Woman Files Robocall Lawsuit Against Liberty University

Americans disagree about many things, but there’s one thing we can agree on: robocalls need to be stopped!

For one North Carolina resident, this meant taking matters into her own hands and filing a lawsuit against an alleged perpetuator of robocalls. 

Joerella Elleby registered her telephone number with the National Do Not Call Registry in March 2021. But shortly after, she received a barrage of pre-recorded calls from Liberty University. 

The calls took place at least five times: April 2, 9, 13, 16, and 20, 2021.

Elleby decided to take the university to court, claiming in her lawsuit that the school violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) by sending automated calls without her consent. 

The lawsuit states that all of the calls were  “substantively similar and made as a part of a Summer 2021 promotional campaign by Liberty University to promote its education programs to consumers at a discounted rate.”

Elleby says she never gave Liberty permission to call her. Her lawsuit points out that in 2013, the FCC required that businesses obtain “prior express written consent” before sending autodialed or prerecorded calls. 

A spokesperson for Liberty University told ABC News that the calls were “a marketing message intended for those who’ve previously filled out information expressing interest.” 

The school went on to say that the calls directed toward Elleby were not willful, but rather meant for someone who had previously used Elleby’s phone number and had expressed interest in the school. 

If Elleby wins her lawsuit, she may receive $500 per call, or $1500 if the calls are found to have been willful. Liberty University is confident that the case will be dropped. 

A Better Way to Be Rid of Robocalls…For Good

Unfortunately, very view telemarketers are taken to court, and very few robocall lawsuits are won.  Although legitimate businesses usually adhere to the National Do Not Call list, some place telemarketing calls unintentionally. Illegal businesses pay no attention to the Do Not Call list, or US law for that matter. 

 Proving that a business is guilty of willfully violating the TCPA is tricky, because phone numbers are often “recycled”, as may be the case for Elleby. Many times, robocalls are placed from other countries, making them impossible to trace. 

There’s a better way to get rid of robocalls: blocking them from your phone with a call-blocking app. 

We recommended downloading an app that respects your privacy, and won’t sell your contact information to third parties. 

Try Call Control for free today! Secure, Private, and Powerful Protection. 

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Ohio Man Nearly Loses $2K in Terrifying Phone Scam

An Ohio man was nearly scammed out of $2,000 dollars after receiving a call from a scammer who claimed to have kidnapped his daughter. 

Bill, who asked Fox 8 News not to share his last name for privacy reasons, wanted to share his story in hopes that others won’t fall for similar schemes. 

“When I answered the phone, it was a crying girl,” Bill said. “And they said, Daddy, I’m in trouble. I’ve been kidnapped; they’ve got a gun to my head; they want money.”

Maybe the girl’s voice was just enough like his daughter’s to be convincing. Or perhaps only the thought of her being in danger spurred a “fight or flight” reaction in the concerned father. Whatever the case, Bill began to do exactly what the scammer said. 

He drove to his local bank, where he took out $2,000 in cash. But before he followed the caller’s instructions any further, he decided to try to get help. 

While at a teller’s counter, Bill hurriedly scribbled out a note. He wrote that his daughter had been kidnapped, and that the kidnapper was on the phone asking for a ransom. 

“Don’t let on,” he wrote. “They’re on the phone listening. Please call the police department.”

That’s exactly what the teller did–and police soon arrived at the scene. They communicated with Bill via written notes so that the scammer wouldn’t be aware of their presence. Then they contacted Bill’s daughter and discovered she was ok. 

Relieved that his daughter wasn’t in danger, Bill now realized he was the victim of a scam. 

Officers then took Bill’s phone to confront the scammer, who told them to “mind their own business.” 

Police traced the call back to Mexico. Strangely, the scammer did not have an accent while speaking English. 

“Is this your envelope of money, tough guy?” Police told the criminal. “Why don’t you come down and get it?” After a few more harsh words were exchanged, police hung up. 

Police told Fox 8 News that they were grateful to have been able to intervene before Bill handed over any cash. Many victims, however, are not so lucky. 

