If you’re tired of annoying telemarketing calls in New York, you have two main ways to report them:
- New York Attorney General’s Office: Handles fraud, deceptive practices, and illegal telemarketing. You can report online or call 1-800-771-7755. Violators face fines up to $20,000 per call.
- Division of Consumer Protection: Focuses on enforcing the Do Not Call Registry. File complaints at DoNotCall.gov or call 1-888-382-1222. Repeat violators are tracked using the Consumer Sentinel Network.
Key Facts:
- New York increased penalties for telemarketing violations to $20,000 per call in 2023.
- Over 109,000 complaints were filed by New Yorkers in 2024.
- Violations include ignoring the Do Not Call list, spoofing caller ID, and contacting outside legal hours.
Quick Comparison:
| Feature | NY Attorney General | Division of Consumer Protection |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Fraud, deceptive practices | Do Not Call Registry violations |
| Reporting Methods | Online, phone | Online, phone |
| Penalties | Up to $20,000 per violation | Up to $20,000 per call |
| Best For | Complex fraud, deceptive calls | High-volume telemarketing issues |
Tip: Use both agencies for stronger enforcement and consider third-party tools like ReportTelemarketer.com to stop persistent calls. Reporting helps protect your privacy and hold violators accountable.
Can I Report Robocalls and Other Telemarketing Issues to the Attorney General? | CountyOffice News
How to Report to the New York Attorney General
The New York Attorney General’s Office plays a vital role in enforcing laws against telemarketing violations. The Bureau of Consumer Frauds & Protection specifically handles complaints and investigates businesses or individuals involved in deceptive or illegal practices.
Filing Your Complaint
Submitting a complaint is a simple process. You can reach the NYAG Help Line at 1-800-771-7755 to speak directly with a representative. Alternatively, you can file your complaint online using the official complaint form. Be sure to include the following details:
- Your full name
- The name of the business or individual involved
- A brief description of the violation
- Your contact information
It’s important to note that your information may be shared with law enforcement or used in court proceedings. However, the NYAG cannot provide personal legal representation or financial advice. Once your complaint is submitted, the Office may act swiftly to pursue legal remedies.
Legal Action and Fines
The Attorney General has the power to request court injunctions to stop unlawful telemarketing activities immediately. During investigations, the Office can issue subpoenas to gather evidence. Violators face steep civil penalties – up to $2,000 per call, with a maximum of $20,000 for calls made within a 72-hour period. In some situations, each illegal call may count as a separate violation, leading to additional fines. Additionally, the Attorney General frequently collaborates with other states to tackle large-scale robocall operations.
Types of Violations They Handle
The Attorney General’s Office addresses a range of violations, including:
- Caller ID manipulation: Providing false, misleading, or inaccurate caller identification information.
- Issues with prerecorded messages: Failing to meet legal requirements for automated calls.
- Deceptive practices: Misrepresenting premiums as prizes or making false statements.
- Financial fraud: Unauthorized trading and other fraudulent schemes conducted via telemarketing.
These efforts aim to protect consumers from misleading or harmful practices while holding violators accountable.
How to Report to the Division of Consumer Protection
The New York State Division of Consumer Protection plays a key role in addressing telemarketing violations, with a strong focus on Do Not Call Registry violations. They collaborate with federal agencies to identify and penalize repeat offenders.
Submitting Your Complaint
If you’ve been receiving unwanted telemarketing calls and your number has been on the Do Not Call Registry for more than 31 days, the Division encourages you to file a complaint for each call. Here’s how you can report:
- File online at DoNotCall.gov
- Call 1-888-382-1222 (TTY: 1-866-290-4236)
- Reach the Consumer Assistance Helpline at 1-800-697-1220, available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
When filing, include details like the date and time of the call, caller ID information, the company’s name, and the service they offered. These specifics are crucial for the Division to track down offenders and build strong enforcement cases. Once submitted, your complaint is entered into the Consumer Sentinel Network for further investigation.
Consumer Sentinel Database Usage
The Division utilizes the Consumer Sentinel Network (CSN) – a nationwide database of consumer complaints accessible to law enforcement agencies. This database houses millions of records, including reports of fraud, identity theft, and telemarketing violations such as Do Not Call breaches.
