WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA), a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and co-chair of the Bipartisan Bicameral Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease, today wrote to the Federal Trade Commission asking for answers in light of a report in yesterday’s New York Times about telemarketing operations that prey upon vulnerable seniors, often suffering from diseases such as Alzheimer’s or cancer, and raid their bank accounts.

The New York Times reported on Sunday, May 20th that the database company, infoUSA, advertised and sold lists of millions of “gullible” seniors divided into groups of people “looking for ways to make money,” people with cancer or Alzheimer’s disease or repeated gamblers. After criminals used these lists to contact seniors and trick them into revealing their banking information, they stole millions. Bank and consumer database companies continued working with criminals even after they were alerted to the crimes, according to federal regulators.

Rep. Markey said, “Companies that target vulnerable, lonely and sick seniors put the worst hucksters and charlatans of bygone days to shame. I am outraged that any company would sell lists of ‘gullible’ individuals to known lawbreakers and that banks would continue to work with these lawbreakers. I will be pushing the FTC to step up its efforts to stop such exploitation.”

Rep. Markey’s letter to FTC Chair Deborah P. Majoras asks for answers to a series of detailed questions including:

• When did the FTC become aware of the practices described in the New York Times article? Upon discovery of these practices, what activities did the FTC undertake?
• Is the FTC aware of any contracts that infoUSA or any other firm employing similar practices may currently have with the Federal government? If yes, please list the firms with such contracts.
• Has the FTC notified infoUSA, and any other firms engaged in similar practices, that its products are abetting crimes against consumers?
• Have the resources provided to the FTC limited its ability to identify, investigate or pursue cases of telemarketing fraud?
• According to the article, financial institutions such as Wachovia bank accepted fraudulent checks in the names of victims…Is this accurate? What legal obligations, if any, do financial institutions have to perform such investigations?

“Protecting Americans’ information from thieves online or by phone is a top priority of this Congress. I have sponsored major bipartisan legislation dealing with pretexting, spyware, Social Security number protection, and data security and hope to see action on all these fronts this session," added Rep. Markey.

Rep. Markey is the author of H.R. 948, legislation to strengthen protection for consumers against the fraudulent sale and purchase of Social Security numbers which was approved by the House Energy and Commerce Committee earlier this month. In addition he has cosponsored:
• The Prevention of Fraudulent Access to Phone Records Act would prohibit pretexting of phone records and to enhance security requirements for customer proprietary network information.
• The Securely Protect Yourself Against Cyber Trespass Act (or SPY ACT) would protect users of the Internet from unknowing transmission of the personally identifiable information through spyware programs.
• The Data Accountability and Trust Act (or DATA bill) will protect consumers by requiring entities engaged in interstate commerce to have reasonable security policies and procedures to protect data containing personal information, and to provide for nationwide notice in the event of a security breach.

Copy of Rep. Markey's letter to the FTC.