Tag: robocalls
mobile phone, phone call

FBI Investigates Election Day Robocalls That Threatened 800,000 Voters

Reprinted with permission from ProPublica

More than 800,000 people with phone numbers tied to six presidential swing states have been targeted with automated phone calls on Tuesday suggesting they remain at home on Election Day, a tactic that has alarmed voters and has drawn the attention of the FBI, documents and interviews show.

All told, more than 3 million calls were made to people across the country on Tuesday, instructing them to “stay safe and stay home," according to data and call recordings provided by the firm TelTech, which owns the RoboKiller smartphone app. One message, only a few seconds long, delivers the message in a monotone, robotic voice.

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#EndorseThis: John Oliver Declares War On Robocalls

#EndorseThis: John Oliver Declares War On Robocalls

Do you hate robocalls? Still plagued by the spoofing tactics used by robocallers to penetrate your Caller ID defenses? John Oliver shares your angst. The difference between the Last Week Tonight host and the rest of us, however, is that he has a plan to combat the robo-callers and their “outright illegal” business. He wants to use their own scam against them — or against the Federal Communications Commission, especially its chair, Republican Ajit Pai, for enabling them to continue.

Oliver also took a moment on Sunday’s show to mock Trump for signing those Bibles in Alabama. “I am not remotely surprised that Trump did that,” says Oliver.  “I’m just slightly confused as to why anyone would want him to — because seeing Trump’s autograph on a Bible should be like seeing a picture of your own Mom on the cover of a Penthouse magazine.” He predicts a dire fate for those who continue to use those sullied Scriptures.

Click and laugh.