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Ohio Sues Two Companies For Making Illegal Robocalls

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Ohio has joined six other states in suing a pair of Texas-based businesses, saying they have blasted Ohioans with more than 59 million illegal robocalls offering extended car warranties and health care services. 

Attorney General Dave Yost says the companies have illegally used spoofing – making the call look like it’s coming from a local or known number – or have targeted numbers registered on the national “Do Not Call” list.

“We’re going after the batch dialers and the folks who are really going in and doing this on an industrial scale," Yost says.

Yost credits Ohioans for reporting these robocalls to his office. either by texting ROBO to 888111 or filling out a form at ohioprotects.org.

Arkansas, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina and Texas are also suing the two companies. 

The FCC has also proposed fining the two companies $225 million – its largest fine ever.

Copyright 2020 The Statehouse News Bureau

Jo Ingles is a professional journalist who covers politics and Ohio government for the Ohio Public Radio and Television for the Ohio Public Radio and Television Statehouse News Bureau. She reports on issues of importance to Ohioans including education, legislation, politics, and life and death issues such as capital punishment.