First Telemarketers Charged with Transmitting False Caller ID to Consumers

7 May 2008

The first telemarketers charged with transmitting false Caller IDs (a process known as caller ID spoofing) to consumers were fined and found liable for $530,000 in damages.

According to an FTC complaint, Srikanth Venkataraman, formerly of New Jersey, has been doing business as Scorpio Systems, Ltd., selling mortgage loans, refinancing, and other products and services. Scorpio allegedly called numbers on the Do Not Call Registry, failed to transmit its telephone number and name to consumers’ caller identification service, and failed to pay the fee required to access the Registry. The telemarketer transmitted either no caller ID or a phony caller ID – 234-567-8923 – and, as a result, consumers were unable to contact the telemarketer to stop unwanted telemarketing calls.

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Rating: +4

Peeko - 7 May 2008

At first, I think, "Yay!" Then as you read the full story, towards the end, you find out they only had to pay $45,000 because they convinced the judge they couldn't pay any more than that...And all that the court has mandated is that these guys must promise not to violate the TSR ever again, as if you can do it once and it's ok??? They'll be back in business in no time, pulling the same crap.

And if anyone on the DNC list harbors doubts about it efficacy, maybe you will be sure it is worthless when you repeatedly read in the article about the criminals failure to pay the fee required to access the Registry, i.e. pay for access to those numbers. You're just on a list of validated numbers, nothing more.

Instead of feeling like we just won a battle, I feel like we just told all the other scammers that it's ok to get caught.

Rating: +3

Laura - 8 May 2008

Sure, the judge should have done more, i.e. bigger fine, but there's nothing otherwise to stop her from doing it again anyway.

I'd like to point out that the DNC is not as ineffective as you think. Telemarketers are prosecuted regularly for violating it, but it's only because groups of people on the list go online and SUBMIT A COMPLAINT EVERY TIME IT HAPPENS. That's why this lady was caught. That's why others were caught. That's why more will be caught in the future.

So, will she go back and do the same crap she was originally caught for? Probably. Will she get caught. Only so long as we on the DNC list are aware that we're self-empowered to do something about it.

We won a battle, all right, but whether we continue to beat them depends on you and everyone else keeping up with YOUR END OF THE DEAL. That means reporting unwanted telemarketing calls as soon as possible. The FCC *DOES* keep a list of complaints. They just have to wait until there's a recurring pattern to do anything about it.

Rating: +3

Beckster - 10 May 2008

Although I realize we live in womething far from an ideal world, I would like to point out that the DNC list IS useless if we have a "bargain" to keep up with.

We shouldn't have to spend our time and energy policing the bad solicitors when we got on the list to spend less time and energy on it in the first place. Having to go online and submit complaints EVERY TIME IT HAPPENS takes up twice as much time (if not longer) than dealing with the calls in the first place.

I agree with the first post. They need to be fined more. Additionally, with all of the useless crap our tax dollars are paying for, they should be able to pay for an outside party to monitor the goings-on of sneaky telemarketers.

My phone is my line of communications. If I choose to share my number with my parents, husband, and kids alone I should not be receiving calls from telemarketers. I am not careless with my phone number and do not deserve to have to do the legwork to keep my phone private. Period.

Rating: 0

tj - 12 May 2008

What do you mean "...there's nothing otherwise to stop her from doing it again anyway..."

Make it a capital offense and make it real public!!!

Rating: +2

Carol V. - 20 May 2008

I agree. Jail time would either cut down on the violations or make these people leave the U.S.

Rating: +1

Bob - 14 May 2008

Hi Laura

How do I enter a complaint? 888-368-3955 is now calling me at work....I would appreciate any guidance.

Thanks!

Bob

Rating: +1

helpontheway - 19 May 2008

Your phone must be on the DNC list. If so, then register your complaint online at:
https://www.donotcall.gov/complaint/complaintcheck.aspx

Rating: 0

Anonymous - 22 May 2008

"Bob" said they're calling "at work". The DNC does not cover business-to-business calls.

Rating: 0

Bob S. - 24 May 2008

Geese Laura are you naive! Scammers are openly calling the numbers on the DNC list, using false or no caller ID, BECAUSE THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH IT. When some idiot Judge forgets the numbers of citizens these scammers have inconvenienced, wasted their time, or defrauded them, the system isn't working. Name one thing the government is in charge of that works? ONE? If the government gave a damn, they would supply a complaint form which allowed for more information, such as this website provides, instead of getting more info on you, than on the telemarketers.

Rating: 0

Nonaii - 11 Jun 2008

they can only get away it as long as people don't file complaints. the more complaints filed, the more likely they will be called -- and more importantly, other people won't be entrapped as the first people were entrapped. we have to look out for each other, even if it doesn't immediately help us. keep reporting, to as many agencies as possible.

Rating: +1

Stevenw - 12 May 2008

They could only pay $45,000? I wonder how many off shore accounts they have. The problem with telemakreters is that they lie almost compulsively. Sad to think a federal judge could be so gullible.

Rating: +3

Detective DJ - 29 May 2008

Punk them bitches- When they call, tell them theres a crime scene investigation going on, and get there information as a possible suspect to the crime going on at the number they called ( your).

-for entertainment purposes only

Rating: -1

civil disobedience - 31 May 2008

Your are right! We have to shut down this industry. I have been getting harassing calls for a debt I do not owe. So I spent an exhilarating afternoon calling the TOLL FREE number of the collection agency. I called again and again and hung up in his face!! I loved it. Dial *67 to block your number or call from a fax line. I love the thought of them calling back and getting that fax tone in their ears.
Keep in mind that they pay for the calls!! Imagine thier faces when they get the bill. SEND AN EMAIL WITH THIS IDEA TO EVERYONE IN YOUR ADDRESS BOOK. POST THE IDEA ON 10 WEBSITES. TAKE YOUR POWER BACK.

Rating: +3

The Truth - 3 Jun 2008

Not smart! *67 doesn't block your number on a toll free line. Because the company is paying for the call, they get a record of ALL calls.

Rating: +1

Rastus J - 3 Jun 2008

I thought FINES were for decent people with a job to do. These **expletives** are telephone scammers with no other siurce of income. A week or two in jail, charged for meals, MIGHT have taught them a lesson. Instead, they go "back to work" calling people to make up for their fine and rooking people out of their savings. This judge acts like the crooks are his "Cousin Joe" and Joe needs a break or Aunt Martha will suffer while they are in jail.
The same goes for child molesters getting electronic bracelets they "lose" later when they disappear.
A liberal judge is sometimes filling in and not even elected...the "old boy" network giving "old boys" a bad name.

Rating: +1

nick B - 8 May 2008

What about GlodalReach 213-228-8111 that calls you 10 times a day and hangs up every time????

Rating: +5

Richard - Torrance, CA - 8 May 2008

Nick B, Do what I did. I kept the telemarketer on the phone for 45 minutes chatting her up and provded bogus information--like credit card numbers. When she finally got to requesting the 800 phone number on the back of the credit card to validate, I was ready with the FBI's anti-fraud 800 number. The last thing I heard her say before hanging up on me was, "Damn."

Prior to that lengthly phone call they were calling 2-3 times a week. It has been several weeks now and not a call.

Rating: +6

theodore - 8 May 2008

Wow, based on that article, it makes me wanna start a scamming business. It would only costs me $45,000 in fines. There is no justice. Folks, you've got to understand the business. Telephone companies are getting paid for all these scammed calls so why would they want to stop this from happening??? Why would the govt want to do anything about it? Its residual income for the phone companies, which means that its money to Uncle Sam. We live in a country that enables and encourages these crimes....

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