Federal Trade Commission says robocall operation impersonated government agency to get bank info

WASHINGTON - The Federal Trade Commission filed its 100th case against a robocall operation for violating the 9-year-old Do Not Call List . The 5 on Your Side Investigators told you last February , the FTC had filed 83 cases despite 8 million complaints. This action shut down an operation that allegedly impersonated the FTC in an attempt to trick consumers into handing over personal data and bank information.

The FTC said The Cuban Exchange, doing business as, CrediSure America and MyiPad.us, deceptively claimed it could help consumers get refunds from the FTC.

The government said the agency spoofed the FTC's toll-free number and used a website, ftcrefund.com, to confuse consumers and make them believe it was a legitimate phone call and request.

The FTC said the website and an identical one, credisure.net, told consumers " CrediSure has the proper knowledge and open door [sic] to expedite refunds you may not even know were owed to you. CrediSure works as a tireless collector and fiercely fights for its clients [sic] refunds to be paid first.”

“When the Federal Trade Commission returns money to consumers who have been ripped off, it doesn’t use robocalls, and it certainly doesn’t ask them to provide personal financial information,” said David Vladeck, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “To anyone hell-bent on breaking the law by making illegal robocalls, transmitting phony Caller ID information, or impersonating a federal agency, we have two words for you: Stop now. The real Federal Trade Commission will come after you.”

In addition to the robocalls, the FTC said the company also violated the Do Not Call list.

If the FTC has a refund to issue, it will arrive as a check and not direct deposit.