WASHINGTON —

As the holiday season approaches, scammers are increasingly targeting consumers, prompting agencies and lawmakers to take action to protect the public.

Ed Bartholme, chief of the FCC's Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, said scammers "adapt their messaging and their pitches to what is out there in the news to make it seem more real."

The Federal Communications Commission proposed new rules in October to provide consumers with more information about incoming calls. Bartholme explained, "I think we're all familiar with caller ID on our phone. We know that sometimes those numbers are spoofed. We, for the past couple of years, we've been working to make sure spoofing doesn't happen."

Sen. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire is investigating the rising rate of scams, especial

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