Tag Archives: Scams
Top scams of 2011 in Tehama County – Red Bluff Daily News
January 14th, 2012. Published under Political Scams, Scams. No Comments.
Top scams of 2011 in Tehama County Red Bluff Daily News The glitch was that this letter was not from the government and was from a company trying to scam people into buying an overpriced carbon monoxide detector. One woman had to go get her check out of the mailbox after she read about the scam in the … and more
No surprise: US Chamber Pushes Keystone XL Scam – It’s Getting Hot In Here
January 12th, 2012. Published under Political Scams, Scams. No Comments.
No surprise: US Chamber Pushes Keystone XL Scam It’s Getting Hot In Here No, Tom, real leaders stand up to Big Oil and protect the American people from scams like Keystone XL, a fuse to the “largest carbon bomb in North America,” the Canadian tar sands. But it's no surprise, I guess, that the US Chamber of Commerce isn't … and more
Case Dismissed Against Santa Barbara Woman Accused in Money Order Scam – Noozhawk
January 5th, 2012. Published under Fraud, Money Order Scams, Scams. No Comments.
Case Dismissed Against Santa Barbara Woman Accused in Money Order Scam Noozhawk Ingram said police have no information on related cases, but the fraudulent money order scam is very common in the United States. He said Nigeria is the source of many of the scams, but it's rare that the mailings come directly from that country, … and more
Nigerian Money Order Scams Hit Close to Home with Santa Barbara Arrest – Noozhawk
January 4th, 2012. Published under Fraud, Money Order Scams, Scams. No Comments.
Nigerian Money Order Scams Hit Close to Home with Santa Barbara Arrest Noozhawk Ingram said police have no information on related cases, but the fraudulent money order scam is very common in the United States. He said Nigeria is the source of many of the scams, but it's rare that the mailings come directly from that country, …
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Nigerian Money Order Scams Hit Close to Home with Santa Barbara Arrest – Noozhawk
THE DISPATCH – Columbus Dispatch
November 6th, 2011. Published under Political Scams, Scams. No Comments.
THE DISPATCH Columbus Dispatch If you get a call purportedly from the fire department recommending a chimney-cleaning company, it's a scam , warns the Better Business Bureau of Central Ohio. The scam , which is just one of the scams working its way across central Ohio, involves con … and more
Veterans’ groups are frustrated by scams that prey on patriotism – TheDay.com
August 14th, 2011. Published under Political Scams, Scams. No Comments.
Veterans' groups are frustrated by scams that prey on patriotism TheDay.com When he saw a man soliciting donations at a table decorated with pictures of veterans outside a Manchester grocery store recently, Rusty Meek suspected a scam . The man had no insignia for the Veterans of Foreign Wars nor the …
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Veterans’ groups are frustrated by scams that prey on patriotism – TheDay.com
Beware hot air from conmen touting carbon credit scams – Mirror.co.uk (blog)
August 3rd, 2011. Published under Political Scams, Scams. No Comments.
Beware hot air from conmen touting carbon credit scams Mirror.co.uk (blog) Carbon credit trading schemes. Sounds dull, but to conmen they are an exciting new way to snatch your savings. Watchdog the Financial Services Authority is getting more and more calls from … Regulator warns over carbon trading schemes Citywire.co.uk FSA issues warning over carbon credit schemes FT Adviser all 5 news articles
LSE seals £15m reporting system deal with FSA – Telegraph.co.uk
August 3rd, 2011. Published under Political Scams, Scams. No Comments.
Telegraph.co.uk LSE seals £15m reporting system deal with FSA Telegraph.co.uk Meanwhile, the FSA has issued its first warning about carbon credit trading scams . The City watchdog is warning retail investors about bogus firms promoting carbon credit trading schemes. The warning follows an upsurge in investors filing complaints … and more
Greenwashing: Corporations target Indian country with scams – The NarcoSphere
August 2nd, 2011. Published under Political Scams, Scams. No Comments.
The NarcoSphere Greenwashing: Corporations target Indian country with scams The NarcoSphere Native Americans are now being duped into the carbon market, entering into the carbon credits scam , which allows the world's worst polluters to continue polluting. The carbon market scheme also seizes Indigenous Peoples forests and other resources …
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Greenwashing: Corporations target Indian country with scams – The NarcoSphere
Costa del Sol cons and scams – Olive Press
July 24th, 2011. Published under Political Scams, Scams. No Comments.
