Florida Attorney General McCollum Unveils New Cyberfraud Task Force

Task force reaches landmark $1 million agreement announcing internet marketing reform

November 7, 2007 -- TALLAHASSEE, FL – Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum today unveiled a sophisticated team to combat internet-related fraud and simultaneously announced the first agreement reached by the newly-created CyberFraud Task Force. The task force, which takes action against companies who defraud consumers online, is part of the Attorney General’s efforts to make the internet safer for Florida consumers. Housed in the Attorney General’s Economic Crimes Division, the task force today reached a $1 million agreement with internet marketer Azoogle (Azoogleads US Inc.), a New York company that creates and manages internet marketing of cell phone products.

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“Consumers in Florida and throughout the nation have long been victimized by internet marketing that promises one thing and delivers another,” said Attorney General McCollum. “This task force will be instrumental in identifying problematic trends in the industry and working towards solutions that will hold the industry and its players responsible for their practices and provide remedies for our citizens.”

Today’s agreement, which will serve as a model for the way cell phone content will be marketed online, resulted from an investigation conducted by the CyberFraud Task Force into the marketing of ringtones and other cell phone products. Investigators determined that consumers, usually children or teenagers who were responding to “free” cell phone ringtone offers, were often enrolled into subscription plans without their knowledge or consent. The fees for the plans were then billed to consumers’ cell phone bills. The cooperative agreement will require the true cost of ringtones to be clearly and conspicuously disclosed on all internet ads and order forms.

In working with Attorney General McCollum’s Office to resolve concerns about its marketing practices, Azoogle has already provided and will continue to provide substantial cooperation and assistance to the CyberFraud Task Force as the working group endeavors to reform the industry.

The CyberFraud Task Force was created to review and investigate complaints against companies or individuals found taking advantage of consumers through internet-related fraud. Consumers who believe they have been victimized by unauthorized billing for internet products should contact the Attorney General’s Citizen Services Division by calling 1-866-9-NO-SCAM (1-866-966-7226) or by filing a complaint online at http://myfloridalegal.com.

A copy of the agreement with Azoogle is available here

Source: Florida Attorney General