Every day, millions of scam calls and robocalls bombard American phones. While most of those calls will be ignored, blocked, or sent to voicemail, hundreds will be answered by unwitting victims. 

The Federal Communications Commission says that the best way to avoid become a victim of a scam is to avoid answering calls from numbers you don’t recognize, and block robocalls with a call blocker. It’s also important to educate friends and loved ones about possible scams they may encounter. 

Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones from Scams Today!

 Trusted by millions of consumers worldwide, Call Control uses exclusive Community IQ technology to block even the latest scam and spam numbers from your phone. Download Call Control for free today with these links:

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Is Your DMV Selling Your Information to Robocallers?

There could be a good reason why you’re getting so many calls saying, “your car’s warranty is about to expire.” 

Apparently, the Department of Motor Vehicles in some states is selling drivers’ personal information—and it’s legal, to a point.

In 2020, CBS News found that the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles made more than $3 million in 2019 from the sale of drivers’ names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and vehicle information. 

According to DMV records, the personal data was sold to more than 2,700 government agencies and private companies. 

When registering a vehicle, there is no clause to warn consumers that the DMV will share their information with others–not even in fine print. There is no line for a signature to grant permission, and no way to opt out.

So what happens to this information once the DMV has it? It is entered into a giant database, which is then sold to car dealerships, insurance companies, and banks. Most of these companies want it to verify vehicle ownership. Others, like toll companies, purchase the information to catch toll violators. 

But the reason why entities like school districts and private companies want the data is unclear. 

In any case, the DMV says that it vets buyers to ensure they don’t use the information for solicitation and telemarketing. 

According to Jeremiah Kuntz, the Texas DMV director of vehicle registration, “The DMV takes privacy of information very seriously.” 

Kuntz explained that they terminate contracts with any company found to be misusing the information.

 But, as CBS News found during their investigation, only eight companies have been caught misusing drivers’ information in the past ten years. 

So how is the information making its way to scammers and spammers? Rep. Phil King, Weatherford ® believes that it’s not the DMV who gives telemarketers access to the data, but the third parties they sell the information to. 

“There’s no question about it,” Weatherford told CBS News. “We would sell the data to a company that needed it for legitimate purposes and then they would resell it to a company that wants to go market warranties or something like that. The next thing we know everyone is getting robocalls.”

Texas lawmakers are now set to pass a bill that restricts who can purchase this sensitive information, in hopes of reducing the ever-increasing number of robocalls. As of June 3rd, 2021, Senate Bill 15 is awaiting the Texas Governor’s signature. 

It’s impossible to tell how the telemarketers who call you obtain your number and information. But it’s not impossible to crack down on these calls and keep them from calling you at all hours of the day. 

Download Call Control to reduce car warranty calls, telemarketing, political calls, and more:

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Will Buying a Brand-New Cellphone Stop Robocalls?

No matter what lawmakers decide, and what laws are passed, unwanted calls continue to increase. 2019 was the worst year for robocalls ever, and although numbers went down slightly due to the pandemic in 2020, they’re going right back up in 2021.

Americans are constantly looking for ways to keep the robocall scourge at bay. Some have registered for the National Do Not Call list, but scammers pay no attention to that. Others have installed call blocking apps or have stopped answering their phones altogether unless a known contact is calling.

And some are resorting to another more drastic measure: buying a brand-new cellphone. They switch phone numbers in hopes of curtailing robocalls and texts.

But does buying a new phone really work? That’s what one news station decided to find out. The TEGNA national investigative team bought 16 brand new cellphones in cities all over the US. They reported that all 16 phones started getting unwanted calls weeks or just days after being activated. Some received robocalls before the team even had a chance to use them!

How could this happen? One theory is that many scammers use computers to generate random numbers. They don’t actually know who’s behind each number. They simply send thousands of automatic calls and texts in hopes that they’ll hit a live number.

Another theory is that many phone numbers are “recycled”. Sometimes old numbers are reassigned to a new owner. Chances are, the new number you get will have belonged to someone else in the past. If that number was on a robocall list before, it will most likely still be on the list.