Costa del Sol cons and scams Olive Press One of the latest scams involves schemes to buy so-called carbon credits . These essentially use the same tactics as boiler room scams , but selling a different product. In one case, an elderly woman agreed to purchase 4000 euros worth of carbon credits …
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Costa del Sol cons and scams – Olive Press
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Carbon tax: Emissions trading – the reality. – Cumberland Courier Newspapers
July 21st, 2011. Published under Political Scams, Scams. No Comments.
Cumberland Courier Newspapers Carbon tax: Emissions trading – the reality. Cumberland Courier Newspapers In 2020, under the government's own forecasts, about $3.5 billion worth of carbon credits will have to be purchased from foreign carbon traders if our emissions reduction targets are to be met. As these scams show, emissions reduction can easily turn … and more
scams have started: watchdog – The Australian
July 14th, 2011. Published under Political Scams, Scams. No Comments.
scams have started: watchdog The Australian CRIMINALS are already trying to cash in on the carbon tax by attempting to trick pensioners into giving details of their bank accounts for a $5000 ” carbon compo” payment. Just a day after Julia Gillard declared she would not tolerate companies “ripping … and more
scams have started: watchdog – The Australian
July 14th, 2011. Published under Political Scams, Scams. No Comments.
scams have started: watchdog The Australian CRIMINALS are already trying to cash in on the carbon tax by attempting to trick pensioners into giving details of their bank accounts for a $5000 ” carbon compo” payment. Just a day after Julia Gillard declared she would not tolerate companies “ripping … and more
Gore launches campaign to expose ‘full truth’ behind climate change – The Hill (blog)
July 12th, 2011. Published under Political Scams, Scams. No Comments.
Gore launches campaign to expose 'full truth' behind climate change The Hill (blog) BY Gore is a Scamster on 07/12/2011 at 10:19 The Algore stands to lose mega bucks if cap and trade isn't implemented. He should go to Alaska and pet a Polar Bear. The bear would put Algore out of our misery. BY tar ball on 07/12/2011 at 10:20 Gore … and more
Business Briefs: N. American Financial plans to go public – Winston-Salem Journal
June 25th, 2011. Published under Political Scams, Scams. No Comments.
Business Briefs: N. American Financial plans to go public Winston-Salem Journal They operate by obtaining people's personal information, and then using it to try to trick them into paying debts they don't really owe. To report debt-collection scams, all (877) 5NO- SCAM or go to www.ncdoj.gov. and more
How to Avoid Contractor Scams When Rebuilding or Remodeling – WalletPop
May 31st, 2011. Published under Political Scams, Scams. No Comments.
How to Avoid Contractor Scams When Rebuilding or Remodeling WalletPop This is another sure-fire sign of a scam contractor. If you're getting money from your insurer to do home repairs or upgrades, the Federal Trade Commission suggests that you never sign your insurance check over to a contractor. …
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How to Avoid Contractor Scams When Rebuilding or Remodeling – WalletPop
Refunds Totaling More Than $11.8 Million to Consumers Defrauded by Q-Ray Bracelet Scam
May 6th, 2011. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
An administrator working for the Federal Trade Commission is mailing 248,931 refund checks to consumers defrauded by QT Inc., Q-Ray Company, and Bio-Metal, Inc., and their owner, Que Te Park, also known as Andrew Q. Park, who made false and misleading advertising claims that the Q-Ray bracelet provided immediate and significant pain relief and deceptively advertised their refund policy. More than $11.8 million is being returned to people who purchased the Q-Ray bracelet and filed a claim form. Purchasers will receive an average of about $47. Consumers who receive the checks should cash them by mid-June 2011. The FTC never requires consumers to pay money or provide information before redress checks can be cashed. Q-Ray consumers with questions should call the redress administrator, Analytics Inc., at 800-269-0056 or visit the FTC’s Q-Ray bracelet webpage . Source: FTC Federal Trade Commission v. QT, Inc.; Q-Ray, Company; Bio-Metal, Inc.; Que Te Park, also known as Andrew Q. Park; and Jung Joo Park (Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division) .
Buyer beware: The Proactive Investors guide to the City’s most devious scams – Proactive Investors UK
April 24th, 2011. Published under Political Scams, Scams. No Comments.
