Telemarketer fined $225 million by FCC after making 1 billion robocalls

Discussion in 'Other News' started by Chinatown, Mar 17, 2021.

  1. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    The Federal Communications Commission issued its largest ever fine to a pair of Texas telemarketers that made more than 1 billion robocalls falsely to sell health insurance.

    The fine is the largest ever issued by the government agency.

    John Spiller and Jakob Mears, who made the calls for their businesses Rising Eagle and JSquared Telecom, were fined $225 million for the calls where they claimed to sell insurance for companies like Aetna, Cigna, United HealthCare and Blue Cross Blue Shield after asking if listeners were interested in “affordable health insurance with benefits from a company you know?”

    If listeners pressed 3 to speak to an agent the calls was forwarded to a call center that was not affiliated with those companies.

    According to the FCC, Spiller told investigators he intentionally called people on the Do Not Call list, usually using spoofed phone numbers. The firm was able to make millions of robocalls a day, the FCC said.

    “Unwanted robocalls are not only a nuisance, but they also pose a serious risk to consumers who can inadvertently share sensitive, personal information in response to bad actors’ malicious schemes,” acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement. “I’m proud to unveil my first set of actions to put a renewed focus on what the FCC can do to combat the issue that we receive the most complaints about.”

    The agency also issued cease-and-desist letters to six other robocall companies who were making scam calls about a number companies and topics, like student loans, credit cards, Apple accounts, utilities, the IRS, AT&T discounts, and Amazon refunds.

    “Today’s cease-and-desist letters should serve as a warning sign to other entities that believe the FCC has turned a blind eye to this issue,” Rosenworcel said. “We certainly haven’t and we’re coming for you.”
     
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  3. black_dog106

    black_dog106 Road Train Member

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    Best news I've heard in quite awhile.
     
  4. JC1971

    JC1971 Road Train Member

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    We should give Singapore the contract for the beatings and incarceration.
     
  5. RockinChair

    RockinChair Road Train Member

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    I hope the next people they go after are the ones who keep calling about my car's extended warranty.
     
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  6. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    At least they just call you.......
     
  7. buzzarddriver

    buzzarddriver Road Train Member

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    And yet, the calls continue unabated. I doubt the FCC will ever collect one penny of those fines.
    Until the phone companies get serious and stop the spoofing of phone numbers, Robocalls will just continue on and only increase.
     
  8. 6wheeler

    6wheeler Road Train Member

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    This caught my attention. This is an area that I know very well. We have won several cases under the TCPA which gives private citizens the right to sue corporations that violate the law.

    A very big decision is pending right now in front of the Supreme Court with Facebook and it could open the flood gates to further suits. A decision is expected late Spring.
    Supreme Court Considers Modern Applicability of TCPA's Robocall Ban in Duguid v. Facebook | JD Supra
     
  9. 6wheeler

    6wheeler Road Train Member

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    I wanted to give you thanks for this article as I have found the story and have forwarded to my legal group for their opinions.

    We have always disregarded the spoofed numbers as they always from a foreign country which doesn't give us jurisdiction and is hard to prove in court even if is an American company using a 3rd party telemarketer.

    We've busted up a few companies that call trying to BS me into something for sale and hope to get some more soon.

    Thanks!
     
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  10. Mattflat362

    Mattflat362 Road Train Member

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    What the heck man what about the, "your car warranty is up", people!? LOL.
     
    mjd4277, NavigatorWife and Dave_in_AZ Thank this.
  11. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    I get those calls.
     
    mjd4277, Dave_in_AZ and Mattflat362 Thank this.
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