Attorney General Todd Rokita and a bipartisan coalition of 49 other state attorneys general are calling on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to strengthen its “Know Your Customer” (KYC) rules so phone companies can better block scammers from accessing the U.S. communications network.
KYC rules require originating voice service providers to verify who is using their networks and what business those customers conduct. Providers can then refuse service to illegitimate actors or terminate those making unlawful calls. Stronger standards are needed because current requirements have failed to stop the flood of illegal robocalls.
“Illegal robocalls and scams are a serious problem for Hoosier families, stealing time, money and peace of mind,” said Attorney General Rokita. “We of course want to go after these bad actors, but we also want to get to the source of the problem. When your house floods, you clean up the water, but you also work to repair the broken parts of the house that allowed the flooding to occur. That is what we are doing here.”
Last year Americans received more than 29.6 billion scam robocalls and texts and lost nearly $2 billion to these schemes. The lack of diligence by some originating providers not only enables these scams but also hinders law enforcement efforts to identify criminals who use the telephone network for drug deals, violent crimes, and human trafficking.
The attorneys general are asking the FCC to:
- Require providers to understand their customers’ business practices, reputation, history, intended use of services, and compliance with state and federal law—not merely verify identity and existence.
- Apply the same enhanced KYC standards to all originating providers, including smaller ones frequently exploited by scammers.
- Mandate additional, ongoing monitoring for high-risk customers, such as those purchasing high-volume calling services.
Since January 2021, Attorney General Rokita’s office has secured more than $200 million in penalties against illegal and annoying robocallers. In 2025 the office co-led Operation Robocall Roundup, a multistate crackdown by the Anti-Robocall Litigation Task Force.
Hoosier consumers can file complaints about robocalls (or “live” violators of the Do Not Call List) with the Indiana Attorney General’s Office at our website or by calling 1-888-834-9969 or by email at donotcall@atg.in.gov.