Attorney General's News Release

August 24, 2012

Attorney General Koster reaches settlement with California company for unlawful telemarketing practices

Jefferson City, Mo. – Attorney General Chris Koster announced today that he has reached a settlement with Avid Advertising and its owner, Ben Martin, under which they will pay $5,000 in penalties, provide evidence against their co-defendant, and promise to abide by Missouri telemarketing laws.

“My office will preserve the dinner hour in Missouri,” Koster said. “We will pursue any company that violates Missouri’s telemarketing and no-call laws.”

In a lawsuit filed in St. Louis County, Koster alleged that Martin and his company provided technology to allow another company, AuthentiSource Corporation of California, to display the name “Diabetic Group” on consumers’ caller IDs even though AuthentiSource is not related to any diabetic group and to display dozens of false phone numbers for AuthentiSource so that it could avoid detection from law enforcement as it made calls to Missourians on the no-call list. AuthentiSource and its owner, Steve Bath, remain defendants in the lawsuit.

Koster reminds Missourians they can sign up for the Do-Not-Call hotline on his website at www.ago.mo.gov or by calling 1-866-662-2551. He encourages consumers who receive harassing solicitation calls to file a complaint at 1-866-buzzoff (1-866-289-9633). Missourians now may also register their cell phone numbers with Missouri’s no-call list.