Proactive Investors UK Buyer beware: The Proactive Investors guide to the City's most devious scams Proactive Investors UK They may have ended up with something that they will never be able to get rid of because the shares trade about twice a year. And what about that 100pc rise in the share price just before the unsuspecting victim of the scam bought into the company? … and more
MPs debate Easter Adjournment (Work and Pensions) – DeHavilland (press release) (subscription)
April 6th, 2011. Published under Political Scams, Scams. No Comments.
MPs debate Easter Adjournment (Work and Pensions) DeHavilland (press release) (subscription) When we get these phishing e-mails or scams , most of us do nothing about them; we just delete them. Those of us who are-if I can use this word-sophisticated enough to recognise a scam when we see it should do more than just delete them, however. … and more
Regulators Recover Additional $2.1 Million for Consumers Defrauded by AmeriDebt Scam
March 15th, 2011. Published under Business Scams, Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
On March 9, an administrator working for the Federal Trade Commission mailed 78,552 refund checks to consumers defrauded by a credit counseling/debt management scam run by Andris Pukke and his companies, AmeriDebt, Inc. and DebtWorks, Inc. The FTC alleged that the defendants deceived consumers about the fees for debt management plans and misrepresented that AmeriDebt was a non-profit, in addition to making false promises to teach consumers how to handle their credit and finances. The FTC previously returned almost $13 million to consumers in this scam. The distribution of more than $2.1 million announced today is the result of additional funds collected from the defendants, and the amount of each check will vary based upon the amount of each consumer’s loss. Consumers who receive the checks should cash them by May 9, 2011. The FTC never requires consumers to pay money or provide information before redress checks may be cashed. Consumer victims who have not previously filed a complaint with the FTC may still do so. AmeriDebt consumers with questions should call the redress administrator, Gilardi & Co., LLC , at 888-309-3816 or visit www.ftc.gov/ameridebt . Source: FTC Federal Trade Commission v. AmeriDebt, Inc., DebtWorks, Inc., Andris Pukke, and Pamela Pukke, also known as Pamela Shuster (District of Maryland) Civil Action No.: PJM 03-3317; FTC File No. X040009 RELATED STORIES Regulator Puts an End to Chikita’s Tactics of Online Advertising That Deceived Consumers American Express Bank Violating the Credit Repair Organizations Act Using a Debt Collection Letter? Regulator Steps Up Efforts Against Scams That Target Financially-Strapped Consumers Debt Collector Portfolio Recovery Associates Sending out Bogus IRS 1099-C’s to Consumers Again?
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Regulators Recover Additional $2.1 Million for Consumers Defrauded by AmeriDebt Scam
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Ambit Cap’s budget expectation low, bets on cap goods – Moneycontrol.com
February 21st, 2011. Published under Political Scams, Scams. No Comments.
Ambit Cap's budget expectation low, bets on cap goods Moneycontrol.com One is obviously domestic India and really the newsflow whether it's on the 2G scam or any of the scams, any skeletons coming out of the cover to shot the market, you can't really capture. But if this is worst of it then obviously that is in the market … and more
Business Opportunity Con Artist Surrenders Million-Dollar Las Vegas Home
February 12th, 2011. Published under Business Scams, Scams. No Comments.
