How common are telemarketing scams in the United States?
Telemarketing scams target as many as 17.6 million Americans annually and as much as $40 billion dollars a year are lost to phone scams. You can protect yourself by learning how to recognize the danger signs of telemarketing scams.
How can I protect myself from telemarketing scams?
You can protect yourself by learning how to recognize the danger signs of telemarketing scams. Most telemarketing calls are subject to local and federal laws that require telemarketers to promptly identify themselves at the beginning of the call.
What is the Sekure Merchant Solutions lawsuit?
According to the class action lawsuit, Sekure violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). Sekure Merchant Solutions has been in business since 2006, serving over 25,000 businesses, with headquarters in Montreal. The credit card processing company works with multiple processors for in-person and online services.
Do telemarketers have to identify themselves when they make a call?
Most telemarketing calls are subject to local and federal laws that require telemarketers to promptly identify themselves at the beginning of the call.
What is whistleblower law?
These allegations were brought in a lawsuit filed under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to sue on behalf of the government for false claims, and to receive a share of any recovery.
Did HealthRight receive payments from Synergy?
The settlement also resolves allegations that, from June 2015 through October 2018, HealthRight, at the direction of Roix, received payments from Synergy Pharmacy that were based on the value and volume of prescriptions solicited by HealthRight on behalf of Synergy Pharmacy. These allegations were also the subject of a criminal case captioned United States v. Scott Roix, et al., Eastern District of Tennessee (Case No. 2:18-cr-133), in which Roix and HealthRight pleaded guilty in September 2018.
This settlement is closed!
Please see what other class action settlements you might qualify to claim cash from in our Open Settlements directory!
Join a Free TCPA Class Action Lawsuit Investigation
If you were contacted on your cell phone by a company via an unsolicited text message (text spam) or prerecorded voice message (robocall), you may be eligible for compensation under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.
How many Americans are targeted by telemarketing scams?
Telemarketing scams target as many as 17.6 million Americans annually and as much as $40 billion dollars a year are lost to phone scams. You can protect yourself by learning how to recognize the danger signs of telemarketing scams. Most telemarketing calls are subject to local and federal laws that require telemarketers to promptly identify ...
What are some of the warning signs of telemarketing scams?
You get a call from a person who claims to be calling from your bank or credit card company stating that your account has been compromised and that they need to confirm your identity and financial information to protect you.
How do I stop unwanted telemarketing calls?
If you want to stop unwanted telemarketing calls, you can add your phone number to the national “Do Not Call” Registry by either calling 888-382-1222 or visiting www.donotcall.gov to register your phone number; include both your home and mobile phone. You should also ask callers to put your phone number on their own internal do not call lists.
What to do if you don't recognize the caller?
Many phones come with caller ID features. Telephone service providers also offer this service. If you do not recognize the caller, do not answer the phone. Often telemarketers will keep calling a phone number if they know a live person will pick up the phone. Use a Blocking Service.
What is call blocking?
There are call blocking programs (“apps”) and services offered by telephone service providers (smart phones tend to have these apps as well) that may be used to block unwanted calls. These programs or services can block certain types of calls such as anonymous calls or specific phone numbers.
Why is it so expensive to call back an unknown area code?
Avoid returning calls to unknown area codes. Calling back an unknown area code can be expensive because the merchant may be located in Canada or the Caribbean. A call lasting just a few minutes could cost you $20 or more. Never pay money up front to receive a prize, credit offer, or for debt relief services.
Why are you told not to take time to think about the offer?
You are told not to take time to think about the offer because it is “risk-free” or “guaranteed.”. You are unfamiliar with either the company or the service that is being offered. To purchase the service offered, you must pay a large up-front fee.
How much did Sekure Merchant Solutions settle?
Sekure Merchant Solutions, for example, faced the lawsuit and had to settle with $6.25 million dollars in settlement fund for calling a consumer listed in the National Do Not Call Registry and others who joined the class allegedly because they did not give their prior express consent to receive phone calls of any kind from the company.
Why do companies settle class actions?
This is why a lot of companies choose to settle class actions that are filed against them for allegedly violating the provisions of the Act. TCPA settlements are much less costly alternatives to settling and ending a case than waiting for class action verdicts.
What Is A TCPA Settlement?
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act or TCPA is a federal statute of the United States government that was enacted in 1991 to protect consumers from unsolicited telephone marketing calls, often through autodials and/or robocalls. A lot of these violations lead to multimillion-dollar class action settlements.
How much did Sekure settle?
Sekure settled the class-action lawsuit with a $6.25 million settlement fund and an agreement to comply with TCPA rules.
Why did the TCPA increase in 2015?
One of the reasons for the increase is because public awareness about the TCPA boosted. The Act also has been amended, expanded, and strengthened, which led to exponentially larger and more frequent TCPA settlements over the years.
What is the class action lawsuit against Sekure?
According to the class action lawsuit, Sekure violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).
When did Sekure settle TCPA?
The Sekure TCPA settlement claim includes consumers’ unsolicited telemarketing phone calls from Sekure Merchant Solutions on their cell phone between July 26, 2013, and February 1, 2018. To file a claim form, class members were required to provide a claim number or a phone number that they can get from the postcard notice ...
What is the $1 million settlement award?
The $1 million will be used to pay the Claims of Settlement Class Members, Settlement Class Counsel's Fees, Costs , and Expenses Award, Plaintiff's Service Payment, and compensation for the Settlement Administrator for providing notice to the Settlement Class and administering the Settlement.
Where is the case 2:19-cv-01675-MJH?
The case is before the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Case 2:19-cv-01675-MJH