Neighbor Spoofing

Neighbor spoofing is a form of caller ID spoofing in which a robocaller makes the incoming number look similar to yours, usually with the same area code and the same next three digits. The goal is to make you think a neighbor, local business, or school is calling so you pick up. The real caller could be anywhere, often overseas, and the number shown usually belongs to someone who has nothing to do with the call.

Spoofing itself is not always illegal. Businesses sometimes show a main office number instead of a direct line. It becomes illegal when done to deceive. Under the Truth in Caller ID provisions of the TCPA, 47 U.S.C. 227(e), it is unlawful to cause a caller ID service to knowingly transmit misleading or inaccurate caller ID information with the intent to defraud, cause harm, or wrongfully obtain anything of value, and the FCC can impose forfeiture penalties of up to $10,000 per violation.

For consumers, the most useful point is that neighbor spoofing usually travels with other violations. A spoofed telemarketing robocall to a cell phone or to a number on the Do Not Call Registry may give rise to a TCPA claim against the company that benefited from the call, even if the caller ID was fake. The challenge is identifying who was behind the call, which is why saving the recording, the pitch, and any company name mentioned is so helpful. Phone carriers now also use call authentication technology to flag suspected spoofed calls.

Do not call back spoofed numbers or press keys to be removed. See our robocall lawsuit page, how to stop robocalls and spam texts, and the robocall entry.