Announced today 3/12/14:

http://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases ... called-millions

FTC Reaches Settlement With Home Security Company that Called Millions of Consumers on the National Do Not Call Registry

The Federal Trade Commission, with the assistance of the U.S. Department of Justice, has settled a complaint against a Massachusetts-based home security company that illegally called millions of consumers on the FTC?s National Do Not Call (DNC) Registry to pitch home security systems.

According to the FTC, Versatile Marketing Solutions (VMS), under the guidance of its owner, Jasjit Gotra, called millions of consumers whose names and phone numbers VMS bought from lead generators. The lead generators claimed that those consumers had given VMS permission to contact them about the installation of a free home security system, but in reality, they had not. In its complaint, the FTC alleges that the defendants? tactics violated the Commission?s Telemarketing Sales Rule.

The sales leads were obtained by illegal means through rampant use of robocalls from ?Tom with Home Protection,? fake survey calls, and calls to phone numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry. According to the complaint, VMS subsequently called these consumers without first checking to see if they had registered their telephone numbers on the DNC Registry.

In addition, the complaint alleges that VMS ignored warning signs that the lead generators were engaged in illegal telemarketing practices. For example, many consumers contacted by VMS complained that they had not given the company permission to call, nor had they given permission to receive a robocall. Despite mounting complaints, VMS continued buying leads from the same lead generators, and calling consumers using those leads.

?Companies that use lead generators must exercise due diligence when they buy lists of phone numbers,? said Jessica Rich, Director of the FTC?s Bureau of Consumer Protection, ?or else they can be on the hook for illegal telemarketing. Relying on a say-so that the numbers were obtained legally, or that the consumers have agreed to be called, even if their numbers are on the Do Not Call Registry, isn?t enough.?    

According to the complaint, between November 2011 and July 2012, VMS made more than two million calls to consumers to try to sell home security goods and services. Of those calls, at least one million were to phone numbers listed on the DNC Registry, and more than 100,000 were to consumers who had previously told VMS not to call them again ? another violation of the DNC rules.

The stipulated final court order settling the charges prohibits VMS and Gotra from making abusive telemarketing calls and from calling any consumer whose number is on the DNC Registry, unless they can prove that they have received written permission to make the call or that they have an established business relationship with that consumer. Further, it bars defendants from calling any consumer who has previously told VMS not to call them again. The order also places restrictions on how defendants can obtain and use lead-generated phone numbers in the future.

Finally, the order imposes a $3.4 million penalty judgment against the defendants, with all but $320,700 suspended due to their inability to pay. The entire amount will become due if the defendants are found to have misrepresented their financial condition.

The court settlement announced today resolves the FTC?s complaint against Versatile Marketing Solutions, Inc. also doing business as VMS Alarms, VMS, Alliance Security, and Alliance Home Protection; and its owner, Jasjit Gotra.

The Commission vote authorizing the staff to refer the civil penalty complaint to the Department of Justice, and to approve the proposed consent decree, was 4-0. The DOJ filed the complaint and proposed consent decree on behalf of the Commission in U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts on March 10, 2014. The proposed consent decree is subject to court approval.

NOTE: The Commission authorizes the filing of a complaint when it has ?reason to believe? that the law has been or is being violated, and it appears to the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest. Consent judgments have the force of law when signed by a district court judge.

Information for Consumers and Business

The FTC has a new blog post for consumers on the DNC Registry, as well as two consumer education videos explaining robocalls and describing what consumers should do when they receive one. The Commission also has a new blog with business education information. General information on the DNC Registry is also available on the website.

The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC?s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 2,000 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC?s website provides free information on a variety of consumer topics. Like the FTC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.

When can we get our w2forms?

fyi the new number they are using is 1-800-709-1191, but all you ever get is the answering machine. they called me and promised a free system and set up, then called and said they didnt have the equipment, they would call when it came in. luckly i didnt give them any money. but it is a scam.

STOP RHE CALLS ALREADY~~~~~~~~~PAIN IN THE A**..

