Chief Marketer Staff

• Credit Fraud Lawsuit Settled in California

  A settlement reached in a telemarketing fraud lawsuit involving Integrated Credit Solutions (ICS) Inc. and Lighthouse Credit Foundation Inc., requires both Largo, FL-based firms to pay a combined $1.4 million in restitution to more than 7,000 consumers, $275,000 in civil penalties and $175,000 in investigation and prosecution costs.

• Verizon to Open $25 Million Call Center

  Verizon Wireless plans to invest $25 million to open a new 25,000 square-foot call center in North Charleston, SC by the end of this year. It will create about 1,100 telemarketing jobs.

• Fiserv Acquires MO Pharmacy

  Fiserv Inc. has acquired Pharmacy Fulfillment Inc., a direct mail pharmacy based in Huntingdon Valley, PA for an undisclosed sum.

• Agencies

  Second Trial Set for British DMA Awards Judge

  Southwart Crown Court in London will try an awards judge a second time on Dec. 20 for allegedly assaulting an art director during a brawl at an awards dinner hosted by Britain’s Direct Marketing Association.

• Short Cuts

  The Direct Marketing Credit Association has elected as its president Robert Hawkins, Sr., director of credit operations at Rodale Inc.

• List and Database News

  The XactMail division of VentureDirect Worldwide has introduced two Internetseer e-mail lists.

• Agencies

  Michael Phelps: I’m Going to Disney World

  Gold medal winners Michael Phelps and two teammates begin a month-long tour today sponsored by Disney. Phelps will be joined by Lenny Krayzelburg and Ian Crocker at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida where the tour begins. The three will meet and swim …

• Agencies

  Wrangler Dangles a Ride with Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

  This fall, Wrangler is giving consumers the chance to win a trip around the track in a Nextel Cup racecar with Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Gearing up for the promo, consumers can visit Wrangler.com from now through Sept. 27 to take a virtual test drive online …

• Mother and Daughter Indicted for Doctoring Sweeps Forms

  A mother and daughter have been indicted on mail fraud charges for allegedly doctoring winning sweepstakes entry forms in a Pittsburgh TV station watch and win game. Sonya Rosenberger used her computer to make fake entry forms for Pittsburgh station …

• 150 Snared in DOJ Web Crackdown

  The Department of Justice announced the arrests or convictions of 150 individuals and the return of 117 criminal complaints and indictments regarding online fraud and crime.