So buying a brand-new cellphone won’t stop robocalls from coming. Quite frankly, it doesn’t seem to cut down on them either. So what should you do?

The Federal Communications Commission recommends installing a call-blocking app on your cellphone. You can also purchase a separate device for your landline or business phone. (Call Control offers a landline device that you can connect and control from your cellphone via Bluetooth).

Use the quick links below to try Call Control today!

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New FTC Warning: Illegal Car Warranty Calls on the Rise

“Hello, we’ve been trying to reach you about your car’s extended warranty.”

It’s a line commonly heard over US phones. So common, in fact, that it has become the butt of jokes and the subject of dozens of memes.

About a year ago, hundreds of US consumers realized they were all receiving the same call or recorded message saying their “car warranty is about to expire.” Some of them didn’t even own cars, making the call even more ridiculous.

A year later, these calls are far from forgotten. They’re on the rise.

So what are the harried recipients of these calls supposed to do about them? Grin and bear it? Listen to the same “spiel” over and over until their ears go numb?

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a warning this week advising Americans to hang up on auto warranty calls. 

The statement warns that these calls are increasing, and suggests that consumers ignore them. More often than not, they are illegal and fraudulent.

According to the FTC, “This is an illegal robocall and likely a scam. The companies behind this type of robocall are not with your car dealer or manufacturer, and the ‘extended warranty’ they’re trying to sell you is actually a service contract that often sells for hundreds or thousands of dollars.”

The warning, published on May 19th, 2021, outlines several tactics that auto warranty scammers use to make their calls sound legitimate and create a sense of urgency:

  • They will say you’ve been sent several notices in the mail.
  • They will offer a fraudulent contract.
  • If you don’t respond, they will “close your file soon”.

These calls aren’t coming from your auto dealer or manufacturer. They are scam calls attempting to sell you a service contract that may cost hundreds of dollars.

The description of the service contract may sound legit, but beware—there are plenty of restrictions hidden in fine print. It most likely won’t cover any of your auto issues at all.

The best way to get rid of these calls, according to the FTC, is to hang up on them. Or better yet, ignore them. But how will you know it’s a car warranty call unless you answer the call?

A far better solution is to install a call blocker on your phone. Call Control allows you to skip answering the phone entirely when scammers come calling. 

Our app’s unique Community IQ feature blocks even the most recent scams. How? We receive scam number updates daily, and automatically block them from your phone.

Try it for free today!

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Washington Robocalls Traced Back to Florida Prison Inmates

It all started when reporter Chris Ingalls received a suspicious call on his phone while on the job with KING5 News.

The call offered to reduce Ingalls’ gas bill to a flat rate of $30 per month, no matter how much gas was used. Intrigued but skeptical, Ingalls told the caller to call him back when he was off work. During that second conservation, the caller revealed his real name and his status as a prison inmate.

At that point, KING5 News stepped in to investigate. Although Ingalls and KING5 are located in Washington State, they traced the call back to a telemarketing center in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Another surprise came when they discovered that this telemarketing center had violated the Do Not Call List multiple times.

Southeast Energy Consultants has come under fire recently for violating “do not call” requests from consumers all over the United States. In addition, there are dozens of complaints filed against the company for phone harassment. The California Public Utilities Commission has reported 610 complaints against Southeast Energy since January 2020.

But in another strange twist, KING5 discovered that this dubious company employs over a dozen prison inmates.

Like the young man with whom Ingalls spoke, these inmates are taking part in a work release program.

According to Doug Shadel, the director of AARP Washington, telemarketing companies of ill repute often seek anyone who is “willing to stick to the script and work the phones for low pay.”

That seems to be the case for Southeast Energy, which employs Florida inmates Monday through Friday.

When the object of a prison work release program is to help inmates re-integrate into society, allowing them to work in a place known for illegal activity seems detrimental. When KING5 requested comment from The Florida Department of Corrections on the matter, the station received an email that said the following:

“Anytime the department receives information of alleged misconduct or unlawful practices by an employer being utilized by a Community Release Center, actions are initiated to ensure that employment with the company is still a viable option for the department.”

