Shreve Introduces Bill to Ban Scam Call Machines

October 1, 2026 Press Release WASHINGTON — Today, Stop Scams Caucus Chairman Jefferson Shreve introduced the Stop SIM Box Scams Act to ban devices that help scammers disguise their calls as local. Known as SIM boxes, these machines hold hundreds of SIM cards and cycle through phone numbers, helping scam operations reach Americans while evading detection. The bill would prohibit manufacturing, importing, selling, leasing, advertising, owning, or operating SIM boxes. It would also direct the Federal Communications Commission to coordinate with federal law enforcement to block imports and pursue the scam syndicates using them. "That ‘local’ Indiana number on your phone may be a scammer calling from halfway around the world. I wrote this bill to stop scammers from using these machines to pose as our neighbors," said Congressman Shreve (R-IN-06). "Scammers shouldn’t be able to use our area codes to rip off our communities. Our legislation bans the deceptive devices that allow scammers to masquerade as our neighbors, cutting off a key tool for fraudsters and protecting working families," said Congressman Rob Menendez (D-NJ-08). "Illegal calls and texts are the weapons of choice for criminals defrauding Americans in record numbers. That is why we have long called for banning SIM boxes, which enable high-volume illegal calling while allowing criminals to mask the call’s origin. The Stop SIM Box Scams Act would take this important step, and Congress should protect consumers by passing it as soon as possible," said Erik Rust, Bank Policy Institute SVP & Head of Government Affairs. "CTIA applauds Reps. Shreve and Menendez for their bipartisan work to introduce the Stop SIM Box Scams Act. CTIA and its members are dedicated to fighting SIM box-enabled fraud, and this bill would further enhance those efforts by giving the FCC greater enforcement tools and enhancing collaboration between government and the wireless industry to reduce scam and spam calls and texts. We urge Congress to swiftly advance this legislation," said Kelly Cole, CTIA SVP, Government Affairs. Read the full bill text here . Issues : Stop Scams Caucus