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FCC slaps $300M fine on “largest illegal robocall operation” it’s ever seen (arstechnica.com)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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The Federal Communications Commission today issued a record fine of $299,997,000 against a robocall operation that specialized in auto warranty scam calls, the FCC announced, calling it "the largest illegal robocall operation the agency has ever investigated."

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago (2 children)

A couple of guys from Texas who have been banned and fined before but just keep ignoring the Feds and spamming anyway. But this part caught my eye:

Cox was banned from telemarketing in a 2013 settlement with the FTC, which accused him of sending "illegal robocalls offering credit card interest rate reduction programs, extended automobile warranties, and home security systems." At the time, the FTC said that Cox was issued "a $1.1 million civil penalty that will be suspended due to his inability to pay."

In 2017, the FTC obtained a similar telemarketing ban on Jones. He was also fined $2.7 million, but, as with Cox, the fine was "suspended based on his inability to pay."

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago (2 children)

The US puts people behind bars for nearly no reason, but someone who does not pay a >1m fine and continues to do illegal stuff runs around free?

Here it would be one day of prison for the equivalent of two days income. Put those spammers behind bars where they belong.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I like this. Where is "here"?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Germany, but I think similar laws exist around the EU.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Danke schön. I find this a very reasonable way to go about it.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

They actually changed the rate a short time ago. Before that it was a 1:1 relationship, but it sent poor people to prison for too long for simple things like being repeatedly caught without a valid ticket on a train or bus.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

We don't put rich people in prison as long as someone got lobbied. This guy must be loaded.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

The problem here is that the influential people have secretaries or butlers that simply screen such calls. If representatives or senators would get bombed with unfiltered spam calls like normal people, those spammers would work in chain gangs until they drop dead.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

If your crime is financial in nature and widespread you dont go to jail.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Dammit, I thought that first sentence meant Cox Communications, the cable company.

Also fucking garnish their wages!