Earlier this year, an AI-generated deepfake of President Joe Biden made waves in New Hampshire, reaching unsuspecting voters with fake audio designed to deceive. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) wasted no time in responding to this alarming incident. Their investigation pointed to Life Corporation, a Texas-based entity notorious for its involvement in similar scams over the years. As a result, Life Corporation, along with an associated individual, was slapped with a hefty $6 million fine.
But the story doesn’t end there. The scammers didn’t act alone; they had help from a telecom company with a questionable past. Lingo Telecom, the company in question, has a history that reads like a laundry list of name changes—formerly known as Ameritel, Excel, Impact, Startec, and Trinsic, among others. This “shape-shifting” telecom has previously been implicated in dubious activities, making it a repeat offender in the eyes of regulators.
Now, Lingo Telecom is facing the music. The FCC has imposed a $1 million civil penalty on the company, a move aimed at holding them accountable for enabling scams by providing services to known bad actors. In addition to the fine, Lingo has agreed to a stringent compliance plan to ensure they “definitely follow the rules this time for sure,” starting immediately.
Telecom companies like Lingo are supposed to serve as the first line of defense against fraudulent activities. “Communications service providers are the first line of defense against these threats and will be held accountable,” emphasized FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel in a statement that underscores the gravity of the situation.
The FCC’s action serves as a stark reminder that enabling scams, whether through negligence or intent, will not go unpunished. With this fine, the FCC is sending a clear message: there’s no room for telecoms that aid and abet malicious actors in the digital age.
