If you live in Tennessee or Mississippi, you may have found a surprise gift in your mailbox recently: a free cell phone and 250 monthly minutes. What’s that? You didn’t ask for one? And you don’t even qualify for one?
It turns out a rogue agent of Assurance Wireless, one of the major cell phone companies certified to participate in the federal government’s phone subsidy program called Lifeline Assistance, faked applications for the phones. As result, a number of cell phones were delivered to residents of these states who did not apply for them.
KFVS 12, who uncovered the fraud, tells the story:
Jack Pflanz, corporate communications manager for Assurance Wireless, said the New York-based company partners with community outreach organizations in the states where it offers the subsidized cell phones to help market the program.
He confirmed that an unnamed agent with a Tennessee outreach group “…was fraudulently filling out applications” with the names of Tennesseans and Mississippians, pulled from public records. The agent was apparently padding his submissions of “certified” applicants.
“We were able to stop some of the phones from shipping, but a few got through,” said Pflanz, who could not say how many phones were improperly shipped.
“The agent who engaged in the misconduct was immediately terminated by the community outreach organization, and that organization has taken responsibility for the incident,” he added, without releasing the name or location of the community outreach organization.
The incident revealed a loophole in the certification process.
A loophole? That’s an understatement. The fundamental problem with this well-intentioned program is that, other than random audits, no one is verifying the eligibility of the phone recipients. The program relies upon the potential phone recipient to swear that they qualify and that the information they are submitting is true.
There are two ways to qualify for a free cell phone and the 250 free monthly minutes of service through the Lifeline program. With program-based eligibility, you merely say that you are on another qualifying government-assistance program such as Medicaid, public housing assistance, food stamps and others; no proof is required. With income-based eligibility, you must send documentation such as paycheck stubs or W-2’s as proof. However, there is no way to know if the individual has submitted documentation from all his or her income sources.
As we see in an audit going on in Florida now, there seems to be no repercussion for lying on your application, other than returning a phone you should not have been given. When there are no consequences for misconduct, unethical actions are bound to occur. In today’s story, it was not the individual asking for the phone, but a member of an independent outreach organization, whose agent sought to benefit from increased commissions. But we know from hearing plenty of anecdotal stories, and from looking problems with at any government program that hands out benefits, there is plenty of misconduct by individual recipients.
As we say over and over on our pages here at FreeGovernmentCellPhones.net, we strongly back the free cell phone program because it offers critical assistance to those who need help most, but we are intensely opposed to the money being wasted on those who are gaming the system. Money is in short supply these days, and the Universal Service fees that support this program — those fees tacked on to everyone’s phone bills — should not be wasted. There needs to be controls in place, up front, to verify the status of applicants, not merely the occasional audit on the back end.
And we think the unnamed agent who committed the fraud should serve some time — without cell phone privileges.
Source: KFVS.com
Ricky says
I see where you claim to be a expert on the lifeline and ACP services well please explain this to me I was approved for both lifeline and ACP benefits and I made the mistake of using them to sign up with assurance wireless and when they activated my account all they applied to it was the lifeline service not the ACP service. Now at this point it’s been over 3 months that I’ve been approved and this entire time I’ve contacted them over 20 times trying to get my ACP benefits added to my account and they just simply will not do it and everytime you call them you get a diffrent person and a diffrent exuse ive even contacted ACP people had them send me a document showing that im already approves and have been for 3 months and my ACP benefits are just sitting there waiting to be applied to my account and i sent that document to assurance wireless it made no diffrence at all and now since ive called them so many times they always tell me the same thing now that they have to let there superviser look at my issue and ill recieve a callback in a hour or less and I never get a call back i thought about changing providers but assurance wireless tells me that my lifeline service i have with them is non transferable even though I bought my own phone and didn’t purchase it from them and they still will not add my ACP benefits to my account so am i stuck with them? What can I do about this?
Free Government Cell Phones says
There’s no explaining incompetence, Ricky. Sounds like it might be time for you to switch your service to different providers. Here’s more info:
Since you’ve been with your current “service provider” (and we use that term loosely considering the lack of service you’ve received) for more than 30 days, you are free to switch. Here’s an article that tells you how to make the switch from one provider to another:
https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/faq/how-do-i-switch-lifeline-providers
Which provider and plan to choose? You can find all the providers and plans available in your state here:
https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/states
Ricky G Burks says
Yes I understand all that but like I said only my ACP benefits have not been added to my account for 3 months but my lifeline benefits have been on my account this whole time and assurance wireless tells me that I can’t transfer my lifeline benefits from them to another provider and obviously if I transfer my service to another provider I’d want both my lifeline and ACP benefits to be transferred so I can get the best deal and plus if I understand the rules to both programs I’m not allowed to have my lifeline benefits with 1 provider and my ACP benefits with another provider and if I did that then I’d lose both of my benefits and kicked from both programs so if assurance wireless will not let me transfer my lifeline benefits from them to another provider then that means I also can’t even use my ACP benefits either so what am I to do and not be violating any of the rules of either program?
Free Government Cell Phones says
That’s not true, Ricky. You can have your ACP benefit with one company and your Lifeline benefit with a completely different company simultaneously. No problem doing that. And if some agent tells you that you must have both benefits with one company, they are lying.
Ricky G Burks says
Ok then I was incorrect in that belief so my last question is assurance wireless keeps telling me that I can’t transfer my lifeline service I have with them to another provider is this a lie on there part or am I stuck using my lifeline service with them?
