Scammers Are Targeting The 585 Area Code. Here's Why. - WHAM

CloseDownload the AppGet your news faster with our mobile experienceInstallNewsNewsFirst responders tackle weather-related emergencies amid high winds, icy conditionsHigh winds and lake effect snow wreaked havoc Monday in Western New York, causing downed trees and power lines to litter roads.Car bursts into flames after crash in RochesterA driver was ticketed after a crash at an intersection Monday night on the city's southwest side.Bright Spot: Bringing imagination to lifeOur Bright Spot shines on 'Felt Friends,' a unique classroom collaboration at Midlakes Schools.Man charged after dead dog, illegal guns found in apartment, Geneva police sayGeneva, N.Y. — A man faces charges after police said they found a dead dog, illegally possessed guns and evidence of gunshots fired inside his apartment.LocalElection ResultsElectionNation & WorldGood Day & ARC RochesterSound Stage TrafficOffbeatEntertainmentCrime StoppersConnect to CongressArmstrong Army StrongAmazing AmericaQuestion of the DaySpotlight on AmericaFull Measure with Sharyl AttkissonCrisis in the ClassroomWeatherCurrent WeatherRochesterSnow Showers/Wind Late20F24/18Today24/18Tuesday24/21Wednesday26/13Latest WeathercastLatest WeathercastSchool Visit RequestRadarMapsClosingsSubmit a ClosingSki ReportWeather TalkSchool PicturesMini MeteorologistBuffalo PlusBuffalo PlusEagles hang on to beat Bills 13-12 as Allen misses Shakir on 2-point tryORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — As Jalen Carter and his Philadelphia teammates celebrated in the end zone after making one last crucial stop, Buffalo’s Josh Allen remJosh Allen blames himself for failed 2-point conversion in final seconds of Bills' lossORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Josh Allen sat glumly at the postgame lectern, his mood resembling the dark clouds that hung over Highmark Stadium on Sunday.Refusing Ernie Clement attends Bills practice, receives praise from Sean McDermott Brighton native Ernie Clement was a huge Bills fan growing up, and the Blue Jays' star infielder recently got the chance to meet some members of the team.Bills, Jaguars, Chargers clinch playoff berths after Colts lose 5th straight gameThe Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars and Los Angeles Chargers qualified for the AFC playoffs with the Indianapolis Colts' 48-27 loss to the San Francisco 49eBills Latest NewsHealth MattersHealth MattersRochester General Hospital recognized for quality of maternity careRochester, N.Y. — Rochester General Hospital is celebrating a new honor.Flu cases surge in Monroe County as new strain emergesHealth leaders in Monroe County are raising concerns about a potentially tougher flu season in Western New York, as a new strain called subclade K circulates.CDC website changed to contradict scientific conclusion that vaccines don't cause autismNEW YORK (AP) — A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website has been changed to contradict the longtime scientific conclusion that vaccines do not causRochester Regional Health launches free genetic screening program Rochester Regional Health is now offering a new genetic screening program and research tool, GenoWell, that shows how your DNA impacts participants' health.Game CenterGame CenterDaily CrosswordGuess WordJewel BlockMicro CrosswordClassic SudokuWord SearchSafe DrivingWatchLive

Now

20°

Tue

24°

Wed

28°

SearchSearchUser IconWatchSearch

• NewsDown Arrow
  • Local
  • Election Results
  • Election
  • Nation & World
  • Good Day & ARC Rochester
  • Sound Stage
  • Traffic
  • Offbeat
  • Entertainment
  • Crime Stoppers
  • Connect to Congress
  • Armstrong Army Strong
  • Amazing America
  • Question of the Day
  • Spotlight on America
  • Full Measure with Sharyl Attkisson
  • Crisis in the Classroom
• WeatherDown Arrow
  • Weather Home
  • School Visit Request
  • Radar
  • Maps
  • Closings
  • Submit a Closing
  • Ski Report
  • Weather Talk
  • School Pictures
  • Mini Meteorologist
• Buffalo PlusDown Arrow
  • Buffalo Plus Home
  • Bills Latest News
• Health Matters
• Game CenterDown Arrow
  • Game Center Home
  • Daily Crossword
  • Guess Word
  • Jewel Block
  • Micro Crossword
  • Classic Sudoku
  • Word Search
  • Safe Driving
• MoneyDown Arrow
  • Money Home
  • Deposits
  • Investing
  • Mortgages
  • Loans
  • Credit Cards
• Chime In
• SportsDown Arrow
  • Sports Home
  • Colleges
  • Pickin’ Splinters
  • HS Sports Report
  • HS Play of the Week
  • Bills
  • Sabres
  • Red Wings
  • Amerks
  • Knighthawks
  • Orange
  • TICKETS
  • City Guide
• CommunityDown Arrow
  • Community Home
  • Good Day Rochester
  • Bright Spot
  • Your Photos
  • Pirate Toy Fund
  • Golisano Children's Hospital
  • Sinclair Cares
  • Jazz Lounge
  • Cheapest Gas
  • Furry Fan Page
  • Community Connection
  • Partner Spotlight
  • For Pet's Sake
  • Hire Me Rochester
  • Smart Living
  • Flower City Fare
  • From the Ground Up
• StationDown Arrow
  • Station Home
  • Contact
  • News Team
  • Careers
  • Advertise With Us
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Contests
  • Schedule
  • FOX Rochester
  • CW Rochester
  • Newsletter Sign Up
• Videos
• Newsletter Sign Up
• LegalDown Arrow
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Copyright Notices
  • Privacy & Cookie Policy
  • FCC Info
  • FCC Applications
  • Contact
  • Public File Assistance
  • News Team
  • Contests
  • Diversity & Inclusion

• facebook icon
• twitter icon

ACCESSIBILITY

Wind Advisory Continues

Gusts between 45-50 mph continue through early Tuesday morning.

