Tag

Telemarketing

All articles tagged with #telemarketing

business5 days ago•3 min saved

AI-Driven Automation Expected to Narrow 12 U.S. Jobs in the Next Decade

A Bureau of Labor Statistics projection for 2025–2035 shows 12 occupations with the largest declines due to automation and 3D printing, including word processors and typists (down 34%), foundry mold/coremakers, and metal/plastic patternmakers; telemarketers and roof bolters also face shifts as marketing and mining methods evolve. Overall U.S. employment is still expected to rise about 3.5% over the decade, with growth concentrated in healthcare and social assistance.

via Business Insider|

#3d-printing #automation #business

world24 days ago•125 min saved

France Tightens Consumer Protections With Telemarketing Ban and Heavy Fines

France has enacted a new law prohibiting unsolicited telemarketing calls and imposing hefty fines on violators, aiming to shield consumers from intrusive outreach and strengthen privacy protections in the marketplace.

via AP News|

#consumer-protection #fines #france

world24 days ago•7 min saved

France bans unsolicited telemarketing to protect consumer peace

France has barred unsolicited telemarketing calls across all sectors, with exceptions only for calls tied to a contract or where the recipient has given prior marketing consent. Consumer group Que Choisir Ensemble calls it a victory for consumer quiet, while business groups warn of added administrative burdens. Parliament data shows widespread annoyance with telemarketing, and while other European countries vary, the UK permits calls unless blocked by the recipient.

via BBC|

#consent #consumer-protection #france

crimehealthcare-fraud2 years ago•4 min saved

"Medicare Fraud Schemes Uncovered in South Florida and Georgia"

South Florida call centers are linked to a multi-billion dollar Medicare fraud scheme, targeting Medicare recipients with unnecessary genetic testing. Telemarketers use illegally obtained personal data to convince beneficiaries to take the tests, which are then billed to Medicare for exorbitant amounts. The scheme involves call centers in South Florida, with one case involving over $67 million in false claims. Despite efforts by federal investigators, limited resources and funding hinder the crackdown on such fraudulent activities.

via NBC 6 South Florida|

#call-centers #crimehealthcare-fraud #genetic-testing

business3 years ago•3 min saved

CFPB Secures Multibillion Dollar Settlements with Credit Repair Companies

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has reached a proposed settlement with a group of corporate entities, including Lexington Law and CreditRepair.com, for illegally collecting advance fees for credit repair services through telemarketing. The settlement, if approved, would impose a $2.7 billion judgment against the companies and ban them from telemarketing credit repair services for 10 years. The companies are accused of using fake real estate and rent-to-own opportunities to deceive customers. The CFPB's action highlights the need for reform in the credit reporting and scoring system.

via Consumer Financial Protection Bureau|

#business #cfpb #consumer-protection

crime3 years ago•8 min saved

Unveiling the Dark Secrets of the Billion-Dollar Telemarketing Industry

The HBO docuseries "Telemarketers" exposes the rise, fall, and ongoing nationwide grift of a telemarketing firm called Civic Development Group (CDG). The series, directed by former CDG employee Sam Lipman-Stern and his cousin-in-law Adam Bhala Lough, features behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with former employees, revealing the dark secrets and fraudulent practices of the company. CDG would take up to 90% of the donations it solicited, and the scam extended beyond one company, implicating some of the organizations themselves. Lipman-Stern and Pespas, armed with a budget and professional help, continue their investigation, hoping to reform the fundraising industry and provide transparency and accountability.

via Vulture|

#crime #documentary #fraud

technology3 years ago•2 min saved

Record-breaking FCC Fine: Robocaller Company Slapped with $5 Billion Penalty for Auto Warranty Calls

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued its largest-ever fine of $300 million against a robocall operation that made over five billion auto warranty calls. The operation, run by individuals previously banned from making telemarketing calls, violated multiple federal statutes and FCC regulations. The FCC's plan with cell phone companies to block these unwanted calls helped reduce auto warranty calls by 99%. If the fine is not paid, the case will be referred to the U.S. Department of Justice for collection.

