Van Drew Bill Creating Telemarketing Fraud Investigation Unit Goes to Governor

TRENTON – In an effort to combat telephone solicitation scams and other illegal telemarketing calls, Senators Jeff Van Drew and Sandra Bolden Cunningham sponsored legislation to establish a state telemarketing fraud investigation unit that would be charged with examining consumer complaints. The bill was approved by the Senate, sending it to the governor’s desk.
“There are a great deal of illegal telemarketing calls occurring every day in the state. They are not only an inconvenience, but many are made by people attempting to scam residents out of their hard-earned money. More infuriating is that the individuals are often going after senior citizens, many who are living on a fixed income,” said Senator Van Drew (D-Cape May, Cumberland and Atlantic). “We have to actively pursue those who are engaging in this conduct and shut down their operations. This task force will do that.”
Congress reports that telemarketing fraud robs consumers of approximately $40 billion every year. According to the National Consumers League, people over age 50 are prime targets. In New Jersey, scams have been reported ranging from callers impersonating police fundraising organizations to those who claimed to represent a utility company seeking payment on an overdue bill. There are a number of federal and state laws intended to protect consumers against unwanted telephone calls. Consumers may register their residential or wireless phone numbers on the national Do-Not-Call registryby telephone or by Internet at no cost. A state Do-Not-Call law, which Van Drew sponsored while serving in the Assembly, is intended to maximize protection from unsolicited and unwarranted telemarketing sales calls. Despite the efforts of lawmakers, unwanted and illegal calls persist.
The senators’ bill (S-247) would require the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs to establish a telemarketing fraud investigation unit, which would be responsible for investigating consumer complaints of: unsolicited telemarketing sales calls from unregistered telemarketers; telemarketing calls made in violation of the division’s no call list; telemarketing calls in which the telemarketer calling does not promptly identify the person on behalf of whom the call is made or the purpose of the call; calls received between the hours of 9 p.m. and 8 a.m.; calls made using caller identification blocking methods; and those made to any commercial mobile services device; and, any other such consumer complaints related to telemarketing practices as determined by the director.
“Seniors and other vulnerable populations are often the target of these calls, and in some instances are being defrauded out of their financial savings. We must boost our enforcement efforts,” said Senator Cunningham (D-Hudson). “The telemarketing fraud investigation unit will be devoted to identifying callers who perpetrate these schemes so that they can be held accountable.”
Consumers may register online at www.donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222 (TTY call 1-866-290-4236) from the phone number to be registered. New Jersey residents who have already signed up for the federal Do-Not-Call registry administered by the FTC are automatically protected under New Jersey law.
The Assembly approved the bill by a vote of 46-13-5. The Senate approved it 35-3.