JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster announced a settlement Thursday with the Vancouver, Washington-based website backup firm DNS Services, which allegedly engaged in deceptive advertising in Missouri.
DNS Services allegedly mailed solicitations to Missouri companies that were designed to look like bills for website services. In April, Koster sued DNS Services and Glenn Loehr, the company's president, alleging that the defendants sent solicitations related to a web domain back-up plan that included a perforated section that said to detach and return the portion with a payment.
Koster alleges many recipients of DNS Service's solicitation were deceived by the form and believed it to be a bill for existing services, as opposed to an advertisement.
"My office will pursue deceptive advertisers that attempt to trick consumers into paying for services they don't have or want," Koster said. "It is our hope that this action will serve to deter other deceptive advertising in the state."
Under the terms of the settlement, DNS Services and Loehr agreed to stop sending misleading solicitations to Missourians, pay a civil penalty of $10,000 and reimburse any consumers who sent a payment in response to a solicitation. Consumers must come forward within the next six months to claim the restitution.
Mo. AG settles with website backup service