The DOC did not state whether it has initiated any investigation into Southeast Energy Consultants and its eligibility as a workplace for inmates.

Southeast Energy also sent the news station a statement via email:

“Southeast Energy Consultants has proudly provided telemarketing services for numerous clients since 2009.  We have always complied in accordance to all local, state and federal laws pertaining to our industry, including robocalls and do no call, and take them very seriously.”

How to reduce robocalls

–Download Call Control’s call blocking app on your phone. Be sure to activate a premium subscription for maximum protection.  

—-> Call Control for iPhone here.

—-> Get Call Control for Android here.

–Add your phone numbers to the National Do Not Call Registry.

–Install Call Control Home on any landlines in your home or business.

–If you receive a suspicious call, block and report it instantly using the Call Control app. The number will be permanently blocked from reaching you, as well as all users of Call Control.

How to Block Robocalls, Scam Calls, and Telemarketers for GOOD

It’s time to turn the tables on those pesky robocallers.

If you’re like most Americans, you’re tired of having to constantly block unknown numbers. You’re sick of answering calls that seem like they’re from your area code, only to hear a recorded message, and not your friend or neighbor’s voice.

And you’re looking for a solution.

Despite our government’s recent efforts to curb nuisance calls, the fight goes on. It looks like it’s going to take a long time for any real changes to be made. So it’s time to take matters into our own hands.

Below, we’ll show you not only how to block robocalls and spam, but how to potentially profit from unwanted calls as well.

How to Block Unwanted Calls

First of all, let’s establish the fact that simply not answering calls ever isn’t a good solution. You may miss some important calls. We’ve all gotten so frustrated that we decide to never answer another unknown number again, and ended up missing an important call from the dentist or our child’s school.

There’s also the FTC’s Do Not Call List. You can register your number there so that businesses can’t call you without your permission.

But that list does absolutely nothing to curb illegal calls. 

Scammers and spammers couldn’t care less about the Do Not Call List, because their businesses aren’t legitimate to begin with.

So, to block ANY, ALL, and ONLY the calls you want to block, you need a call blocker. Your phone carrier may provide one, but probably won’t allow you to modify what types of calls to block. It won’t include features like “neighbor spoof blocking” (blocking spoofed numbers that copy your area code to make it seem like they’re from neighbors).

Plus, these call blockers have developed a reputation for blocking WANTED calls, too. That defeats the purpose!

The solution? Download a call blocking system that keeps YOU in control. With Call Control, you can modify your own block and allow lists. You can block calls by type. You can set quiet hours. You can place your contacts on “allow” to ensure they’re never blocked.

And best of all? You’ll get automatic blocking of all known scam numbers, as reported from millions of users worldwide. This feature, called Community IQ, is what keeps your protection up to date and insures that the latest scams can’t reach your phone.

In addition, you can also choose what happens when an unwanted call reaches your phone. You can send it to voicemail, or block the caller from leaving a message at all. You can also keep your phone from ringing, so that you’re never interrupted during dinner again.

Want to take Call Control out for a test drive? Download our app for free below.

Once you’ve taken it for a spin, you can access even more features by switching to a premium account, like extra “lookups” to identify who called you.

What are you waiting for? Take back control of your phone today!

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Robocalls Accuse U.S. Congressional Candidate of Murdering Her Husband

Robocalls have been known to play dirty, especially when it comes to political campaigns. But few go as far as to accuse a candidate of murder.

Reports say calls are making the rounds alleging that Susan Wright, widow of the late Representative Ron Wright, took out a $1 million insurance policy six months before his death and then killed him. 

According to Politico, the recorded calls say that she “murdered her husband,” and later “tearfully confided in a nurse that she had purposefully contracted the coronavirus.”

The recording goes on to say that Wright is “now running for Congress to cover it up,” and that “the voters of Texas’ 6th Congressional District deserve to know the truth about Susan Wright and her involvement in the death of her husband.”

