Attorney General's News Release

July 1, 1999

Nixon shuts down fraudulent consumer "hotline"

Jefferson City, Mo. — Attorney General Jay Nixon today obtained a court order to shut down a fraudulent consumer telemarketing "hotline" that was being used to divert inquiries and complaints about a vacation company from legitimate consumer protection agencies.

The assurance of voluntary compliance, approved this morning by the Greene County Circuit Court, dissolves an operation called the Federal Telemarketing Fraud Hotline. The hotline was operated in Springfield by Bobby Jean Rantz, who was also selling vacation packages through his company, Branson Star Reservations.

According to complaints received by the Attorney General's Office, Branson Star would solicit customers to buy vacation packages, timeshares or timeshare tours. When customers asked how to check the legitimacy of the company, they were referred to the hotline which was being answered by employees of Rantz. Consumers were not told about the connection between Branson Star and the hotline. The Attorney General's Office estimates that 180 consumers called the hotline.

In addition to dissolving the hotline, Rantz will pay full restitution to consumers who made purchases frm Branson Star Reservations as a result of information they received from the hotline. Rantz also will pay $2,500 in penalties and provide business and phone records to the Attorney General's office as part of the agreement.

"This company was able to deceive people who thought they were being careful and doing their homework by calling a government hotline," Nixon said. "It shows the length a business will go to in order to defraud consumers."

Nixon said consumers should contact their local Better Business Bureau or the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Hotline at 800-392-8222 to check on vacation companies.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818