Last week, the Federal Trade Commission got a U.S. District Court in New York to shut down a robocall operation that allegedly scammed consumers by pretending to be the Federal Trade Commission.
In a complaint filed in federal court, the FTC charged that the operation run by The Cuban Exchange, Inc., also doing business as CrediSure America and MyiPad.us, and its principal, Suhaylee Rivera, deceptively claimed they could help consumers obtain refunds from the agency, in an effort to trick them into providing their personal information and bank account numbers.
According to the FTC, the company falsely told consumers it has helped “more than 13,000” people get refunds. It also “spoofed” the FTC’s Consumer Response toll-free phone number, so that the FTC’s number appeared on consumers’ Caller ID devices. The defendants also used a website address – ftcrefund.com – designed to confuse consumers into thinking the operation had a connection with the FTC. The website has since been shut down.
“When the Federal Trade Commission returns money to consumers who have been ripped off, it doesn’t use robocalls, and it certainly doesn’t ask them to provide personal financial information,” said David Vladeck, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “To anyone breaking the law by making illegal robocalls, transmitting phony Caller ID information, or impersonating a federal agency, we have two words for you: Stop now. The real Federal Trade Commission will come after you.”
On the ftcrefund.com website, the FTC says consumers were told:
“CrediSure has the proper knowledge and open door [sic] to expedite refunds you may not even know were owed to you. CrediSure works as a tireless collector and fiercely fights for its clients [sic] refunds to be paid first.”
Consumers are then told they will get a refund from the FTC in “five to seven business days, as opposed to the standard 8 to 10 weeks,” and instructs them to enter their “Seizure ID” number and “depository information” to get the process started. Consumers are told that the defendants will take 5.55 percent of the refund as a fee for the service of speeding up the refund process. They also falsely claim that, “Over 13,000 clients have received refunds through CrediSure America.”
Consumers who enter their “Seizure ID” number on the website are directed to a page on the site that provides them with information including the supposed name of the FTC case, the amount to be refunded, the fee the defendants will charge, and the supposed total amount of the refund the consumer will receive. To get the “refund,” consumers must provide their address, phone number, bank name (including the name listed on the account), account number, routing number, and a check number, supposedly so refunds can be deposited directly into their accounts.
The case is the 100th brought by the FTC over the past nine years alleging violations related to the national Do Not Call (DNC) Registry, which was launched in 2003. The FTC alleged that, in addition to making illegal telemarketing robocalls, the defendants also called consumers whose phone numbers are on the Registry.
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