By AP/KWMU
Columbia, MO – The state of Missouri is suing 13 businesses across the country, accuing them of sending unwanted junk faxes to Missouri businesses.
Attorney General Jay Nixon announced the lawsuits on Monday; they were filed in a dozen counties across the state against the businesses.
He says the unwanted "blast faxes" tie up phone lines, waste money and in some cases create public safety problems. The ads solicit services like insider stock tips or products like vacations to Florida.
Nixon's office has received more than 1,200 complaints about the practice this year alone. The Attorney General argues the 'blast faxes' break both federal and state law. Federal law prohibits sending unsolicited fax ads, while Missouri's consumer protection law makes it illegal to shift the cost of unsolicited advertising. In this case, recipients pay for the toner on the fax machine, as well as the phone line. Nixon says all the companies being sued were asked to stop.
Two of the companies being sued are in the St. Louis area. Southern Roofing, of St. Louis, is accused of blast faxing roofing services ads. Another roofing company in St. Peters, City Wide Roofing and Paving, was sued in St. Charles County.