FTC Releases Third Quarterly Update Of Telemarketing Fraud Enforcement Actions

The Federal Trade Commission today issued its third quarterly summary announcement detailing the agency’s continued enforcement against telemarketing fraud and abuse. The quarterly enforcement summary describes significant case developments in 18 federal court cases between October 2003 and January 2004. A Web page containing the “Enforcement Summary for January 2004” also contains a list of enforcement actions involving telemarketing that have had developments since October 1, 2002, with links to press releases concerning each of these actions.

The quarterly enforcement summary can be found at: www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/telemarkfraudenforcement/summary04jan.htm.

In addition to helping consumers learn about the Commission’s enforcement actions, the Web page and the quarterly enforcement summary provide consumers with easy access to information about the specific frauds perpetrated using telephone calls and the types of fraud prosecuted by the Commission, including matters brought under the Telemarketing Sales Rule, with the exception of those related to the National Do Not Call Registry.

The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them. To file a complaint, or to get free information on any of 150 consumer topics, call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357), or use the complaint form at http://www.ftc.gov. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.