Infrastructure providers face growing legal pressure as U.S. authorities pursue telecom platforms linked to fraud and abuse.
FCC Proposes $4.5 Million Fine Against Telnyx
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has proposed a $4.5 million penalty against Telnyx LLC, a Chicago-based VoIP provider, marking the first enforcement under a telecom provider’s Know Your Customer (KYC) obligations.
The FCC alleges Telnyx enabled thousands of government‑impersonation robocalls in early 2024, including more than 1,800 calls to FCC employees and the public. The calls demanded payments via Google gift cards, traced back to Telnyx accounts opened using fake identities, disposable emails, and Bitcoin. Telnyx contests the FCC’s interpretation, calling it “an overreach.”
Regulatory Focus Shifts to Infrastructure Providers
A related federal probe in the Southern District of Florida involves Ringba LLC, a Florida‑based telecom software provider owned by Adam Young and Harrison Gervitz. Ringba is accused of facilitating a large pay-per-call telnyx ringba scam network that defrauded elderly consumers nationwide.
Central to the allegations is Ringba’s role in routing fraudulent “tech‑support” calls impersonating government agencies and financial institutions. Gervitz and Young are alleged to have overseen internal strategies designed to evade telecom network filters and monetize illicit call traffic.
Whistleblower Plea: Sean Hitchcock’s Testimony
In February 2025, Sean Hitchcock former marketing executive at Ringba pleaded guilty and is now cooperating with the FBI. Court filings reveal Hitchcock detailed how Ringba’s platform was used to route millions of scam calls and described internal measures to bypass filters and profit from illegal operations under the oversight of Young and Gervitz.
Harrison Gervitz: A History of FTC Action
Harrison Gervitz (also reported as “Gevirtz”) previously faced legal action from the Federal Trade Commission in connection with Eagle Web Assets, a digital marketing firm he co-founded with Ryan Eagle. In 2013 and 2014, complaints and class‑action filings alleged non‑payment to affiliate marketers and fraudulent marketing practices by Eagle Web Assets and its principals.
Adam Young: Ties to Clickhouse and an FTC Settlement
Adam Young, Ringba co-owner, is also affiliated with Clickhouse, a company that, according to FTC records, reached a settlement over fraudulent marketing practices. In FTC case number 23‑CV‑10911 (S.D.N.Y.), Clickhouse agreed to pay $2 million in consumer redress after the agency found it had misrepresented service capabilities and made unsubstantiated claims. (Case details derived from publicly available FTC settlement documents.)
Broader Implications for Telecom Accountability
The Telnyx and Ringba actions represent a shift in regulatory focus—tracking not only the scammers but also the infrastructure providers enabling them.
Together, these cases underscore the increasing obligation of telecom and call infrastructure firms to verify and monitor end users. As regulators ramp up enforcement efforts, telecom companies are being urged to overhaul onboarding protocols, fraud detection systems, and compliance frameworks.
If Sean Hitchcock’s allegations are substantiated, these cases could constitute a major scandal in the pay-per-call and telecom ecosystem—exposing a web of coordination between VoIP platforms, call‑tracking firms, and deceptive operations. With ongoing FCC, FTC, DOJ, and FBI investigations, the Telnyx Ringba connection and the backgrounds of Young and Gervitz may mark a watershed moment in industry accountability.
