FTC changes its telemarketing rules to cover growing ‘tech support scam’ calls
Illustration by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has finalized amendments to its Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR), making it easier to protect consumers who are tricked into paying scam tech support companies. The FTC could already go after these fraudster companies if they initiated calls to people — now, they can do the same thing if people call the scammers too.
Fake tech support fraud has been on the rise for many years. The “company” tricks people into thinking they have a virus or other problem by sending scam emails, popups, and other messages. This encourages them to call to a help desk, which then convinces them to pay up.
The FTC has long attempted to wrangle money back from these scammers. But as it explains in a published proposal, a 2021...