TEXT MESSAGE "FREE" GIFT CARD SPAMMER AGREES TO SETTLE FTC CHARGES

FROM:  FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION  Scammer Settles FTC Charges He Sent Consumers Millions of Unwanted Texts Deceptive Messages Promised “Free” Gift Cards for Consumers A text message spammer and his company have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that they were responsible for sending millions of unwanted messages to consumers across the country, which contained false promises of “free” $1,000 gift cards for major retailers like Walmart, Target and Best Buy. Under the terms of the settlement with the FTC, Rishab Verma and his company, Verma Holdings, LLC, will be permanently banned from sending unwanted or unsolicited commercial text messages or assisting others in doing so. In addition, the two will be prohibited from misrepresenting to consumers that a product is “free,” that they have won a prize or been selected for a gift, or that consumers’ personal information is needed to send free merchandise. Verma and his company were among the defendants in the Commission’s 2013 sweep against text message spammers and affiliate marketers who used false promises of gift cards to draw consumers to websites that collected sensitive personal information. The sites also required consumers to provide credit card information to sign up for trial offers. The settlement contains a monetary judgment of $2,863,000, which is suspended due to the defendants’ inability to pay after Verma and the company pay $26,100.   The Commission vote approving the proposed stipulated final judgment was 5-0. It is subject to court approval. The FTC filed the proposed stipulated final judgment in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division. NOTE: Stipulated final judgments have the force of law when approved and signed by the District Court judge.