Maine is joining a multistate effort to crack down on robocalls across the country in a task force known as Operation Robocall Roundup.

The crackdown targets voice service provider companies, which the task force says are allowing illegal robocalls to be routed through their networks.  

Maine Attorney General Frey announced Thursday that he and 50 bipartisan attorneys general are sending warning letters to 37 voice providers demanding that they act now to stop illegal robocalls.

“Robocalls are not just nuisance, they are a primary method for scammers to reach unwitting victims,” said Frey in a statement. “While the scammers are often out of reach of the American legal system, the companies passing these calls through are not.”

Frey says the voice providers are not complying with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules requiring response to government traceback request. He also says the providers have not registered in the FCC’s Robocall Mitigation Databases, or have not filed a plan to reduce illegal robocalls on their networks.

Frey contends the inaction by the providers allows robocalls onto their phone networks, which are passed on to downstream providers until they reach the phones of Maine people.  

 The task force is also sending warning letters to 99 downstream providers that accept call traffic from the 37 companies.