Florida Telephone Solicitation Act (FTSA)

It is estimated that mobile phone users received 376,032,773 spam texts a day. Floridians received almost 5 billion spams texts in 2021. In 2020, the average number of spam texts received by an individual was 14.7. The average rose 15% in 2021 to 16.9.  These messages are typically unsolicited and sent out in bulk, creating a nuisance for mobile users constantly.

Mobile users are looking for ways to avoid mobile spam texts.  Not only are spams texts annoying for users, but they can be costly for anyone with a prepaid cellular phone plan or with a carrier that charges for these spam texts.

SCAMS

In other situations, spam texts sent by scammers can entice users into providing sensitive information such as banking details.

DEBT COLLECTORS

In other situations, debt collectors can become more aggressive when they are looking for people to pay old bills and debts. However, consumers are protected under the law. If a debt collector is sending spam messages or mailings, they could be found liable under various different laws.

DAMAGES FOR SPAM TEXTING

Under Florida Telephone Solicitation Act (FTSA), each message deemed to be spam texting can be worth between $500 and $1500 per text. Thus, if a business sends an individual two unsolicited text messages, the damages could be as little as $1,000.00 or as much as $3,000.00.

To learn if any spam text message that you received violates the FTSA, please forward a “screen shot’ of the text (including the number sending the message) to this e-mail address: [email protected]