ScammerBlaster

ScammerBlaster is the alias of Thomas Dorsher, a North Dakota-based vigilante known for his controversial and aggressive tactics against phone scammers. Dorsher, through his business ScammerBlaster Inc, has gained notoriety for his unique approach to combating telecommunication fraud, involving robocalls and denial of service attacks. His activities have drawn significant attention from both supporters who praise his anti-scam efforts and critics, including regulatory authorities, who condemn his methods as illegal.

Background

Thomas Dorsher's ScammerBlaster initiative aims to disrupt the operations of scammers by employing various aggressive tactics. His efforts include:

• Traffic-Pumping Fraud: Dorsher and his entities allegedly made robocalls to toll-free numbers to generate revenue.
• Call Flooding: As a form of vigilante justice, ScammerBlaster conducted telephone denial of service (TDoS) attacks on numbers associated with scammers and telecom companies perceived to profit from fraudulent calls.

Dorsher incorporated ScammerBlaster Inc with the stated mission of "disrupting the activities of individuals who employ deceitful practices." He often used his YouTube channel and website to describe and document his actions, including singing rude songs to scammers and publishing email addresses of telecom staff he blamed for scam traffic.

Legal Issues and FCC Fine

In response to Dorsher's activities, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has proposed a substantial fine of $116,156,250 against Dorsher and his associated entities, ScammerBlaster Inc, OnTel Inc, and ChariTel Inc. The allegations include:

• Robocalls: ChariTel Inc is accused of making nearly 10 million robocalls to toll-free numbers, violating the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).
• TDoS Attacks: OnTel Inc was allegedly used to launch denial of service attacks.

Specific Incidents

One notable incident involved Dorsher mistakenly targeting a consultant for the Industry Traceback Group (ITG) with a TDoS attack. Believing the consultant was involved in tech support scams, Dorsher flooded the consultant's phone with over 100 calls in minutes, leading to his operations being traced back to OnTel. This error highlighted flaws in Dorsher's methods for identifying illegal robocallers.

FCC’s Findings

The FCC's Notice of Apparent Liability highlighted numerous issues with Dorsher's operations, including:

• Making illegal robocalls with messages that purported to be public service announcements.
• Revenue generation through traffic-pumping fraud schemes.
• Engaging in TDoS attacks against entities Dorsher believed to be involved in scam activities.

Criticisms and Industry Reactions

Dorsher's methods and the subsequent FCC investigation have sparked debates on both his actions and the broader telecom industry's handling of scam calls. Critics argue that while Dorsher's intentions to combat fraud may be genuine, his illegal tactics undermine legitimate efforts to address the problem and could potentially harm innocent parties.

FCC’s Criticism and Proportionality of Penalties

The proposed fine against Dorsher has also been criticized for its disproportionate nature, given that larger corporations often receive lesser penalties for more significant offenses. FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel acknowledged the limitations of current enforcement mechanisms and called for legal reforms to enable the FCC to directly collect fines.

Conclusion

Thomas Dorsher, through ScammerBlaster, has positioned himself as a controversial figure in the fight against telecommunication fraud. His vigilante tactics, while intended to disrupt scam operations, have led to significant legal repercussions and scrutiny from regulatory authorities. The ongoing debate over the proportionality and effectiveness of penalties in such cases continues to highlight the complexities of combating telecom fraud in the modern digital landscape.