automated phone calls
Complaint
Gene
Country: United States
Got two of these calls today. .from a local number. . when i hit the redial button, got no answer but when dialing the number manually, i got the fellow who's name was on the caller id. . he had no idea what i was talking about. .and i believe him. . how can these people make it appear the call is originating from a number it is not?? i called my phone company the person i spoke to was only a coupla steps up from a complete idiot. .asked me if i wanted someone to come out and check my wires. .huh??
Comments
1) Keep them on the line for as long as possible by asking inane questions. They lose money the longer they're on the line with a single caller that has no intention of using their service.
2) Report every call to http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm
I know that it's inconvenient to fill out this form every single time, but if the FCC is flooded with complaints, they WILL do something about this.
FTC pursues telemarketers making illegal 'robocalls' to consumers on Do Not Call list
Dec 19, 2011 2:45 PM
The Federal Trade Commission announced today it is filing legal action against several telemarketing firms for making pre-recorded sales pitches to phone numbers registered on the U.S. National Do Not Call list and disguising the Caller ID of such "robocalls" with inaccurate names.
In papers filed with the Department of Justice today, the FTC alleges that a Californian resident, Roy M. Cox, Jr., made automated sales calls—pitching credit card debt reduction programs, extended car warranties, and home security systems—using several companies based in Argentina, Hungry Hungary, Panama and the Republic of Seychelles. The calls, made on behalf of clients, violated the U.S.'s Telemarketing Sales Rule by disguising the Caller ID of such automated sales pitches with inaccurate names such as "card services" or "private office."
The FTC complaint also alleges that Cox knew, or "consciously avoided knowing," that these robocalls were being made to numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry. Making such automated, pre-recorded sales calls to consumers without their written consent violates another FTC rule, the agency said in its release today.
The legal complaint against Cox and his co-defendants—Castle Rock Capital Management Inc., Castle Rock Capital Management S.A., Capital Solutions Group S.A., Transfers Argentina S.A., Public Service, and Marketing Strategy Group—were filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on Dec. 12, 2011. That court will hear the case and determine if Cox has indeed violated the FTCs telemarketing regulations.
FTC Charges Telemarketers with Illegal Robocalling [FTC]
—Paul Eng
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011 ... -companies.html
http://ftc.gov/os/caselist/0923193/index.shtm
United States of America, Plaintiff v. Roy M. Cox, Jr., individually and as an officer, director, or owner of Castle Rock Capital Management, Inc., Castle Rock Capital Management, S.A., Capital Solutions Group, S.A., Transfers Argentina, S.A., Public Service, Marketing Strategy Group, and Castle Rock Capital Management, Inc.; Castle Rock Capital Management, S.A., a foreign corporation; Capital Solutions Group, S.A., a foreign corporation; Transfers Argentina, S.A., a foreign corporation; Public Service, a foreign corporation; and Marketing Strategy Group, a foreign corporation, Defendants.
(United States District Court for the Central District of California)
Case No. 8:11-cv-01910-DOC-JPR
FTC File No. 092 3193
December 19, 2011
Complaint for Civil Penalties, Permanent Injunction and Other Equitable Relief; Demand for Jury Trial Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 38 and Local Rule 38-1
News Release
To punch a number on your phone is a waste of time as it reassures them you paid attention to their call. thank goodness other people are experiencing a similar situation. I could not understand what they are calling for. I do not use credit cards.
It seems there is no way to stop this. If the FTC can not do anything, I don't believe there is anything we can do.
Today when they called, I said " you are going to have to convince me that this isn't a scam!"
She said "You are protected by the federal government and they monitor our calls. I see that you pay your cards on time, but you are paying a very high interest rate and I can get that lowered for you."
I then asked her "If you have my information in front of you, what is my name?"
She wanted my personal information to verify that I was the correct person who owned the cards, before she said that she could give out ANY information.
I then asked for the name of the business and she said "Credit Card Services" and I asked for their direct phone number and she gave me MY phone number, preceeded by an 800 area code. When I told her what she had done, thinking that she may have made a mistake, she said "Have a nice day." and hung up the phone.
THIS IS DEFINATELY A SCAM. BEWARE OF CALLERS!
Total lies. Great cynical response, though. Cheat people while you tell them the government is protecting them. Shows their total contempt for the law.
"I see that you pay your cards on time, "
More lies. They don't see anything.
If you find their inquiry on your credit reports, sue them, but more likely, it's just their script, to pretend they are "official" and can "lower your rates".
"but you are paying a very high interest rate and I can get that lowered for you."
More lies.