The Federal Trade Commission has filed a complaint against two Web sites claiming to “pre-register” consumers with the FTC’s Do Not Call file.
The FTC is seeking a temporary restraining order against Ken Chase, the operator of two Novato, CA Web sites, Free Do Not Call List.org (fdcl.org) and National Do Not Call List US (ndncl.us).
“These scam artists are seizing on the public’s interest in the Do Not Call Registry,” said Howard Beales, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, in a statement. “But the law doesn’t allow third party profiteers to be in the do not call business.”
It will be up to individual consumers to register their phone numbers on the free registry starting in July, added Beales.
According to the Commission’s complaint, consumers who respond to Chase’s claims and attempt to pre-register receive an e-mail stating that their information will be transmitted to the FTC as soon as the list becomes available. The Free Do No Call List site also allegedly directs consumers who want to stop receiving telemarketing calls to what it describes as “the active list” at National Do Not Call List.US.
Once there, the complaint alleges that consumers are told that by subscribing to the service they can stop receiving such calls, as well as unsolicited faxes and junk mail. The cost for the service is between $9.99 and $17.99 per year.
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