|
|
______________
FTC Actions
FTC Internet
Enforcement
Information BrokersInformation Brokers Settle FTC Charges
Consumers' Confidential Financial Information was Allegedly Obtained through Deception
March 8, 2002
Information brokers who allegedly used deception to obtain consumers' confidential financial information have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that their practices violated federal law. The settlements bar the operators from obtaining or hiring others to obtain consumers' financial information through illegal means or by hiring or contracting with others who use illegal methods to obtain consumers' financial information. The settlements also require that the defendants give up the money they made in the illegal scheme.
In April 2001, the FTC filed suit in three U. S. District Courts to halt the operations of information brokers who allegedly used false pretenses, fraudulent statements, or impersonation to illegally obtain consumers' confidential financial information - such as bank balances - and sell it. The practice of obtaining consumers' private financial information under false pretenses is known as "pretexting." The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act specifically outlaws pretexting and soliciting others to pretext.
"Pretexting, like that alleged in these cases, undermines consumers' basic expectation of confidentiality in their financial information," said J. Howard Beales, III, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection. "The clients of pretexters are often law firms and other businesses. These buyers should beware because knowingly obtaining pretexted information is illegal as well."
In documents filed with the courts, the FTC charged that the defendants maintained Web sites where they advertised that they could obtain non-public, confidential, financial information -- including such things as checking and savings account numbers and balances, stock, bond and mutual fund accounts and safe deposit box locations -- for fees ranging from $100 to $600, depending on the information sought. In sting operations set up by the FTC in cooperation with local banks, investigators established dummy bank accounts in the names of cooperating witnesses and then called defendants posing as purchasers of the defendants' pretexting services. In the three cases, an FTC investigator posed as a consumer seeking account balance information on her fiancé's checking account. The investigator provided limited information about her "fiancé's" account to the defendants. The defendants or persons they hired called the bank, identifying themselves by the name of the supposed "fiancé," and asked to check his balance. The defendants later provided the account balance information to the FTC investigator. The FTC asked the courts to halt the illegal practices permanently, freeze the defendants' assets pending trial, and order them to give up their ill-gotten gains. The courts temporarily enjoined the defendants from continuing the illegal practices and imposed partial freezes of their assets pending trial. The settlements announced today resolve those court cases.
The settlements bar the defendants, in connection with the obtaining, offering for sale or selling of customer information of a financial institution, from:
 | misrepresenting their identities or their right to receive customer information; |
| using others who will obtain information using deception; |
| selling or disclosing customer information obtained from a financial institution; and |
| making false and misleading statements. |
The settlements also bar the defendants from violating the pretexting provisions of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and require the defendants to give up their ill-gotten gains.
The Commission complaints name Information Search, Inc., and David Kacala of Baltimore, Maryland; Victor L. Guzzetta, doing business as Smart Data Systems of Staten Island, New York; and Paula Garrett, doing business as Discreet Data Systems of Humble, Texas. The cases were filed under seal in U. S. District Courts for the District of Maryland, the Eastern District of New York, and the Southern District of Texas.
Defendants Paula Garrett and Victor L. Guzzetta will pay $2,000 each. Based on financial statements provided by defendant David Kacala, a $15,000 payment will be suspended. Should the Commission have evidence that the defendant made misrepresentations in his financial statements, the entire amount of the judgment will become immediately due.
All the settlements contain record keeping provisions to allow the Commission to monitor compliance with its order.
The Commission vote to approve the Stipulated Final Judgments and Orders was 5-0.
Related Documents
FTC v. Information Search, Inc., and David J. Kacala (District of Maryland, Northern Division)
First Amended Complaint for Injunctive & Other Equitable Relief [PDF 18K]
Stipulated Final Judgment & Order for Permanent Injunction & Monetary Relief Against Defendants Information Search, Inc. & David J. Kacala [PDF 28K]
FTC v. Victor L. Guzzetta, doing business as Smart Data Systems (Eastern District of New York)
First Amended Complaint for Injunctive and Other Equitable Relief [PDF]
Stipulated Final Judgment and Order for Permanent Injunction and Monetary Relief [PDF]
FTC v. Paula L. Garrett, doing business as Discreet Data Systems (Southern District of Texas, Houston Division)
First Amended Complaint for Injunctive & Other Equitable Relief [PDF 18K]
Stipulated Final Judgment and Order for Permanent Injunction and Monetary Relief [PDF xxxK
The above article was reprinted from an announcement on the Federal Trade Commission web site dated March 8, 2002. Check the FTC web site for any changes to the article.
This page was last modified on July 22, 2007.
Privacy Policy | Disclaimers | Terms of Use | Suggestions | Credit Card Security
Website Created by & Copyright © 2001-2008 Richard Keyt, All Rights Reserved