Business News
Insurance Telemarketing Exposed:
AI Lies & Shady Calls Caught on Tape
Written by: Paul Bloodsworth
March 11, 2025
[6 minute read]
INTRODUCTION
Have you ever picked up your phone to hear a pitch for insurance—health plans or final expense policies—that just feels off? You’re not alone. As a financial planner and marketer, I’ve been tracking this growing mess: telemarketing calls flooding our lines with prerecorded messages, AI voices stretching the truth, and agents who vanish when questioned. I’ve recorded it all, and the evidence is clear—this isn’t just annoying; it’s a problem shaking the life and health insurance industries.
In our latest video (watch below), we dive into these shady tactics, unpack the rules they’re breaking, and show why trust—the backbone of insurance—is at risk. Here’s what we found, why it matters, and what’s coming next.
Caught on tape:
The telemarketing chaos hitting insurance trust.
Watch & Listen to these phone calls...
The Flood of Telemarketing Calls
Telemarketing is legal—life and health insurance agents can cold-call to pitch their services. No law stops that. But the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), enforced by the FCC, sets boundaries. I’ve recorded calls this week that blow past them: prerecorded pitches dangling fake $6,400 subsidies, AI voices pretending to be human, agents dodging basic questions like “Who are you?” or “Where’s your office?” Most target health insurance or final expense plans—relentless waves of texts and robocalls.
Worse, some name-drop major carriers. Imagine running an insurance company and hearing your brand tied to this.
It’s a trust killer, and it’s happening daily.
The Rules They’re Breaking
Why’s this under fire? It’s about the rules—here’s the rundown:
- Do Not Call Registry: Millions opt in. No calls without consent, and “stop” means stop—fines can hit $43,000 per call.
- Prior Express Written Consent: Needed for auto-dialers, robocalls, AI voices. Without it? Illegal.
- Timing: Only 8 AM to 9 PM your time.
- No Spoofing: Fake numbers or caller-ID blocks are out.
- Disclosure: Name, company, contact info—required if asked.
When these get skipped, it’s not just a nuisance—it’s a legal mess hurting life and health insurance’s reputation. Our recordings prove it’s widespread.
Caught in Action: AI Voices
Ever get a call that feels too smooth? AI voices are the new frontier—here’s one I caught: [insert 1-min-15-sec audio reel—‘I’m human!’ then hang-up]. These tie to insurance pitches, and they’re dodging questions or stretching the truth. The FCC’s tightening rules around this—dishonesty could spark bigger crackdowns. It’s not how we build trust with clients, yet it’s flooding phones daily.
Shady Agents on the Line
Then there’s the human side. Some agents sound legit at first, asking personal details like income or health info right away—a bold move.
In this line of work, rapport should come first. But question their legitimacy—ask, “What’s your license number?” or "Where's your office located?"—and they’re gone fast. It's quite scammy the way they drop the calls. When they do, it pulls down the industry’s credibility. Clients hear this and hesitate—I get why.
What’s at Stake
This isn’t just background noise—it’s a crisis. Insurance leaders, your companies get dragged into this—lawsuits and regulations follow. TCPA fines start at $500, TSR penalties climb to $43k per call, and trust erodes when clients get burned. Stats back it up: 4 billion illegal calls hit last year. My own phone jumped from 10 to 30 daily after answering.
Run a business? “Local” numbers mean you can’t ignore them without risking real calls. It’s a challenge, and insurance credibility’s paying the price.
A Personal Run-In—and What’s Next
Here’s the kicker: I told one company “put me on your Do Not Call list.” They didn’t listen—I’ve got proof they broke rules. In my next video, I’ll name them, play the tapes, and unpack the violations. Stay tuned—.
This hits life and health insurance hard. Trust is our core—it’s why we're sounding the alarm. Awareness is step one to fixing this.
Upcoming Podcast
Let's Get Clarity from a TCPA Attorney
The upcoming podcast with Eric Troutman. as now scheduled for March 26th. Eric and I recorded a podcast previously, but much has transpired in the interim. We'll be discussing these issues as they pertain specifically to the life insurance industry.
Share your thoughts in the comments section of the videos below!
Additional Resources:
📜 Read the official petition to the court from the IMC
🎧 Listen to our latest podcast
📩 Send us an email requesting to join our exclusive email list. (This is a small, private list. Include in your message which organization you represent.) Email to: marketing@go-excel.com
Take Action
Caught these calls yourself? Report them to the FCC: fcc.gov/complaints. Share your story in the comments of the videos—
Life and health insurance pros, this is our call to act—let’s protect our industry.