NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WGNS)- A nationwide crackdown on illegal robocalls is underway, and Tennessee officials say the effort could bring relief to residents in Rutherford County and across Middle Tennessee who are frequently targeted by scam calls.

Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti this week announced “Operation Robocall Roundup,” a bipartisan initiative involving attorneys general from all 50 states. The effort targets 37 telecommunications companies accused of failing to follow federal rules designed to prevent illegal robocalls from reaching consumers.

“Tennesseans should be able to answer their phones without being harassed or targeted by scammers,” Skrmetti said in a statement. “These companies failed to meet the most basic requirements to prevent illegal robocalls.”

State officials say the companies allegedly ignored requirements such as responding to government traceback requests, registering with federal robocall mitigation databases, or filing plans to reduce illegal call traffic. Those failures can allow scammers to exploit networks and place fraudulent calls to local residents, including those in Murfreesboro and Smyrna.

As part of the enforcement action, the coalition is also warning nearly 100 additional telecom providers that they may be routing calls from companies not in compliance with federal law. Regulators say that practice can amplify the spread of robocalls nationwide.

The Federal Communications Commission has already taken steps to remove several non-compliant companies from its Robocall Mitigation Database. Once removed, other providers are prohibited from routing calls from those networks, effectively cutting off a key pathway used by robocallers.

The multistate Anti-Robocall Litigation Task Force, formed in 2022, continues to investigate companies responsible for large volumes of illegal robocalls. Tennessee officials say the latest action is part of a broader push to hold companies accountable and reduce the number of scam calls reaching consumers.

For Rutherford County residents, officials recommend remaining cautious of unknown callers, avoiding sharing personal information over the phone, and reporting suspicious calls to state and federal authorities.