Attorney General's News Release

May 20, 2008

National crackdown on telemarketing fraud includes three cases filed by Nixon

Jefferson City, Mo. - The Federal Trade Commission Tuesday announced the largest crackdown on telemarketing scams in its history, with more than 180 criminal and civil cases filed nationwide. Among those legal actions are three cases filed by Attorney General Jay Nixon in the past two months. The FTC filed several cases of its own, along with Nixon and other state Attorneys General, federal authorities and Canadian law enforcement.

The FTC estimates more than half a million consumers were affected by the telemarketing scams, losing more than $100 million. The con artists making the phone calls were selling everything from car extended warranties to loans to medical discount programs to magazines to charity solicitations.

The three cases filed by Nixon's office are against:

• National Auto Warranty Services, Inc. This company is one of eight targeted by Nixon in March for misleading sales pitches regarding vehicle extended service contracts. The sweep of lawsuits was dubbed Operation Taken for a Ride.
• National Dealers Warranty. This company was also targeted by Nixon in Operation Taken For a Ride.
• RCT Development Association, d/b/a Helping Our Heroes. This company solicited money by phone supposedly to benefit homeless military veterans across the United States. Nixon obtained a temporary restraining order in March after his investigation discovered the money raised was not going to veterans and the organization was not a tax-exempt charity, which it claimed in its telemarketing calls.

The FTC has also released videos and a consumer publication on telemarketing fraud, available at 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357) or www.ftc.gov.

Nixon encourages Missourians to register for the No Call list if they have not done so already. More than 2.5 million residential telephone numbers are now registered. Consumers can sign up for No Call or file complaints against telemarketers by calling 1-866-NOCALL1 (662-2551) or online at ago.mo.gov.

Take the "No Call" online quiz

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818