WASHINGTON Web sites sued over using FTC registry as bait

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Federal Trade Commission is suing an Internet operation that allegedly fleeced consumers by using the agency's national do-not-call registry as bait.
The FTC said Thursday that it asked a federal judge to prevent two Web sites -- Free-Do-Not-Call-List.org and National-Do-Not-Call-List.us -- from making deceptive claims that they can preregister consumers for the FTC's do-not-call list. One of the sites charges a fee for the service, the FTC said. The Web sites were not functioning late Thursday.
The FTC's registry is free and will begin signing up people July 1.
The agency's national do-not-call list is intended to block many unwanted telemarketing calls. The agency plans to launch a Web site in July so consumers can register and will begin an eight-week rollout of a toll-free phone number people can call to register.
Beginning in September, telemarketers will have to check the list every three months to determine who does not want to be called.
Telemarketers who call listed people could be fined up to $11,000 for each violation. Consumers would be able to file complaints by phone or online to an automated system.