Sen. Michele Brooks’ legislation to ban spoofing of caller ID systems has passed the state Senate.

Brooks, R-Erie/Crawford/Mercer/Warren, introduced Senate Bill 764 in April. It was approved in June by a pair of Senate committees before passing the full Senate unanimously on Monday.

Spoofed telemarketing robocalls disguise their real phone number by making it look like a local number, increasing the likelihood that the call will be answered. The computerized telemarketing messages can be intrusive prey on those who answer the call, including senior citizens.

“Our citizens should not be fooled into thinking a spam call is a local call,” Brooks said. “Many of these calls are intended to harass, defraud or otherwise harm or take something of value from innocent parties, and should not come across the Caller ID as being a local number when they are, many times, being made from other states or from who knows where.”

Brooks noted that the legislation also prevents telemarketing calls after 8 p.m. and before 8 a.m.

“It is my hope that this legislation will help to better protect Pennsylvanians from fraudulent calls as well as the many inconveniences caused by telemarketing calls at all hours of the day and night.”

Senate Bill 764 now heads to the House of Representatives for its consideration.