With nearly 3,000 federal, state, local, and international law enforcement users, the CSN allows authorities to search complaints, detect patterns, and collaborate on enforcement efforts. The Division not only accesses complaints submitted directly to the FTC but also those shared by other contributors across the country.
This system ensures that your individual complaint contributes to a larger enforcement strategy. When multiple reports highlight the same telemarketer, the Division can quickly identify repeat offenders and team up with federal agencies like the FTC and FCC to take action. This collaborative effort strengthens enforcement against violators.
Penalties and Enforcement
Telemarketers who violate the rules face steep penalties: $11,000 per federal violation, $5,000 per state violation, and up to $20,000 per violation from the New York Department of State.
The Division enforces strict compliance with registry scrubbing requirements, which mandate telemarketers to check their call lists against the Federal Registry every 31 days. Failing to remove registered numbers makes each call to those numbers a separate violation.
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Attorney General vs Division of Consumer Protection: Side-by-Side Comparison
To help clarify your options for reporting, here’s a breakdown of how the New York Attorney General’s office and the Division of Consumer Protection handle consumer complaints. Each agency has its own focus and methods, making it important to understand their differences so you can choose the right one for your situation.
The New York Attorney General’s office takes on a wide range of consumer protection issues, including investigating businesses for violating state laws and seeking remedies for consumers. They handle complex fraud cases, deceptive practices, and broader consumer protection matters. For example, the office investigates and imposes civil penalties for violations of the Do Not Call law while addressing larger fraudulent schemes [12, 26].
On the other hand, the Division of Consumer Protection zeroes in on enforcing the New York State Do Not Call Law. They rely heavily on the FTC Consumer Sentinel Database to process and analyze high volumes of telemarketing complaints. This targeted approach allows them to efficiently pursue violators. Recent cases include settlements with companies like SelectQuote Insurance Services, Liberty Mutual Insurance, Legal Growth Marketing, Inc., and Mammoth Marketing Group LLC for violating Do Not Call regulations. Other companies, such as Better Health Consulting, LLC and Ace Health, also faced similar penalties.
Comparison Chart
Here’s a quick reference chart summarizing the key distinctions:
| Feature | NY Attorney General | Division of Consumer Protection |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Focus | Broad consumer protection, fraud investigation | Strict enforcement of Do Not Call Law |
| Reporting Methods | Online complaint forms, direct investigation requests | Online at DoNotCall.gov, phone: 1-888-382-1222 |
| Violation Types | Fraud, deceptive trade practices, Do Not Call violations | Primarily Do Not Call Registry violations |
| Enforcement Approach | Direct investigations and mediation | Database analysis and pattern tracking |
| Maximum Penalties | Up to $20,000 per violation (recently increased) | Up to $20,000 per call via Department of State |
| Database Usage | Investigates individual complaints | Uses FTC Consumer Sentinel Network |
| Notable Settlements | Varies by case | Over 15 telemarketing companies (2024–2025) |
| Best For | Complex fraud, deceptive business practices | High-volume telemarketing complaints |
The civil penalty for violations was recently raised to $20,000 per instance, signaling the state’s dedication to combating unwanted calls. This is especially relevant given that New York residents filed 109,692 telemarketing complaints with the Federal Trade Commission in 2024 alone.
Choosing the Right Agency
If you’re dealing with repeated telemarketing violations, the Division of Consumer Protection is your best bet. Their streamlined process and integration with the FTC Consumer Sentinel Network allow them to track patterns and take action against repeat offenders efficiently.
For more complex issues, such as fraud or deceptive practices that go beyond telemarketing, the Attorney General’s office offers the resources and authority to conduct in-depth investigations. They can address cases involving misleading sales tactics or fraudulent schemes that require a broader approach.
Both agencies gain additional enforcement power under New York’s "Seinfeld law", effective January 1, 2025. This law requires telemarketers to identify themselves within the first 30 seconds of an unsolicited call, making it easier for both agencies to document and prosecute violations.
Using Additional Consumer Protection Services
Reporting telemarketing violations to the New York Attorney General or the Division of Consumer Protection is a crucial step, but adding third-party support can strengthen your efforts to combat persistent telemarketing calls. This extra layer of protection enhances your ability to address violations effectively.