Free Government Cell Phones says
No, you can switch to another service provider. And in most cases you will be able to receive greater benefits from splitting up the two discounts. Check out some of the other providers to check.
dee says
there a colored gentlement that sat up across from krogers on broaddway. he drives a gold minivan. that is doing the tablets he is charging a $20 acctivation fee and tablrts dont work. do not go to him becauuse if its a governmentt tablet or cellphone there is no activation fee peri9d.
Free Government Cell Phones says
There are all sorts of scams out there, Dee, which is why we strongly urge our readers to enroll online or by phone and NOT to enroll at street events.
Brandon Champion says
I have 2 food Stamps card that don’t have anything on it and I don’t have any food in my house and my girl is staying with me so my u put food Stamps on both of our cards
Free Government Cell Phones says
We don’t have anything to do with food stamps, Brandon. Our only area of expertise is the Lifeline free government cell phone program.
Brandon Champion says
When the Government giving food Stamps out because I haven’t had any food Stamps in March or in this mouth
Free Government Cell Phones says
We are experts on the Lifeline free government cell phone program, Brandon, but the only thing we know about food stamps is that you are eligible for the program if you get them. Sorry we can’t be of more help.
Annette says
I need a new phone and don’t know who to call
Free Government Cell Phones says
Are you saying that you need a phone to replace a free government cell phone you already have?
Christy McElhaney says
Is it acceptable for an agent based out of Mississippi to advertise on a Facebook resale site in Memphis Tennessee offering free government touch screen cell phones and setting up meetings at a Memphis public library? This seems shady? Her photos say she is with allte in Oxford, MS
Free Government Cell Phones says
Resale of what, Christy?
Whether or not this is legal would probably depend on whether the agent is enrolling you with a company in your state or some other state. You can only enroll with a company offering Lifeline free government cell phone plans in the state in which you live.
Pam Sumrall says
I am trying to help a young male that is incarcerated and about to b released. He is going blind and needs any assistance he can apply for. I do not know how to download an application or print the plans, rules, any restrictions for him.
Thank u sincerely for helping with this matter.
Free Government Cell Phones says
Here’s an article that will tell you all the basics, Pam:
https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/basics/qualify
And here’s where you’ll find a complete list of all the free government cell phone companies in your state, and their contact info:
https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/states
Latanya says
I’m work for an outreach service. We use an electronic application that contacts the various data bases to confirm the eligibility. There’s no way to fake it nor have more than 1 for an amount of time past 1 week.
Virginia White says
I have been approached multiple times by someone on facebook. I am hesitant. How can I find out if she is legitimate?
Free Government Cell Phones says
Why take a chance? If you want to enroll, just do it by phone or online with one of the companies offering free government cell phones in your state. Here’s where you can find a complete list of those companies:
https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/states
ASW agent says
Hello, we want to know the location or how to find the agents on the streets.
I am an agent for ASW and usually they ask us for the exact location of agents, and we don’t know where to locate them.
Free Government Cell Phones says
We no longer recommend applying for a free government cell phone at a street booth or tent. Too much fraud and abuse has happened at these locations.
ASW agent says
So the best solution will be Customer service sending out the application, which takes longer?
Free Government Cell Phones says
Yes.
Manager says
Safelink wireless is needing agents to work in tennessee and eastern ky. Our tents can easily be found in those areas. Have the enrollment coordinator to contact his/her manager to apply.
Joseph norman says
How do I become an agent in georgia and south carolina??
FreeGovernmentCellPhones.net says
This page will help you:
https://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/get-a-job-handing-out-free-cell-phones
Jenny Shiyou says
How do I become an agent in Mississippi?
francesca coleman says
How do I become an agent in new york
Free Government Cell Phones says
Contact Assurance and ask them about it.
ASW agent says
Assurance customer service does not have any information from the OutReach Agents!
evelyn hines says
i want to become an agent i have outlets in nc, a and sc
Clara says
Hello, my name is Clara and I live in Fort Wayne Indiana in the 46825 zip code. I am very interested in becoming a agent. How can I become a cell phone agent to the low income families?
leonard ruthford says
How do I become an agent in Wa. state?
Free Government Cell Phones says
usac.org
Dwayne Cousar says
I had the exact same story, except it was Budget Mobile who encouraged me to move to Maryland and sign customers up. They waisted no time to shut me out of the Agent program, after working in the cold for 4 months. The contract stated they would pay reoccuring commissions (residuals), for 12 months for every customer signed up in the Lifeline Assistance Program.
Once they had a certain amount of customers signed up, they dropped me as
an Agent for no reason and blamed the FCC. Richard Hollinger is the Manager who put the blame on the FCC, for Budget Mobile stealing my commissions..
Ray Febus says
Assurance contracted our company as a third party marketing firm to hire contractors to collect applications from qualifying applicants. Our firm hired contractors from public assistance lines to collect applications from this particular target market. Now after tapping the federal public fund and having our independent contractors collect applications in front of benefit offices in the grueling hot July sun they have decided to not honor their agreement claiming widespread fraud without any underlying basis. This after they have collected their compensation & will continue to collect the ongoing public subsidy.
Many of the people affected gave up their time under the guise of Assurance that they would be paid for the collection process. People who put in days of honest work to provide clothing, school supplies, and some to keep a roof over their head.
Please provide a follow up to ensure that corporate greed does not run rampant.
My direct number is 347.848.6572 and I have documentation as well as a demand letter for the July payment which went into breach of contract on the 30 August for the July pay period.
Thank you,
Ray