News ReleasesFilter
Rutledge Leads National Effort to Expose Illegal Robocallers
Thu, Jun 4, 2020Says, ‘critical to identifying, investigating and stopping illegal robocallers’
LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge today filed comments regarding proposed rules under consideration by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that would facilitate continued collaboration among state attorneys general and telecom companies in tracing back illegal robocalls to their source. Rutledge, along with the North Carolina Attorney General, is leading the State Attorneys General Robocall Technologies Working Group to submit these comments to the FCC.
“I urge the FCC to swiftly enact these proposed rules which are critical to identifying, investigating and stopping illegal robocallers,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “Through the trace back process, illegal robocallers and the telecoms that facilitate these illegal calls will finally be exposed and held accountable for the harm they cause Arkansans.”
For the last few years, the State Attorneys General Robocall Technologies Working Group has encouraged the telecom industry to increase the number and speed of trace back investigations. Many telecom companies have joined this effort and are working hard to stop illegal robocallers. Recently, trace back investigations have become more urgent than ever because of coronavirus-related robocall scams, including scams related to coronavirus relief checks, pitches for coronavirus test kits, health plans offering coronavirus testing, work-from-home offers preying on job-seekers, and scams offering relief on utility bills, student loans, taxes, or other debt.
In May, Rutledge also submitted comments to the FCC on proposed rules regarding the implementation of the Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act (TRACED Act). Rutledge’s comments urged the FCC to impose the mandate to implement the caller ID authentication technology, STIR/SHAKEN, on all types and sizes of telecommunication providers, to establish robust standards for any exceptions to this obligation, and that the costs to implement this technology should not be passed on to the consumer.
Rutledge has actively called for telephone carriers to aggressively block illegal robocalls before they reach consumers through ongoing collaborations with the FCC, telecom industry representatives and a coalition of state attorneys general. Rutledge was also instrumental in developing the Anti-Robocall Principles for telecoms to reduce the number of unwanted and illegal robocalls reaching the American people, which was adopted by 51 attorneys general and 12 major telecom providers in August 2019.
In Arkansas, Rutledge continues to lead the fight against robocalls by working with stakeholder to implement Acts 677 and 1074 of 2019 that requires telecommunication providers to submit annual reports to the Arkansas Public Service Commission to certify that all available and applicable technology is being employed to identify and block illegal robocalls and spoofing.
Arkansas is joined in submitting today’s comments by the attorneys general of all 50 states, District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
MORE
Rutledge Announces Arrest of Saline County Resident on Child Pornography Charges
Mon, Jun 1, 2020LITTLE ROCK - Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge today announced the arrest of David Jefferson Brown of Benton on 20 counts of distributing, possessing or viewing matter depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child, a class C felony. Rutledge’s Office has seen a drastic uptick in activity from cyber predators targeting children online during the COVID-19 pandemic and the Attorney General’s cyber crimes agents have been aggressively investigating each lead they receive.
Brown, 44, turned himself in to the Saline County Jail after agents from the Attorney General’s Cyber Crime Unit discovered sexually explicit files shared by him through a peer to peer network. The full affidavit can be viewed here.
Agents seized a computer hard drive, flash drive and a cell phone from the residence. The casefile will be turned in to Saline County Prosecutor Chris Walton once it is completed.
MORE
Rutledge Sues Unlicensed Northwest Construction Business for Failing to Complete Work
Thu, May 28, 2020Says, ‘When businesses take consumers’ money and agree to do a job, they have to follow through’
LITTLE ROCK - Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge announced today she is filing a lawsuit against Alma resident, Laura Anne Jones and her business Purple Hat Construction, LLC for violations of the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (ADTPA). The lawsuit filed in Pulaski County Circuit Court alleges that in several instances between April 2019 and January 2020, Jones offered residential contractor services to consumers, obtained money before performing those services, and failed to complete those services. Jones has never been licensed by the Arkansas Contractors Board as a residential contractor.
“When businesses take consumers’ money and agree to do a job, they have to follow through,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “I will not tolerate businesses taking advantage of Arkansans or accepting money from deceptive practices, nor will I tolerate businesses who try to skirt the law by not registering with licensing boards.”
Jones, doing business at Purple Hat Construction, contracted with customers in northwest Arkansas for home repair projects, requiring a large deposit upfront to reserve the date for work to be done. Upon the scheduled date to begin the project or shortly after the work began, Jones would contact the homeowner with excuses making her unavailable to complete the work and unable to provide a refund. Violations of the ADTPA can be assessed up to $10,000 per violation.
Rutledge is now seeking restitution for harmed consumers, civil penalties, an injunction and other costs and fees incurred by the State of Arkansas in resolving this issue for consumers.
If you are a consumer who has been impacted by similar actions or any other contractor, Rutledge encourages you to contact the Attorney General’s Office at (800) 482-8982 or visit www.ArkansasAG.gov.