House moves to stop use of false caller IDs to scam people

House moves to stop scams using false caller IDs

WASHINGTON — The House has voted to make it illegal to falsify the name and number appearing on caller ID with the intent of deceiving and harming the person who answered the phone.

The measure passed by voice vote. Backers of the legislation say new technology has made caller ID “spoofing” increasingly easy, opening the way for scammers to misrepresent themselves to get Social Security numbers, credit card numbers and other personal information.

Legitimate uses of this technology would still be permitted. For example, domestic abuse shelters would still be able to change numbers on caller IDs to protect the caller.

The bill now goes to the Senate.