An ISP Scam Targeted Low-Income People Seeking Government Aid
The US Federal Communications Commission says a man posing as a fake broadband service promised victims discounts on internet services and devices. By Jacqui Vanliew, Wired An Ohio man created a fake broadband provider in order to scam low-income consumers who thought they were getting government-funded discounts on internet service and devices, according to the Federal Communications Commission. In a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture released July 1, the FCC proposed a fine of $220,210 against alleged scammer Kyle Traxler. Traxler created an entity called Cleo Communications that sought authorization to be a provider in the FCC's Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program, which provided $50 monthly discounts on internet service and other discounts for devices. "Cleo apparently existed for the sole purpose of taking financial advantage of customers under the disguise of being a legitimate EBB Program provider," the FCC notice said. "Cleo Communications has...