ForecastRadar

Winter Storm Warning: Lake Effect Snow

Wayne County: 7 PM Monday - 7 PM Thursday,Wyoming County: 1 PM Monday - 1 AM Friday

ForecastRadarClose12

Scammers are targeting the 585 area code. Here's why.

by Jane Flasch

Mon, November 12, 2018 at 12:27 PMUpdated Thu, November 15, 2018 at 7:38 AM(SBG file photo)Comment on this story0CommentShare storyShare

topics:

• Caller ID
• Caller ID Spoofing
• Do Not Call List
• Human behavior
• Marketing
• Robocall
• Spamming
• Telemarketing

Rochester, N.Y. (WHAM) - Think you're receiving a lot of spam and scam calls? You're right.

A 13WHAM investigation found that Monroe County's 585 area code is among the most targeted in the country. There are two reasons "Do Not Call" registries are not doing an effective job. For starters, no one has been in charge of investigating complaints about these calls here in New York State for over a year.

"This is my sole lifeline," said Bryan Maslin, a small business owner, while holding up his cell phone. "I don't want to be interrupted constantly."

The owner of Maslin Productions estimated he receives four to eight spam or scam calls every day. He picks up the phone because the numbers often spoof the 585 area code and he doesn't want to lose potential customers. He said the calls are annoying - and sometimes worse.

One recent call turned threatening.

"You will be taken into custody by the local cops. Contact us immediately," said the message left on his voicemail.

"It's predatory, and I wish that I could find a way to stop it," Maslin said.

More than 15 million spam and scam calls were placed to numbers in the 585 area code in the month of September alone. That's 32 calls per person per month. The U.S. average is 20.

"It means on an average day, your viewers are getting at least one. You have some viewers getting eight to ten a day," said Ethan Garr, Chief Product Officer of Robokiller - a company that researches these calls and has developed technology to intercept them.

"I'm on the New York State 'Do Not Call' registry and the national registry, and it doesn't seem to do any good," said Maslin.

13WHAM News has learned complaints to the state's registry more than doubled over a three-year period to roughly 450,000 complaints. Yet last year, the agency in charge of investigating the complaints referred just one of those complaints for prosecution.

An audit of the agency suggests a reason for the lack of response. Two key positions have been vacant, meaning no one has been in charge of the agency for 18 months and the attorney who refers the cases for prosecution went unfilled for a year.

"Frustrating is a good word," said Maslin after learning these details. "They absolutely need to enforce the registry more than they're doing now."

"Protecting all New Yorkers is the Division's number one priority, and we've already made improvements including hiring a seasonal telemarketing professional to oversee Do Not Call operations,"the Department of State said in a statement to 13WHAM News.

This brings up the second reason so many calls are getting through. State and federal registries are set up to curtail legitimate telemarketers, but those already operating illegally ignore the rules. They avoid detection by operating overseas and constantly changing or manipulating caller ID numbers.

According to Garr, these calls generate $9.5 billion a year in revenue.

"These guys aren't trying to follow a law or honor a list that the government puts out there," he said. "That's their goal: To reach into your pocket, steal your money and identity, then reach out to the next person to do the same."

For now, the Federal Communications Commission recommends to let all calls go to voicemail so the caller will eventually move on. "If you're tricked into answering the phone call, you can become a bigger target for more robocalls," said FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai.

The top position for investigating 'Do Not Call' complaints in New York was filled earlier this year.

A 13WHAM News report on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. will focus on a new app that lets you turn the tables on the scammers and annoy them for a change.

Trending

Minnesota judge slammed for overturning conviction of pair involved in Medicaid fraudA judge in Minnesota is currently facing backlash for overturning a conviction of over $7 million of a couple who were found guilty of misusing Medicaid funds.Flu patients describe 'horrible' symptoms amid New York state's record-breaking outbreakRochester, N.Y. (WHAM) — Kimberly Trobia and Kristy Schreiber are both recovering from disruptive symptoms after catching the flu.Body found in Rochester identified as missing personRochester, N.Y. — A missing person has been found dead, according to the Rochester Police Department.Police said Danny Siplin, 33, was reported missing Tuesday High winds knock out power to thousands across WNYWith heavy wind in the forecast, parts of the Rochester area were dealing with power outages Monday morning.One person dies after being ejected in Greece crashGreece, N.Y. — One person has died from injuries after being ejected from a vehicle during a crash Saturday afternoon, according to police.

NEWS IN PHOTOS:

"Local"5First responders tackle weather-related emergencies amid high winds, icy conditions3Bright Spot: Bringing imagination to life7Travel plans up in the air for many as winter winds delay flights8Rain, melting snow blamed for leak that evacuated 131 residents at Hilton nursing home