TALLAHASSEE – Attorney General Charlie Crist today charged Global
Information Group, Inc., a Florida corporation, with unlawfully obtaining
and selling confidential telephone records without the knowledge of the
consumers whose records were being sold. This is the Attorney General’s
second legal action within a month targeting this form of unlawful conduct.
Crist’s case, filed today in Hillsborough County Circuit Court
against the company and its principals, alleges that Global obtained
information by impersonating either customers or telephone company
employees in order to obtain consumers’ personal calling information.
Global, located in Temple Terrace, 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 telephone companies serving
customers throughout the United States, including some in Florida. The
information was then sold 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,
$15,000 if a senior citizen or disabled person was victimized. Total
penalties will be determined at a later date. The case is being prosecuted
by the Attorney General?s Economic Crimes Division.
Global has been the subject of two previous cases relating to
Globals conduct concerning T-Mobile or Verizon Wireless customers and
information. Crist?s lawsuit seeks relief for all Florida consumers with
wireless and landline telephone numbers and for all telephone companies
serving Florida customers.
A copy of the Attorney General?s lawsuit is available at:
http://myfloridalegal.com/webfiles.nsf/WF/MRAY-6M9RY3/$file/Global_Complaint.pdf
