Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller alerts Hoosiers about Illegal Phone Calls from Telemarketers

Consumers receiving calls are encouraged to file a complaint with the attorney general’s office 

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller today issued a warning to consumers about the dangers of calls coming from auto-dialers, also known as “robo calls,” offering extended auto warranties. The Consumer Protection Division of the Office of the Attorney General is investigating calls that violate state telephone privacy laws and also provided recommendations on the actions consumers can take to protect themselves.

“These calls are clearly violating our state and federal telephone privacy laws and we plan to take action against the companies who are invading Hoosiers’ privacy,” Zoeller said. “Consumers can aid in the investigation by reporting the details of the calls and the phone numbers when possible.”

Hoosiers across the state have recently complained of receiving intrusive, automated calls on their cell phones from a company offering extended warranties for a vehicle the consumer owns. The telemarketers lead the consumer to believe they are affiliated with a car manufacturer, when in fact no relationship actually exists. It is not recommended that consumers purchase auto warranties from companies soliciting in this manner.

“We are responding to consumer complaints relating to calls that violate the state’s telephone privacy laws,” said Abby Kuzma, Deputy Attorney General and Director of the Consumer Protection Division. “We have received over 100 recent complaints and are aggressively investigating the source of these calls.”

The Office of the Attorney General recommends Hoosiers register their phone numbers on both the Indiana ‘Telephone Privacy List’ as well as the National ‘Do Not Call’ registry so people are protected on multiple fronts.

The Indiana Telephone Privacy List prohibits all telemarketers from calling Indiana phone numbers on the list with the exception of licensed insurance agents, licensed real estate agents, charitable organizations and newspapers. The list is updated quarterly and five numbers can be registered at one time.

The National Do Not Call registry is updated daily and provides telemarketers up to 31 days to revise their lists. The Federal Communication Commission strictly prohibits telemarketers from using automated dialers to call cell phone numbers.

For a complete list of frequently asked questions and to register on the state’s Telephone Privacy list, please visit the website www.IndianaConsumer.com or call 1-888-834-9969. For information and to register on the National Do Not Call registry, visit www.donotcall.gov. To report a complaint, visit www.IndianaConsumer.com or call the consumer protection hotline at 1-800-382-5516.

The Consumer Protection Division of the Office of the Attorney General enforces Indiana’s Autodialer, Do Not Call and Do Not Fax laws. These laws were enacted to protect Hoosiers from illegal and costly invasions of privacy. The Autodialer law prohibits telemarketers from using pre-recorded messages to call anyone in the state and does not require registration on the state’s Do Not Call list.