and texts from phone companies, individuals trying to buy my house, and people conducting political surveys. However, it seems that the calls and texts have gotten worse than ever. Here are just some of the spam text messages I received recently: 'The Fed warned that a recession may already be here. Unemployment is growing. Prices are still going up. The Republican budget will only make it worse, handing more tax breaks to billionaires while the rest of us worry about making ends meet. Is your family ready for a recession? -TS Stop to end' Recession Alert: Trump calls it 'an adjustment period.' His Treasury Secretary said there are 'no guarantees' we avoid recession. The Fed is worried. So is the Wall Street Journal. They know Trump's reckless tariffs will cripple small businesses, cost jobs, and raise prices for American Families. It's all part of the Republican plan to give mass tax breaks to the richest Americans while the rest of us try to make ends meet. Stop to End.' 'Hi James, if the 2025 midterm elections to Congress were held today, for which party would you vote? Republican B. Democrat C. Other D. Will not vote' 'Hi, James. We are reviewing properties in your area and are prepared to make you a generous offer on your property located at (address). Don't let the opportunity pass you by. There has never been a better time to sell your home.' 'Dear James, my name is Cindi, and I was wondering if you would be interested in selling your property at (address). If you're wondering how I got your information, it's all on public records. Don't feel like you're being targeted. If you're interested in selling your property, it will be a FAST and EASY transaction, because we can pay CASH!' I've also received robotexts from institutions that appeared legitimate but were ultimately scams. For example, on March 27, I got a message from E-ZPass claiming that I had an 'outstanding toll.' It text stated, 'If you fail to pay by March 30, 2025, you will face penalties or legal action.' The text included a link for more details. Officials have warned the public about this nationwide scam and advised against clicking on the link, as it could install malware on their devices. While the number of robocalls has decreased by 17% over the last three years, unwanted robotexts have tripled during the same period. This indicates that scammers are increasingly using unregulated texts, according to the Federal Trade Commission. You are likely receiving more robocalls as well, because 21% of Americans, or approximately 56 million people, lost money due to scam calls in 2023, according to Truecaller's U.S. Spam and Scam Report. According to the report, those who have been defrauded tend to be the segment of the community who can least afford a financial loss. While volumes have declined, the threat may have accelerated, according to the report. The report highlighted that during election cycles, Americans receive unprecedented levels of mobile targeting for calls and messages aimed at fundraising, influencing behavior, and, in many instances, enabling fraud by bad actors who exploit the commotion. Some of the key findings from the report: Black and Hispanic adults were twice as likely to report losing money due to robocalls and texts compared to white Americans. Artificial intelligence is increasingly utilized to make these scams sound more realistic. Individuals aged 18-44 are three times more likely to be targeted than older adults. Robocall and text scams have cost Americans $25.4 billion in losses. The primary question is: How can we, as consumers, protect ourselves from spam and safeguard our personal information? It's important to remember that not all robocalls or robotexts are spam. Some are automated messages, such as the reminder I receive from my dentist a few days before my appointment, or notifications when I'm late on a credit card payment — those are particularly frustrating. A story by my USA Today colleague Cody Godwin suggests that we should consider several steps to enhance our safety. Godwin recommends contacting your wireless provider to see which tools and solutions they offer that you can implement. Some may already be built into your device to block or flag spam calls. I've just learned this: you should also ensure that your caller ID is activated. You can register your phone number with the National Do Not Call Registry. Opinion: Here's what readers had to say about wake-enhanced boating on Wisconsin lakes While this is intended to prevent telemarketers from calling or texting you, we acknowledge that not everyone adheres to this rule. Although most people don't go this far, if the calls and texts continue, you can file a complaint online with the FTC or FCC. You can also call the FTC at 1-877-FTC-HELP or the FCC at 1-888-CALL-FCC. Another option is to download and activate a robocall blocking app. For extra protection, be smart and never give access to your bank information, Social Security numbers, mother's maiden names, passwords, or other identifying information in response to unexpected calls or if you are at all suspicious. If you answer the phone and the caller or recording asks you to press a button to stop receiving calls, simply hang up. Scammers use this trick to identify potential targets. While I desire stronger measures to combat the constant influx of unwanted robocalls and intrusive robotexts, I can't help but feel that the situation will only worsen. Therefore, it is up to us to stay alert and protect ourselves from unsolicited communications that buzz and ding from unknown numbers. It is essential to remain vigilant and protect our personal space and assets amid this growing digital chaos. Reach James E. Causey at jcausey@ follow him on X@jecausey. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Spam calls, texts can cost you money. Don't fall for them | Opinion
