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Post subject: American Idol used for scamming!
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Federal regulators settled a case Thursday with companies that took advantage of thousands of American Idol fans trying to vote for their favorite contestants on the TV show.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, three Utah-based companies bought dozens of phone numbers very similar to the toll-free numbers that American Idol fans call to place their votes. Viewers who misdialed and got one of the numbers were directed to dial a 900-number to place their vote. A message on the 900-number then gave the correct toll-free number to call.
The FTC said about 25,000 consumers were charged up to $3 per call during the 2002 and 2003 seasons.
The three companies have agreed to pay a civil penalty of $40,000 for engaging in deceptive conduct and violating federal law, the commission said.
"These defendants tried to mislead fans of American Idol, but found they got harsh reviews from the FTC," Howard Beales, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection said in a statement. "If you find suspicious pay-per-call charges on your phone bill, report it to the FTC. We are not fans of deceptive behavior."
The complaint names: Telemarketing Inc., which also does business as Univoxx; Apex Investments LLC, also known as Operator Directory Service and Northwestern Atlantic; and Universal Innovations LLC.
Apex and Universal have no phone listings, and could not be reached for comment. Phone lines for Telemarketing Inc. were busy for several hours. |
Source: Yahoo! News |
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Thu Mar 18, 2004 9:38 pm |
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gives good telemarketers a bad name _________________ The problem with America is stupidity. I'm not saying there should be a capital punishment for stupidity, but why don't we just take the safety labels off of everything and let the problem solve itself? |
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Fri Mar 19, 2004 1:11 am |
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Eh, this is just showing how evil American Idol is *coughcrappyrealityshowcough* _________________ There is limited intelligence in the galaxy, but the stupidity of the universe is infinite. |
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Fri Mar 19, 2004 1:17 am |
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*coughtruecough* |
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Sun Mar 21, 2004 10:08 am |
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*coughyoushouldreallyhavesomeonelookatthatseriuouslymaybeit'slifethreateningorpossiblyyoucouldgetadrinkofwaterandthatmighthelpjustdon'tcoughonmeokcough* _________________ My old sig was too long. |
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Sun Mar 21, 2004 12:12 pm |
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*coughsupalungcough* _________________ Bang. |
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Sun Mar 21, 2004 12:33 pm |
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*coughthisisgettingoldcough* _________________ This space left intentionally blank.
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Sun Mar 21, 2004 12:50 pm |
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*coughSNEEZEcough*
Owch, that one hurt . . . _________________ anime is teh s uck
Play City of Heroes/Villians? Look me up, Pinnacle server, @C Paradox |
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Sun Mar 21, 2004 2:12 pm |
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I guess im the oly with out a cold... *coughnotreallycough* |
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Sun Mar 21, 2004 3:50 pm |
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*coughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcough
coughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcough
coughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcough
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coughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcough
coughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcough
coughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcough
coughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcough
coughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcough
coughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcough
coughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcough
coughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcough
coughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcough
coughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcough
coughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcough
coughcoughcoughcoughcoughTwitcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcough
coughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcough
coughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcough
coughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcough
coughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcough
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coughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcough
coughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcoughcough*
(Thread fixed by your friendly neighborhood Mod) |
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Sun Mar 21, 2004 6:38 pm |
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Man, this thread is wide...
Does anyone else see that but me?
oh, sorry...
cough
(I don't cough too often, mostly i hack and spit) _________________ "If you've ever had your nipple bit off by a beaver, you might just be a redneck..."
Jeff Foxworthy |
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Sun Mar 21, 2004 6:56 pm |
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eh... why not...
*cupsownballsturnsheadthencough*
It was about time for my monthly "self-examination" anyway, so i figured i'd kill two birds with one stone... _________________ "The principles you live by create the world you live in; if you change the principles you live by, you will change your world." -Blaine Lee
"I plan to live forever. So far so good." -Steven Wright |
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Thu Mar 25, 2004 5:01 am |
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