After trying for years to keep assets he acquired while deceiving consumers with false promotions and bogus business opportunity pitches, a repeat offender has agreed to turn over his Las Vegas home, valued at over $1 million, and give up his appeal of the Federal Trade Commission’s case against him. The settlement announced today wraps up the FTC’s case against Richard C. Neiswonger, who twice has been held in contempt of court at the FTC’s request – first, for deceptively marketing business opportunities in violation of an earlier court order, and second, for failing to turn over assets to pay a multi-million-dollar judgment against him. In April 2007, a federal district court held Neiswonger, his business partner William S. Reed, and their firm, Asset Protection Group, Inc., in civil contempt for violating a 1997 court order that prohibited them from deceptively promoting business opportunities and failing to disclose material facts to consumers. The court banned Neiswonger from selling business opportunities to consumers and telemarketing. The court also entered a $3.2 million judgment against him – the amount of his ill-gotten gains – and required him to transfer the title of his Las Vegas home to a court-appointed receiver within 20 days if he failed to pay the judgment in full. Neiswonger never made the payment, and in September 2009, at the FTC’s request, the district court held him in contempt for a second time and ordered him to turn over the title to the house or face jail time. The court found that he had failed to deliver a marketable title to his home. Under the final settlement order, Neiswonger will surrender the house in Las Vegas, valued at more than $1 million. The order requires his wife, Shannon Neiswonger, and any other people living in the house to move out and turn it over for sale by a court-appointed receiver. It also requires the Neiswongers to dismiss all related appeals and release any claims they may have against the receiver or the FTC, and it directs the receiver to sell the house to help pay the judgment. The FTC previously obtained Neiswonger’s $379,000 retirement account to help pay the judgment as well. As part of the settlement, Shannon Neiswonger, who was not a defendant in the FTC action, will be paid $100,000 from the proceeds of the sale of the house, which she owned jointly with Richard Neiswonger. Source: FTC FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION, Plaintiff, v. RICHARD C. NEISWONGER, individually, d/b/a “MARKETING SYSTEMS,” and as an officer of each corporate defendant; S&K GROUP, INC.; SHAPIRO, KOSSMEYER & FLOM PC d/b/a S&K GROUP, INC. and S&K PC; CARL F. KOSSMEYER, individually and as an officer of S&K Group, Inc., and Shapiro, Kossmeyer & Flom PC; MEDICAL RECOVERY SERVICE, INC. (Joliet, Illinois and Las Vegas, Nevada); NANCY FREEMAN, individually and as an officer of Medical Recovery Service, Inc.; and MARC FREEMAN, individually and as an officer of Medical Recovery Service, Inc., Defendants. (United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri) Civil Action No.: 4:96CV02225 SNL FTC File Nos.: 962 3134; X970012
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Business Opportunity Con Artist Surrenders Million-Dollar Las Vegas Home
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State Warns of Bogus ‘Travel Emergency’ Scams – KTVZ
February 10th, 2011. Published under Political Scams, Scams. No Comments.
State Warns of Bogus 'Travel Emergency' Scams KTVZ If it is a scam , encourage them to warn their contacts about the phony email. • When sending group emails always “bcc:” (blind carbon copy) your recipients. That way their names and email addresses are not visible after the email is sent. … and more
Debt Collector Portfolio Recovery Associates Sending out Bogus IRS 1099-C’s to Consumers Again?
February 5th, 2011. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
According to Budd Hibbs, a well-known consumer advocate, Junk debt buyer and debt collection company Portfolio Recovery Associates are sending out IRS form 1099-C’s to consumers. The problem is that Portfolio Recovery Associates (and other junk debt buyers) purchase old debts for a couple of pennies per dollar and then attempt to collect the full face value of the debt, even though they paid much less than face value. In my opinion if Portfolio Recovery is sending 1099-C’s to consumers claiming the full face value of a debt, they may be committing fraud on the consumers involved as well as committing fraud on the Internal Revenue Service. In effect they are writing off the full amount of the ‘forgiven’ debt’ and in reality only paid a small amount for the debt. Two years ago, we went to a Washington Post reporter who contacted the IRS regarding this matter. PRA must be able to produce some type of valid documents that make their claims credible, however based on their record of accomplishment; they likely have little or nothing to back up their claim. We contacted many attorneys and officials about this, we can expect that the Consumer Protection Financial Protection Board currently being set by Professor Elizabeth Warren will finally address the abuse and force PRA to comply with the law. Demand they send you documents that prove their claim or copies of accounts, signatures, goods provided, services rendered and all other information that connects your social security to their alleged loss. IMPORTANT: Once a 1099-C is issued, the law mandates that the debt can no longer be collected. This includes PRA selling it off to another vulture. They MUST show a zero balance on your credit report and are prohibited from extending the seven-year reporting statute. PRA cannot call you or send collection notices after a 1099-C has been issued. ~ Collectors Exposed I can’t for the life of me figure out why the IRS, or the Federal Trade Commission for that matter, allows junk debt buyers to get away with cheating the US government out of taxes that they write off and end up not paying in real taxes. It really does make me wonder about the entire debt collection industry in general. I guess if they have no fear of cheating consumers then they have no fear of cheating our government either. For the full excerpt on Portfolio Recovery Associates and “Bogus” 1099-C mailing click here .
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Classic Closeouts LLC Who Illegally Charged Consumers’ Accounts Settles Lawsuit
January 13th, 2011. Published under Business Scams, