Missouri, along with seven other states, has filed suit against alleged robocallers accused of calling more than one billion numbers across the country, including to millions of Missourians.
Also on Tuesday, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposed a record $225 million fine against the two Texas-based health insurance telemarketers for the spam calls sent from fake numbers and to those on the "do not call" list.
The robocalls, to 14 million numbers in Missouri, offered plans by well known insurers, including Aetna and UnitedHealth.
Schmitt
But if callers pressed a button for more information, they were routed to a call center selling plans for entirely different companies, according to the FCC and the lawsuit filed by the states against Rising Eagle Capital Group and JSquared Telecom. John Spiller II, owner of the businesses, and his business partner, Jakob Mears, are also named as defendants.
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt last year sued Rising Eagle’s biggest client, Health Advisors of America, for alleged telemarketing violations.
Chris Nuelle, a spokesman for the attorney general, said of the latest lawsuit: "As far as allegations, the lawsuit explains it better than I can, but essentially the pair lobbed over a billion robocalls to residents across the nation, including 14 million to Missouri residents."
"Combating robocalls has been one of the top priorities of Attorney General Schmitt since entering office," Nuelle told the St. Louis Record.
"Not only are robocalls annoying, they’re sometimes illegal. The Missouri Attorney General’s Office works diligently with state and federal partners to hold illegal robocallers accountable. We’re seeking civil penalties and injunctive relief to shut the pair down. "
The defendants allegedly "engaged in caller ID spoofing" and targeted numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry. They are accused of violating the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act and state consumer protection laws.
"Robocalls not only constantly interrupt our lives and expose some to potential scams, they're also illegal in certain instances. While working with the telecom companies to implement technology to combat these calls is important, it's also important that we hold those launching these illegal robocalls accountable," Attorney General Schmitt said in a statement announcing the lawsuit, which was filed in Texas.
"My office will continue to work diligently to root out and take legal action against these robocallers wherever possible."