FCC’s Robocall Response Team has taken actions designed to stem a flood of possibly illegal robocalls marketing auto warranties targeting billions of consumers.
According to the regulator, more than 8 billion of these robocalls have been made by Roy Cox, Jr.; Aaron Michael Jones; their Sumco Panama companies; and international associates, prompting the FCC to issue cease and desist orders against certain carriers and cautioning all networks to be on the lookout for this traffic.
A formal case has been opened as the regulator and investigative partners, including the Ohio Attorney General, examine these calls for possible legal violations.
The Cox/Jones/Sumco Panama operation allegedly has made the unlawful, prerecorded calls to American consumers for four years or more. The prerecorded messages marketed vehicle service warranties, prompting call recipients to speak with a “warranty specialist” about extending or reinstating their car warranty.
According to the FCC, the following message was in many of the robocalls: “We’ve been trying to reach you concerning your car’s extended warranty. You should have received something in the mail about your car’s extended warranty. Since we have not gotten a response, we are giving you a final courtesy call before we close out your file. Press 2 to be removed and put on our Do-Not-Call list. Press 1 to speak with someone about extending or reinstating your car’s warranty. Again, press 1 to speak with a warranty specialist. (Pause) Or call our 800 number at 833-304-1447.”
According to the FCC, these calls may be “seeking consumers’ personal or
financial information in order to defraud them, hoping to initiate a payment, and/or garnering
information about active phones.”
The alleged culprit is still making millions of those calls a day, the regulator said.
“Billions of auto warranty robocalls from a single calling campaign,” said FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel in a prepared statement. “Auto warranty scams are one of the top complaints we get from consumers and it’s time to hold those responsible for making these junk calls.”
The FCC has taken several steps in trying to stem the tide of illegal robocalls, yet consumers are still inundated by them.
