Dawn of the Geeks

http://baynews9.com/content/36/2007/7/25/274577.html?title=FTC+accuses+Largo+company+of+telemarketing+fraud

http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=07aabd61-f2c9-4008-a864-fbccf0a6f692

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2007/jul/25/telemarketing-company-shut-down/?news-breaking

LARGO - The Federal Trade Commission Wednesday shut down a Bay area telemarketing company, claiming it was scamming consumers nationwide.

The FTC worked with the Largo Police Department and U.S. Postal Inspection Service, to close Suntasia Marketing Inc., 8751 Ulmerton Road.

The FTC alleges that over the past several years, Suntasia used at least 15 business names to defraud consumers across the country. The commission said it has collected and reviewed more than 5,000 formal consumer complaints against Suntasia that were submitted to various law enforcement agencies and the Better Business Bureau.

….

According to the FTC, many consumers disclosed their account numbers because they believed they were simply verifying information that the telemarketers already had. The FTC also alleges that consumers frequently thought their account number was being “verified” solely to confirm their eligibility to receive the free gifts, not to authorize any future charges to their accounts.

According to the FTC’s court documents, after consumers divulged their bank account number, the telemarketers began recording a “verification,” asking consumers to repeat the account number they had just “provided.”

At the end of the recording, Suntasia telemarketers quickly offered consumers two additional negative option programs, commonly referred to as “upsells.” The FTC alleges, however, that these “upsell” offers were presented in such a way that consumers did not realize they were being asked to authorize the purchase of additional products and services.

For additional information on suing telemarketing companies see

http://www.icarusindie.com/suntasiasucks/