I made a complaint with the Department of Justice in NC on Oct 25 2012 so I am waiting for response from the FGF Concepts Inc. I f you look on the web all you see is complaints I have been on the National DoNot call list since it was started and checked again to make sure my number was still on it! These people say you filled out a survey which is untrue we never give any information to anyone! So waitingon a reponse they have hell hounded me at least 30 calls this week alone! Im done if this dont stop them I ill sue them myself! TRY ME!

How come your company is not listed with the BBB?

They have called at least four times AFTER we asked to be taken off their list.  The last call was after 8:30pm.

No legitimate company allows its employees to use foul language.  The only people I've ever met who telemarket and then curse at you are criminals.  BUYER BEWARE!

I have never asked for any information or completed a survey.  I tell them to stop calling, yet they will not stop.

I don't care if they're paying people to take this alarm system, I will NEVER do business with them.

FGF Alarms is a CAM company...DO NOT DEAL WITH THEM!!!!!! 800 709 1191

Just received call from these guys about a survey I participated in. Would not give any information about the "survey" and hung up when I asked a second time.

Sad part it is only for 120.00 plus a 15.00 bounced check fee, They will have to pay abit more the way it is going oh well

Ok they have not called back on and messages we left on their answering machine, Now we have a appointment with a detective this upcoming week for criminal action. They think we will just forget about it. sorry we will not. They now moved the cranston facility to ((((((316 Pocasset ave providence)))))) so they will be getting a visit. Their choice not mine. They asked us if we would follow thru we said of course and we will.

These people can not even pay their employees right without bouncing their checks

.What worse is GE Security does nothing to prevent this  so they are just as bad if not worse.I guess GE doesn't care that this place is trashing the GE name and Logo by their actions.As GE refuses all e-mails or calls about this.I know I won't buy GE now or in the future as someone at GE paid for them to do this as this is happening all over the country,not just in my area so that leaves out a local dealer hiring this firm.

FGF Concepts
136 Uxbridge Street
Cranston, RI 02920
Phone: (401) 943-4900
Owners: Issam Almougari and Fernando Silva Jr.

These f***ers are total fools and the Federal Do Not Call Registry is totally useless. They are harassing people even after they are told not to call again. They do it anyway. And their so-called survey not only is a a lie but an outright scam. They are a boiler room set-up operating in a residential neighborhood. Feel free to call the above number and give 'em a piece of your mind. Use *67 to block your number from them. They harass us we harass them. No?

I have received 3 calls from this GE "company". During the conversation the last two times when I said I was on the "no call list" and that I wanted  them to take me off the list and stop calling me the guy who had phoned said "f**k you" to me more than once. I'm guessing commenter Mike above is a shill because obviously this company is a pure scam.

Called 7 times back to back, and while they were calling over and over I looked them up on this site. I said to take me off their call list 4 times, and they just ignored me, I asked to speak to their boss and they said "we will just call back later" Completely annoying and would not take me off the call list. Used a whistle to blow out their eardrums, hope it hurt.

Called, I said I did not do the survey. They said I could get a free alarm system. I said no thank you and hung up. They called back again I said no thank you and hung up. They called a third time and would not take no for an answer. Fifteen minutes later they called for a fourth time still not taking no for an answer even when I told them I was contacting theBBB. During the time I said I was turning them in they continued to talk over me an laugh. This is harassment!!!!

You mean...when Verizon and Sprint offer you FREE phones.....that's illegal?? No...not so much.

