Fraudulent Deceptive Robocalls

The Federal Trade Commission charges a Florida-based operation for deceptive robocalls targeting small business owners. First, the company falsely claims to represent Google. Secondly, the company falsely threatens businesses with removal from Google search results. And finally, the company falsely promises a first-place or first-page placement in Google search results.

According to the FTC, the Pointbreak Media LLC, defendants do not have a business relationship with Google. Despite this, the company inundates consumers with unwanted robocalls. The calls are particularly bothersome in that the caller threatens that Google will label the business “permanently closed” unless the small business owner “presses one” to speak with a “Google specialist.” Shortly thereafter, a telemarketer tells the respondent that the negative action can be avoided for a one-time fee ranging from $300 to $700. Evidently, the one-time fee allows the business to appear prominently in Internet searches.