A group of allegedly fraudulent telemarketers has agreed to pay more than $131,000 in consumer redress to settle charges with The Federal Trade Commission.

In addition, the defendants allegedly tricked consumers into buying worthless credit card protection or debt-consolidation services or charged them without their authorization, according to the FTC.

The defendants, Forum Marketing Services Inc.; QualyCon of New York, Inc., Edward Velasquez and William John Velasquez, will have to post a $50,000 performance bond before engaging in any telemarketing activities, said the FTC.

The defendants billed and collected payments for unauthorized charges from consumers nationwide in telemarketing packages of credit card loss protection and debt-consolidation services, the FTC alleged.

Acting through telemarketers, the defendants allegedly made a series of misleading statements to consumers to persuade them to disclose their credit card numbers or to purchase credit card protection and debt-consolidation services, the FTC continued.

They then allegedly placed charges, typically ranging from $199 to $299, on consumers’ accounts, sometimes without their consent.

Under the terms of the order, the defendants are barred from making, or assisting others in making, any false or misleading selling statements, whether by telephone or other means.

A group of allegedly fraudulent telemarketers has agreed to pay more than $131,000 in consumer redress to settle charges with The Federal Trade Commission.

In addition, the defendants allegedly tricked consumers into buying worthless credit card protection or debt-consolidation services or charged them without their authorization, according to the FTC.

The defendants, Forum Marketing Services Inc.; QualyCon of New York, Inc., Edward Velasquez and William John Velasquez, will have to post a $50,000 performance bond before engaging in any telemarketing activities, said the FTC.

The defendants billed and collected payments for unauthorized charges from consumers nationwide in telemarketing packages of credit card loss protection and debt-consolidation services, the FTC alleged.

Acting through telemarketers, the defendants allegedly made a series of misleading statements to consumers to persuade them to disclose their credit card numbers or to purchase credit card protection and debt-consolidation services, the FTC continued.

They then allegedly placed charges, typically ranging from $199 to $299, on consumers’ accounts, sometimes without their consent.

Under the terms of the order, the defendants are barred from making, or assisting others in making, any false or misleading selling statements, whether by telephone or other means.

A group of allegedly fraudulent telemarketers has agreed to pay more than $131,000 in consumer redress to settle charges with The Federal Trade Commission.

In addition, the defendants allegedly tricked consumers into buying worthless credit card protection or debt-consolidation services or charged them without their authorization, according to the FTC.

The defendants, Forum Marketing Services Inc.; QualyCon of New York, Inc., Edward Velasquez and William John Velasquez, will have to post a $50,000 performance bond before engaging in any telemarketing activities, said the FTC.

The defendants billed and collected payments for unauthorized charges from consumers nationwide in telemarketing packages of credit card loss protection and debt-consolidation services, the FTC alleged.

Acting through telemarketers, the defendants allegedly made a series of misleading statements to consumers to persuade them to disclose their credit card numbers or to purchase credit card protection and debt-consolidation services, the FTC continued.

They then allegedly placed charges, typically ranging from $199 to $299, on consumers’ accounts, sometimes without their consent.

Under the terms of the order, the defendants are barred from making, or assisting others in making, any false or misleading selling statements, whether by telephone or other means.