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2021-03-19 -Lurid Crime Tales-

FCC fines Texas-based telemarketers record-setting $225 million for robocalls

[NYPOST] The Federal Communications Commission levied a record fine of $225 million on two Texas-based telemarketing companies for ’spoofed’ robocalls, the agency said Wednesday.

Rising Eagle and JSquared Telecom were slapped with the fine after placing close to one billion robocalls in 2019 to falsely sell short-term health insurance plans.

"John C. Spiller and Jakob A. Mears, who used business names including Rising Eagle and JSquared Telecom, transmitted the spoofed robocalls across the country during the first four-and-a-half months of 2019," says a statement issued by the FCC.

"Mr. Spiller admitted to the USTelecom Industry Traceback Group that he made millions of spoofed calls per day and knowingly called consumers on the Do Not Call list as he believed that it was more profitable to target these consumers."

According to an anti-spam app, Robokiller, spam calls have risen 26 percent over the last year.

The FCC also announced Wednesday that it will be allocating 51 employees to form a "Robocall Response Team" in response to the increased robocalls. The DOJ, FTC and state attorney generals have also been asked to help out with the issue.

Cease and desist letters have been sent to all companies who have violated the FCC rules or who the FCC thinks have violated.

"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. We certainly haven’t and we’re coming for you," Acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement.

The FCC has issued over $450 million in fines in recent years.

Posted by Fred 2021-03-19 00:00|| || Front Page|| [15 views ] Top

#1 And they will never collect a penny of it. Civil cases.

They need to add a criminal federal felony component for cases like these where the telemarketers deliberately flouted the law. Lets say forfeiture of all monies and property, and a minimum of 3 years in federal prison with loss of voting and federal licensing eligibility, say... Victorville. Hard time.

Posted by These Forkbeard7574 2021-03-19 02:26|| 2021-03-19 02:26|| Front Page Top

#2

Instead every Phone # owner being charged a background fee for the Federal No Call List.

Why not make it a fine of $25 per NO CALL violation

With 50% going to the Fed's and States to support better Internet Privacy and Connectivity.

An 50% to the victim Ph # owners. As Non-Taxable Income.

At least this way I'd get free Cell Phone service for the month about every 2 weeks.

Posted by NN2N1 2021-03-19 09:36|| 2021-03-19 09:36|| Front Page Top

#3 Victorville seems a lot more appropriate than fines...unless the fines are included with the prison sentence.

Posted by Abu Uluque 2021-03-19 14:33|| 2021-03-19 14:33|| Front Page Top