June 30, 2005
Phone scammers face £250k fine
At the moment premium rate crooks that con customers into running up huge phone bills can be fined up to £100,000. But companies that rip-off punters with dodgy premium rate services are to face increased fines of up to £250,000.
Said premium rate regulator ICSTIS boss George Kidd: "Our current fine limit of £100,000 is no longer sufficient to deal with the worst services we see."
Separately, ICSTIS is investigating Jamster, the Verisign-owned company behind the "Crazy Frog" ringtones. It has received more than 100 complaints, including from children, who say they were unaware that downloading the ringtone also signed them up to expensive premium rate services.
The investigation was launched in April and should conclude later this summer.
(via The Register)
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