How ReportTelemarketer.com Can Help
ReportTelemarketer.com offers a free service that has already helped over 30,000 users put an end to unwanted calls while complementing state-level reporting efforts.
The platform uses advanced tools to investigate reported calls and pinpoint violators. If a telemarketer fails to meet consent requirements, ReportTelemarketer.com takes action by issuing cease-and-desist letters or initiating formal legal proceedings. The best part? There’s no upfront cost – any recovered funds come directly from the violators.
In addition to stopping the calls, the service works to recover attorney fees from telemarketers when successful. It also helps consumers claim compensation for violations under federal telemarketing laws.
Using ReportTelemarketer.com alongside state reporting creates a robust, two-pronged approach to dealing with telemarketing violations. Filing complaints with both the Division of Consumer Protection and ReportTelemarketer.com increases your chances of stopping unwanted calls and holding violators accountable.
Conclusion: Picking the Right Reporting Method
When it comes to tackling unwanted telemarketing calls in New York, you have two main state-level options, each tailored to different kinds of violations. The Division of Consumer Protection is your go-to for enforcing Do Not Call violations, with the authority to impose fines of up to $20,000 per illegal call. On the other hand, the Attorney General’s office addresses broader consumer fraud cases, focusing on deceptive or illegal business practices.
The choice largely depends on the nature of the violation. If you’re dealing with calls received after registering on the Do Not Call Registry, the Division of Consumer Protection offers a straightforward process, as outlined earlier. For more complex issues, such as deceptive sales tactics or fraud schemes, the Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Frauds & Protection provides mediation services and investigates these broader cases.
The ongoing gap between registered users and persistent violations underscores the importance of consistent reporting through all available channels. Using multiple avenues creates a stronger enforcement framework. For example, filing complaints with both state agencies can lead to immediate action from the Division of Consumer Protection, while the Attorney General’s office might initiate larger investigations that benefit the wider community. Including platforms like ReportTelemarketer.com in your strategy can further enhance enforcement efforts by combining state-level action with private legal measures to stop these calls for good.
Every complaint you file plays a crucial role. It adds to a growing database that regulators rely on to spot patterns and pursue larger enforcement actions. This collective effort is vital in holding violators accountable and addressing the staggering $1.2 billion that consumers lost to robocall scams in 2023. By taking these steps, you’re not only protecting yourself but also contributing to stronger consumer protections and a more effective telemarketing enforcement system.
FAQs
What’s the difference between reporting telemarketing violations to the New York Attorney General and the Division of Consumer Protection?
The New York Attorney General plays a key role in tackling deceptive telemarketing and fraud. When you report a violation to their office, they can take legal action or launch investigations to ensure offenders are held accountable.
Meanwhile, the Division of Consumer Protection focuses on helping consumers deal with unwanted telemarketing calls. They handle complaints, share helpful tips, and promote registration with the national Do Not Call Registry. Their efforts lean more toward prevention and education, offering tools to avoid issues before they arise.
While both agencies work toward curbing telemarketing abuses in New York, their methods differ. The Attorney General’s office prioritizes legal enforcement, whereas the Division of Consumer Protection emphasizes prevention and consumer support.
How does reporting telemarketing violations to both the New York Attorney General and the Division of Consumer Protection help stop illegal calls?
Reporting telemarketing violations to both the New York Attorney General and the Division of Consumer Protection plays a key role in cracking down on illegal practices. By providing these agencies with more data, you help them identify patterns, track offenders, and take decisive actions like issuing fines or cease-and-desist orders to curb unlawful activities.
Filing multiple complaints also boosts the chances of investigations being prioritized. This can lead to meaningful results for consumers, such as refunds or changes in how telemarketers operate. By reaching out to both agencies, you’re actively contributing to stronger enforcement and ensuring violators are held accountable.
What should I do if I keep getting telemarketing calls after joining the Do Not Call Registry?
If you’re still getting telemarketing calls more than 31 days after adding your number to the Do Not Call Registry, here are some steps you can take to address the issue:
- File a complaint directly with the National Do Not Call Registry. This helps track and address violations.
- Ask the telemarketer to add your number to their internal do-not-call list.
- Use call-blocking apps or tools to minimize unwanted calls.
If the problem continues, you might want to re-register your number with the Do Not Call Registry. For ongoing violations, you can report the offenders to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for further investigation.
