The FCC has issued a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture against Steven Blumenstock and Gary Braver for apparently causing the display of misleading or inaccurate caller ID information with the intent to cause harm, also known as “spoofing.” Mr. Blumenstock of East Rockaway, N.Y., and Mr. Braver of North Bellmore, N.Y., each face a proposed $25,000 fine for spoofing the phone numbers of Ms. Robin Braver’s parents, her child’s school district, Sing Sing Correctional Facility, the U.S. Postal Service, and other entities to trick Ms. Braver into answering the phone so that Mr. Blumenstock and Mr. Braver could deliver harassing messages to her. Mr. Blumenstock used a third-party spoofing service to make menacing calls at the direction or with the participation of Mr. Braver even though Ms. Braver had a protection order against her ex-husband.
Mr. Blumenstock was subsequently arrested and charged by the Nassau County Police Department of New York with stalking and aggravated harassment. A criminal case against Mr. Blumenstock is ongoing.
