AG Zoeller urges consumers to sign-up for state’s Do Not Call list by Tuesday

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller said while Indiana residents welcome lower health insurance rates, agents using robocalls to solicit Hoosiers is illegal and their sales pitches may backfire.

Nearly 50 consumers filed complaints earlier this year after receiving robocalls or prerecorded phone messages offering affordable health insurance. Zoeller’s office determined the calls stemmed from Andrew D. Ross, a Nevada agent, who has a non-resident license in Indiana to sell insurance.

“With the recent rollout of the federal health care law, the number of callers soliciting discounted health insurance products will likely increase,” Zoeller said. “It’s important Hoosiers know what to look out for and don’t hand over personal information to unsolicited callers who have not been verified.”

In Indiana, most robocalls are illegal regardless of whether or not your number is registered on the Do Not Call list. Exceptions include calls from school districts to students, parents or employees and businesses advising employees of work schedules.

Zoeller filed a lawsuit against Ross in Marion County Superior Court on Thursday, for making at least 47 calls between January and May to residents across the state. According to the lawsuit, Ross is accused of violating the Indiana Telephone Solicitation of Consumers Act and the Indiana Regulation of Automatic Dialing Machines Act. The Attorney General’s office seeks civil penalties, investigation and prosecution costs, and to stop the illegal calls. Zoeller said the lawsuit has been forwarded to the Indiana Department of Insurance for their consideration.

If someone gets a call offering health insurance, they can verify the agent is licensed with the Indiana Department of insurance (IDOI) by checking here or by calling the IDOI consumer services division at 800-622-4461. Consumers can file insurance-related complaints by visitingwww.in.gov/IDOI.

Zoeller said consumers should be on alert for these types of calls with the recent rollout of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. For more information about scams and what to look out for visit www.IndianaConsumer.com/ACA.

The next quarterly deadline to register for the state’s Do Not Call list is Tuesday, Aug. 20. Consumers can register their residential landline, cell, VOIP or prepaid wireless numbers for free by visiting www.IndianaConsumer.com or by calling 1.888.834.9969. Individuals do not need to re-register unless their address has changed. Out-of-state area codes can also be added as long as the billing address is located in Indiana. Those consumers who are registered and receive an unwanted call can file a complaint with the Attorney General’s office by visitingwww.IndianaConsumer.com.

Zoeller said consumer complaints help the Attorney General’s office bring enforcement actions against violators and stop unwanted calls. Since 2009, the office has obtained 124 settlements or judgments against companies that violated Indiana’s telephone privacy laws. The total awarded to the state has been more than $20.5 million. Zoeller said the money collected is used to defray the cost of enforcing the state’s telephone privacy laws.

The Attorney General’s office also shares caller-ID numbers of suspected illegal telemarketers with companies that block spam callers for their customers. Zoeller said that while many investigations into the source of unwanted calls turn up empty due to internet-based technology most of the reported caller ID numbers are now being shared with companies that can use the numbers to block calls for their customers.

Zoeller thanked Deputy Attorney General Eliza Bradley for her work on the case against Ross and commitment to the Telephone Privacy Section within the Attorney General’s office.

By Jacie Shoaf

TheStatehouseFile.com

INDIANAPOLIS – In celebration of National Adoption Day, the Indiana Supreme Court will be allowing still photography, audio and video coverage of a select number of uncontested adoptions from Friday through Nov. 22.

Typically photography and audio and visual recordings aren’t permitted inside Indiana courtrooms. For this limited time – and for the purpose of raising awareness of the value of adoption – families and media may record the adoption events inside the courtrooms with the parties’ consent and at the judge’s discretion.  Recording and photography cannot interrupt court proceedings.

Jacie Shoaf is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.

AGENDA

Vanderburgh County    

Board of Commissioners 

November 19, 2013

5:00 pm, Room 301  

1. Call to Order
2. Attendance
3. Pledge of Allegiance 
4. Permission to Open: Quotes for Old Courthouse Guardrail
5. Action Items
   • Road Race Requests:
     1. Run this Whey
     2. River Run
   • Veteran’s Council Presentation Regarding Old Courthouse War Monuments
   • First Reading of CO.11-13-012- 2014 Commissioners Meeting Dates Ordinance
   • Public Hearing/Final Reading of Vacation Ordinance CO.V-11-13-002: Vacation of 6’ PUE at 4910 Heckel Road
   • Contracts, Agreements and Leases
     1. Dental Clinic Lease Agreement Termination
     2. Juvenile Court: Independent Contractor Agreement with South Evansville Community Outreach
     3. Assessor:  Manatron, Inc. Letter of Authorization
     4. Commissioners: Purdue Cooperative Extension Services 2014 Agreement
     5. Sheriff:
        • Amendment to Aramark Agreement
        • ICJI STOP Domestic Violence Grant Agreement
6. Department Head Reports
7. New Business
8. Old Business
9. Public Comment
10. Consent Items
    • Approval of prior meeting minutes: November 5, 2013
    • Employment Changes
    • Commissioners:  Transfer Requests
    • Building Authority: Permission to repair the Centre elevator
    • Early Retiree Reinsurance Program Notice
    • Engineer: Pay Request #185 for $300.00 for T.I.F. Projects
    • Assessor:  Request to Surplus Various Computer Equipment
    • Coroner: Request to Surplus Various Equipment
    • County Highway Work Review: Nov. 1 – Nov. 7
    • County Engineer Department Head Report
    • County Clerk:  October 2013 Monthly Report
11. Adjournment 

AG’s office offers top 5 tips to protect your donation, avoid scams

INDIANAPOLIS – Many legitimate charitable groups are springing into action after the recent typhoon struck the Philippines, but Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller said so are scammers.

“Hoosiers have always reached out to help those in need and this provides an opportunity for those who will once again try to turn consumers’ good will into a profit,” Zoeller said. “During times of tragedy, it is even more important to be smart and make sure your donations are supporting legitimate relief efforts.”

Zoeller encouraged the public to verify relief organizations are reputable before donating to avoid being ripped off. The Attorney General’s office offers five tips for consumers to consider before making a donation:

• Donate to established organizations with a track record of organizing and providing disaster relief;
• Initiate the donation yourself, rather than responding to online, direct mail or phone solicitations asking for money;
• Watch out for charities with similar sounding names. Some phony charitable organizations use names that are very similar to those of respected organizations.
• Pay by check. Don’t send cash or a wire transfer as these are common ways scammers use to rip-off victims and avoid detection by law enforcement; and
• Visit www.CharityNavigator.org to assist in identifying legitimate relief organizations and determine how much of their donations are used to help victims rather than on administrative overhead.

For more information on avoiding charitable scams or to file a consumer complaint visitwww.IndianaConsumer.com.