Iowa Telemarketing Fraud Laws

Code Section

What's Prohibited?

It is illegal to use or employ an unfair practice, deception, fraud, false pretense, false promise, or misrepresentation, or conceal, suppress, or omit a material fact with the intent that others will rely on the misrepresentation in connection with the lease, sale, or advertisement of any merchandise or the solicitation of contributions for charitable purposes.

It doesn't make a difference whether or not a person has in fact been misled, deceived, or damaged.

Code Section

Definition of "ADAD Equipment"

What's the Rule?

• Calls made by a nonprofit organization or by an individual using the calls other than for commercial profit-making purposes or fund-raising, if the calls don't involve the advertisement or offering for sale, lease, or rental of goods, services, or property
• Calls relating to payment for previously ordered or purchased goods or services
• Calls to people who have a prior business relationship with the organization placing the calls
• Calls relating to the collection of unlawful debts
• Calls to employees of the organization placing the calls
• Calls which use an initial prerecorded message, that is no longer than seven seconds, before a live operator comes onto the line, or calls which involve an initial message from a live operator

Termination

Penalties

Violating this law is a serious misdemeanor.