~W, (.{~ Ba y. W. Reid Governor's Of Ice of Consumer Affairs Unwanted Telemarketing Calls Once you get on a call list, you can expect to get multiple calls from a wide range of telemarketing firms for an indefmite period. Computerized Call Offers and Facsimile Transmissiuns - Unsolicited telemarketing calls placed by computer or delivering a recorded message are illegal under Georgia law. The recipient may consent to receive such a call only if a line operator introduces the call and announces that a recorded message will follow. Telemarketers are also prohibited un der Georgia and federal law from transmitting facsimile messages without the recipient's C011sent. The Georgia No Call List in 1998. the Georgia General Assembly passed legislation allowing consumers to avoid calls from telephone solicitors by having their telephone numbers placed on the Georgia No Call list. Telephone solicitors are prohibited from calling any number on the list, which is maintained by the Public Service Commission. RcgislTation 011 the Georgia No Call List, however, does not limit calls from businesses with which you have a relationship, recognizcd charitable or religious organizations or political pollsters or candidates for public office. For a $5.00 registration fee, a residential telephone number can be placed on Lhe Georgia No Call List for a period of two (2) years. This registration fcc must be paycd for each telephone number which is included on the list. By law, business numbers may not be included on the list. To register for the Georgia No Call List, call \877-GANOCALL or visit the website at www.ganocall.com. Charitable Solicitations Charitable organizations that are not religious in nature and those paid to solicit charitable contributions must register with the Secretary of State in order to solicit contributions in Georgia. If you are called, be sure to ask the caller for the following information: The name ofthe charitable organization The type ofcharitable work being done How your money would be spent The address and telephone number of the organization and whether it is registered with the Secretary of State's office You may call the Secretary of State's office, or access the 50S webpage, to verify that the charity or paid solicitor is registered to operatc in Georgia. If a charity caller offers to send someone to your home to pick up a monetary contribution, contact our office at (404) 656-3920. To screen unfamiliar companies for report,I' offraudulent activity. call the fhllowing groups: National Fraud Information Center 1-800-876-7060 Better Business Bureau (check your local phone directory) GovernOl"s Office of Consumer Affairs 404-651-8600 or 1-800-869-1123 outside the Atlanta area Securities Firms and Investment Advisors Issuers of securities, securities finns, securities salespersons and investment advisors doing business in Georgia are regulated by the Secretary of State. Securities are stocks and bonds, promissory notes, limited partne~ships and other investment transactions that are more complex. Nearly all security offerings, securities salespeople and investment advisors who manage less than $25 million in investments must bc registered with the Secretary of State. H someone selling securities contacts you, remember: You have the right to receive infonnation about the salesperson, his or her finn and the investmcnt itself. Salespersons must confinn whether they or their employcr are registered with the Secretary of State. Many securities sold over the telephone arc for poorly capitalized companies, for which there has been no previous public sale of stock. Such investments are generally much riskier than investing in established companies with longstanding operating histories. Before sending any money to the salesperson, you should read and understand aprospecllIs, which contains key information about the issuer. For any investment, be wary of a sales pitch where the salesperson offers you "inside infommtion," makes an offer solely on a "onetime" basis, or promises that [he investment will yield a large return. General Telemarketing Solicitations The Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs (OCA) is responsible for combating fraudulent telemarketing activities involving !l pauern of unfair or deceptive acts in the consumer mar~ kctplace, Among those telemarketing activities that DCA investigates arc: prize offers, travel pack