Cliff Stearns: “There is a quote by Sir Walter Scott that goes something like this: "Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we…”

“There is a quote by Sir Walter Scott that goes something like this: "Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive." I think that quote by Sir Walter Scott sort of sums up what we have here. It is perhaps a perfect description of the fraud committed by the unscrupulous telemarketers who prey on the susceptibility of our citizens. Particularly in Florida we have senior citizens, elderly people, and I think telemarketing would be something that people would use to prey on our citizens. I was the original cosponsor of this legislation when it was first introduced on January 21, 1997, when I believe the bill back then was H.R. 474. Now it is H.R. 1847. It has been strengthened, I think, through the committee process, so I think the current version is even better. Telemarketing fraud is estimated to rob the United States consumers of at least $40 billion annually. This legislation would finally send a clear signal to the con men who manipulate the public's telephone systems to commit fraud.”