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Florida Sues Data Broker Over Sale of Phone Records

February 27, 2006

Calling Records • FTC Shuts Down Pretexting Operation • Phone Pretexters Get Off Cheap • Verizon Wireless Changes Customer Data Policy • FCC Strengthens Rules For Phone Privacy • House Tries Once More to Pass Pretexting Bill • Pretexting Bill: Pretense or Reality? • Hewlett-Packard Pays $14.5 Million to Settle Pretexting Suit • HP Scandal Ignites New Pretexting Battle In Congress • AT&T Sues Calling Record Brokers • Sprint Nextel Settles Case with Florida Data Broker • Feds Sue Calling Record Vendors • Illinois Lawsuit Charges Data Brokerages • Florida Judgment to End Data Broker's Business • Florida Investigates Fake Caller IDs • California Sues Data Trace USA for $10 Million • Missouri Sues Datatraceusa.com • Florida Sues Data Broker Over Sale of Phone Records • Texas Sues Companies Selling Telephone Calling Records • Websites Hawking Phone Records Shut Down • FTC Vows to Stop Illicit Sale of Cell Phone Calling Records • FTC Pledges "Vigorous" Pursuit of Cell Phone Record Sales • AT&T Accused of Eavesdropping, Calling Record Sales • Sprint Sues Cell Phone Record Brokers • Missouri Shuts Down Locatecell.com • Texas Probes Cell Phone Calling Record Sales, Missouri Files Suit • Illinois Sues Company Selling Cell Phone Calling Records • Outcry Over Sale of Cell Phone Calling Records

A Florida company, Global Information Group, Inc., has been charged with unlawfully obtaining and selling confidential telephone records without the knowledge of the consumers whose records were being sold.

It's Florida Attorney General's second legal action aimed at illegal data sales this month.

Crist's case alleges that Global obtained information by impersonating either customers or telephone company employees in order to obtain consumers' personal calling information.

Global, of Temple Terrace, Fla., is accused of providing its customers with confidential telephone calling records of unsuspecting consumers. Laurie Misner, 43, and Edward Herzog, 48, are named as the principals of Global.

"This is yet another outrageous example of invading an individual's privacy for financial gain," said Crist. "Floridians deserve to be able to keep their private, personal phone records between themselves and those who provide that service."

The Attorney General's investigation has revealed that Global placed thousands of calls from its Temple Terrace headquarters seeking unauthorized customer information from several phone companies serving customers throughout the United States, including some in Florida. The information was then sold to Global customers who allegedly used the information for their own purposes.

The state is seeking civil penalties for violations of the Florida Unfair and Deceptive Practices Act and civil conspiracy laws, as well as a permanent injunction stopping Global from obtaining or selling any more personal calling records and requiring the company to return any of the personal records in its possession.

Penalties are $10,000 per violation, $15,000 if a senior citizen or disabled person was victimized. Total penalties will be determined at a later date.

Global has been the subject of two previous cases relating to conduct concerning T-Mobile or Verizon Wireless customers and information. Crist's lawsuit seeks relief for all Florida consumers with wireless and landline telephone numbers and for all telephone companies serving Florida customers.

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