I received a call from this company as well. They did mentioned that I participated in a survey some time ago. Which in fact I did remember. I agreed to have a technician call me back shortly after because my wife and I were in the process of shopping around for a alarm company. I spoke to the promotion Representative and agreed to have a tech call me back because I had a lot of questions. The rep did admit that she was fairly new and didn't want to give me the wrong information which I did appreciate her honesty. Dave, the technician did a great job explaining everything to me. In fact he even went a step forward and asked me if my wife can join in the conversation. I felt no high pressure and actually agreed to have a tech come out to the home. The very next day a tech arrived on time. Everything that Dave and the promotional rep said over the phone was in fact on the agreement. There were no hidden fees, no activation fee and I did receive full ownership of the equipment. The installation only took 2 hrs as promised. And the tech was very professional and did a great job showing my wife and I on how to work the system. Everything that this company promised over the phone  so far has delivered. I actually gave them 2 of my close friends and a few days after got their homes and families protected. For doing so I received 2 months of free monitoring as promised. Great company and great customer service. I do understand why people would get frustrated on the marketing strategy but I do assure everyone that it not a scam at all.

These people called with the Survey as you all stated they called again were told "not interested" since then they have called up to three times a day until yesterday. They called six times, I picked up, hung up, they called back, I picked up and hung up, they called back. This time I picked up and stated straight out YOU call this number ONE more time I will sue you and your facility who I happen to have tracked right down to your owners name for harrasement. Then I stated your calling someone who works for the Attorney Generals office do you really want to piss me off? And NO I really do not work there just have friends in high places who would not mind that I used that line- IT WORKS.

They never called back. the number they used last night was 401-432-7958 so each person must have thier own line.

I was recently contacted by this company as well. My husband had answered the phone when they called doing the survey, and when they called back, I answered. I received the same pitch about winning a free GE alarm system. I replied, "Uh huh...right, and the catch would be?" The woman I spoke to replied, "Only receiving excellent customer service and a top of the line alarm system for free! Though, in order to be eligible, I must verify that you own your home." When I told her that we did not, she said, "Darn." under her breath and hung up on me! Yes, definitely rude, Mr. Silva,  Even if we did own our home, I would never agree to a "free alarm system". If I want an alarm system installed in my home, I will contact the company of my choosing on my own time. I really do hope many people have not fallen for this.

This company called and asked for my husband.  I stated that he was not home and asked to take a message, and they wanted to know when they could call back.  I said never, and they told me "actually this is in response to a survey that he did, so we have permission to call him."  I told them that I highly doubt my husband did a survey (he never answers the phone) and to please put us on the do not call list.

They then told me to have a nice day and used my first name... I have no idea how they got my name but that is shady.

I will be watching to see if they call back and will definitely make a complaint if they do.

I received a call from this company today.  They claim that I won a $1,200 GE alarm system and it will only cost me the $32.99 a month monitoring fee to get a completely updated wireless alarm system.  It just sounds too good to be true.  I did call back the number they gave me to use if I decide I want to get their system.  A person answered and said "FGF".  I just don't trust this and I've never heard of Monitronics!

I keep getting calls from 401-228-8627 and they don't leave a message. When I try to call back, I get the busy tone. I have also received calls from 401-228-8614, 401-228-8617.

401-228-8614 is FGF Concepts.  They called using a different number 5 times and then today used their number.  They said it was in reference to a GE survey I did.  I told them to remove my number and not to call again.  I wasn't interested, and the person responded "that's because you haven't heard what I was going to tell you."  I told him he had 5 chances to leave a message and they didn't so Stop the talking and remove my number.  Let's see.   I loked up the company but it is nondescript out of Providence/Cranston, RI

http://www.bbb.org/boston/Business-Reviews/te ... ston-ri-123629/

They called yesterday, "Trent" stated they were calling regarding a safety program they had discussed with my husband. When I told them he wasn't available the caller hung up without saying another word.
The caller ID stated the call was from FGF Concepts. 401-398-8231 and got someone else on the line who told told me that "Trent" wasn't working today. I asked this one the full name and address of the company. He stated LGL, and he didn't know the address. I asked for an got a supervisor on the line who told me the company is called "LLL" and when I questioned that he changed it to LLG Concepts at 427 W. Omaha St. Zip code 47819 which is Ponsford Minnesota. I told him to put me on the Do Not Call list but I doubt it was even a legit address.

Excellent response and course of action.  One can also file complaints with the BBB and the Office of the Attorney General.