FTC Targets Massive Car Warranty Robocall Scheme

coondoggie writes "Robocalls are a scourge, and the Federal Trade Commission today took action against one outfit by asking a federal court to shut down companies that have been bombarding consumers with hundreds of millions of allegedly deceptive robocalls in an effort to sell vehicle service contracts. According to the FTC, the robocalls have prompted tens of thousands of complaints from consumers who are either on the Do Not Call Registry or asked not to be called. Five telephone numbers associated with the defendants have generated a total of 30,000 Do Not Call complaints. Consumers received the robocalls at home, work, and on their cell phones, sometimes several times in one day. Businesses, government offices and even 911 dispatchers also have been subjected to the calls, the FTC said." Reader powerlord points out that another such company, not named in the FTC filing, raised the ire of thousands of internet-goers, who struck back by rickrolling the company's voice mail and digging up personal information on the company's president.

Comments

At least 3 complaints from me...

[Tmack]

One for my personal Cell phone back in march, two for my business cell in march and april. The calls clearly violate FCC regs by being completely automated, no mention of the company name, calling numbers already on the DNC, etc. The first call I opted to talk to a rep, when he connected and mumbled the name of the company, I asked his name and the company name, and he hung up. Second call I told them I was on the DNC, that I was filing a complaint and to make sure I was on their DNC as well. Third call I told them they were in violation as I was already on both the national DNC and theirs, the rep again hung up on me.

If you get one of these types of calls, just go Here: http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm and fill out the form. In a week or two you get the print copy mailed to you of your filing.

Im glad they are acting on these @holes.

Re:This is why...

[BriggsBU]

Problem is that these guys are calling cell phone and such as well.

Re:How about....

[AuMatar]

Wrong. I get called once every few months by my visa card due to something that sets off their software. It hasn't been real identity theft yet, but they do call you before shutting off the card. Shutting off the card is done if they can't contact you.

But yes, it's safest not to believe it when someone calls you. I always hang up and then call the number on the back of my card to make sure I'm talking to the CC company. The last few times I did that they forwarded my call directly to fraud without going through voicemail, despite just calling the general customer support number- they must have had the phone number on the card flagged.

Re:Exactly.

[choco]

I don't know about the USA, but can say that this would be completely impractical in the UK.

For various complex reasons, major users in the UK (like call centres) frequently buy their incoming telephony and outgoing telephony from completely different companies. It's not uncommon to have several companies providing each. The incoming numbers used may not even belong to the call centre. It is increasingly common for these to be allocated and routed dynamically in real time.

(This is exactly the service my company provides - to known, legitimate customers).

There's no way that the outgoing Telco is going to be able to unscramble or keep up with this.