Oklahoma Recorded High Volume of Spam Calls in September

The state ranked fourth nationally for spam calls as prisoners were paid to conduct political robocalls.

Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Financial Crime

Isometric editorial illustration of an industrial telephone receiver and tangled cords, representing the exploitation of telecommunications infrastructure. — Oklahoma ranked fourth nationally in spam call volume in September, following reports that inmates were paid to conduct political robocalls from within prison facilities. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Oklahoma experienced 44 million spam calls during September 2026, marking the fourth-highest volume in the United States. Investigations revealed that inmates at four state prisons were paid two dollars per hour to conduct political robocalls from inside their facilities.

Why it matters

Rising scam activity is driven by the current election year, upcoming insurance open enrollment, and inclement weather events. Scammers continue to exploit vulnerabilities in phone network security to reach consumers.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond petitioned the FCC in August 2026 to strengthen Know Your Customer rules. The investigation into the use of prison call centers for political outreach remains active.

The players

Gentner Drummond

He serves as the Oklahoma Attorney General who petitioned the FCC to address network security loopholes.

Federal Communications Commission

This federal agency is responsible for regulating interstate and international communications via radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable.

The details

Inmates at four separate minimum security prisons utilized internal call centers to execute robocall campaigns. Engineers are currently working to identify and address specific loopholes in the phone network infrastructure being leveraged by these groups.

August 2026: AG Drummond urged the FCC to strengthen call regulations.
September 2026: Oklahoma recorded 44 million spam calls.
October 20, 2026: Health insurance open enrollment begins shortly.
November 2026: The general election takes place.

Legal Context

The push to regulate call centers follows the broader evolution of the FCC Know Your Customer rules designed to verify caller identity. Lawmakers and regulators are increasingly targeting the security loopholes that allow domestic and institutional actors to bypass standard protections.

Residents should remain vigilant against an expected increase in unsolicited contact as health insurance open enrollment begins. Increased security measures may be implemented to protect the integrity of local communication networks.

The takeaway

Consumers should utilize network-level filtering tools to block suspicious numbers during periods of high scam activity. Remaining cautious of political robocalls and insurance solicitations can help prevent falling victim to unauthorized schemes.