TOPEKA – Kansas Commissioner of Insurance Sandy Praeger has issued fines totaling $9,000 and a cease and desist order against an Ohio-licensed insurance marketing firm for illegal activities in Kansas.

The company, now known primarily as Lead Generating Systems LLC, was fined $5,000 in August as part of a judgment by the Kansas Insurance Department. A fine of $4,000 was levied against the same company in March 2012, when it was doing business as Unlimited Fulfillment Services LLC.

The company, owned by Matthew Dilday, Medina, Ohio, has also used the names Smart Leads, UFS Marketing Services, Annuity Leads and Annuity Leads Today.

“Deceptive and misleading insurance information sent to Kansas residents on behalf of agents throughout the state will not be tolerated,” Praeger said. “Part of our department’s mission is to take action against these illegal solicitations so that our citizens’ money and insurance guarantees are protected. We urge all Kansans to be on the alert for this type of activity.”

The insurance department legal order says the company solicited insurance business for Kansas insurance agents using deceptive and misleading postcards that were mailed to Kansas residents. The postcards misled recipients into believing their financial well-being was in jeopardy because an annuity product they were holding supposedly was at the end of its surrender period.

An annuity is a financial contract in which an insurance company makes a series of income payments to a person at regular intervals in return for a premium or premiums the person paid.

The company’s violations fall under the provisions of the Kansas Unfair Trade Practices Act.