Wright’s husband, Ron Wright, passed away in February 2021 after contracting COVID-19. He served as the U.S. Representative for Texas’s 6th congressional district from 2019 until his death. The ongoing special election to replace him has been highly competitive, with about two dozen candidates vying for the position.

Former president Donald Trump has backed Susan Wright in hopes that the district will remain Republican. But the race remains tight, and some officials fear a lockout.

Supporters of Wright said they received the inflammatory robocalls one day before the special election began.  Since the calls were not attributed to anyone, and no one has claimed to sponsor them, there is little that Wright’s campaign can do other than report the calls to the authorities.

"When we heard reports of this criminal smear of a robocall attacking Susan, we immediately referred the matter to law enforcement and started cooperating with authorities,” Wright’s consultant, Matt Langston, said in a statement.

Langston attributed the calls to “disgusting gutter politics”, saying that Wright’s opponents have resorted to such tactics because they know she’s the frontrunner.

Wright herself has made a statement, saying, "This is illegal, immoral, and wrong. There’s not a sewer too deep that some politicians won’t plumb. Imagine it: someone is attacking my late husband, the love of my life, a man who gave me such joy in life.”

So far, the FBI and the Department of Justice have not made any comments on the matter.

Reduce robocalls and get back your peace of mind! Use these quick links:

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Call Control is also available for landlines and businesses. Click here to learn more.

What Happens When You Play Along with a Phone Scammer

 Playing along with scammers isn’t recommended, because there’s always a slight danger that they will retaliate or harm you in some way.

However, those who have taken on the task of “scamming the scammers” have interesting stories to tell.

These stories give us a glimpse into the standard scamming script, the tactics crooks love to employ over the phone, and the typical sequence of events involved in a scam.

Once you’ve read the story below, be sure to share it with friends and family. 

Those who are susceptible to fall for scams (which is anyone, really, but especially senior citizens) can benefit from knowing what to watch out for when they get a suspicious call.

(This story comes from reddit user P-T-A-C).

This anonymous Redditor had kept scammers on the line before, hoping to waste their time and keep them from scamming others. But this was the first time he/she was able to tie them up for more than an hour.

The call began as a robocall, with a recorded voice telling the Redditor to press 1. A man’s voice came on the line, introducing himself as “Chris Wilson with the Social Security Administration”.

The Redditor gave “Chris” a fake name, address and even a fake social security number that he had carefully chosen to coincide with the area code of his phone number. That way, the scammer would be less likely to catch on to the fact that the information was fake.

The scammer proceeded to give the usual “spiel”: a rental car filled with drugs and blood had been found in Texas, rented under the Redditor’s name and social security number. The DEA was going to seize the Redditor’s bank account, even though the scammer agreed that there must be some mistake or mixup.

But no worries, the scammer assured. There was a solution. All the Redditor had to do was withdraw the entire balance of his bank account, and send it to a “digital lock-box” to keep it safe from greedy government hands.

To entice the scammer to stay on the line, the Redditor assured him he had an ample nest egg of $19,000. “Chris” began to explain the steps to take out the cash: don’t hang up, don’t talk to anyone, head to the bank, withdraw the cash. He also said that a No Objection Certificate would be needed, something that the Redditor had never heard of before.

As it turns out, this certificate is something government agencies use…but in India.

After about an hour and fifteen minutes of back and forth, the Redditor decided to end the call.

He was impressed with the scammer’s ability to answer all his objections (although most of his answers were gibberish and nonsensical explanations involving government agencies).

It was obvious that the scammer was not new to his craft. However, he did say some things that probably would not dupe the average citizen, such as that the Attorney General of the US had given permission for the government to seize the victim’s cash.

The Redditor assumed that if he had stayed on the line longer, the scammer would have given instructions about where to send the cash, most likely a “cash mule” in the US. From there, the money would likely be sent to the scammers in India.

Do you know someone who could benefit from information about how scams work? Share this story with them today! Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to protecting yourself and your loved ones from scams.

For maximum protection (and to free yourself from nuisance calls for good, download Call Control, the intelligent call blocker trusted by millions of users worldwide.

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