via USA TODAY|

#auto-warranty-scam #fcc #fine

technology3 years ago•1 min saved

"Rise in Phone Bot Usage for Telemarketer Torment"

People frustrated with unwanted telemarketing calls are using AI software and voice cloners to simulate distracted individuals who are willing to stay on the phone indefinitely. With the average American receiving 14 unwanted calls per month, call centers using automated dialers can make hundreds of calls per second. By employing voice modulators and software, telemarketers can remove accents and use prerecorded English phrases. One individual, Roger Anderson, has developed a call-deflection system called Jolly Roger, which uses chatbots to engage telemarketers with preset expressions and distractions. Anderson's system has gained thousands of subscribers who pay $24.99 per year for its services.

via Slashdot|

#ai-software #call-centers #consumer-complaints

technology3 years ago

"Telemarketer Torture: Phone Bots Hired by People"

In an effort to combat telemarketing calls, some people are using phone bots to engage with and frustrate telemarketers. These bots are designed to waste the telemarketers' time by engaging in lengthy conversations or playing pre-recorded messages, ultimately aiming to discourage them from calling again. While some view this as a form of consumer protection, others argue that it may cross the line into harassment.

via The Wall Street Journal|

#automation #consumer-protection #harassment

legal3 years ago•2 min saved

Telecom company faces massive lawsuit over illegal robocalls.

Avid Telecom, an Arizona-based phone-calling service provider, is being sued by attorneys general from 48 states and the District of Columbia for allegedly facilitating billions of robocalls, including many that appeared to be scams. The company is accused of transmitting 7.5 billion automated calls to people on the National Do Not Call Registry, a practice that violates laws prohibiting deceptive telemarketing practices. The lawsuit represents the latest effort to crack down on automated phone scams.

via The Washington Post|

#avid-telecom #lawsuit #legal

entertainment3 years ago•1 min saved

Unmasking the Telemarketer as Justin Roiland.

A telemarketer attempting to sell an insurance policy was recognized by the target as Justin Roiland, the disgraced co-creator of Rick & Morty. Despite the target's insistence, the solicitor denied being Roiland and continued with his pitch. The target eventually hung up after the telemarketer mentioned putting an Asian associate on the phone.

via Hard Drive|

#entertainment #insurance #justin-roiland

technology3 years ago•1 min saved

Truecaller and WhatsApp team up to fight spam.

Truecaller is set to launch a caller identification service over WhatsApp and other messaging apps to help users identify potential spam calls over the internet. The feature, currently in beta phase, will be rolled out globally later in May. India, where users receive an average of 17 spam calls per month, is Truecaller's biggest market with 250 million users. The company is in discussions with telecom operators to implement a solution to block telemarketing calls over their networks using artificial intelligence filters.

via Reuters|

#india #spam-calls #technology

business3 years ago•2 min saved

FTC Implements Lifetime Ban for Scam Companies Selling Vehicle 'Extended Warranties'

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is proposing a court order to ban three companies and their owners from offering vehicle "warranties" or working in telemarketing ever again. The FTC charged American Vehicle Protection Corporation (AVP) and two affiliated companies with violating the FTC Act and the Telemarketing Sales Rule. The complaint alleges that AVP falsely claimed to represent dealers and manufacturers, offering fraudulent "bumper-to-bumper" and "full vehicle" coverage policies to customers for between $2,800 and $3,400. The scams have fleeced US consumers out of over $6 million since 2018.

via Jalopnik|

#business #consumer-protection #extended-warranties

business3 years ago•2 min saved

Cracking down on scammers selling fake vehicle warranties.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is proposing court orders that may lead to a lifetime ban from all outbound telemarketing and the extended automobile warranty industry for the operators of an "extended vehicle warranty" scam that cost consumers over $6M. The scammers placed hundreds of thousands of unsolicited calls to American consumers, claiming to be affiliated with vehicle makers and offering "bumper to bumper" protection. The companies and their owners implicated in the scam have agreed to the proposed orders, which include a monetary judgment of $6.6 million.

via Fox Business|

#business #court-orders #extended-vehicle-warranty