The Federal Communications Commission this week levied its largest-ever fine against a robocalling operation: $225 million, against two companies which the agency says transmitted around 1 billion robocalls shilling short-term health insurance.
The FCC said that many of the calls made in the first half of 2019 by John C. Spiller and Jakob A. Mears (who used business names including Rising Eagle and JSquared Telecom) were illegally spoofed, and that the companies lied to consumers, falsely claiming to offer health insurance plans from companies such as Blue Cross Blue Shield and Cigna. In at least one case, the agency added, the spoofing led to an unassociated company being overwhelmed with call-backs from angry customers.
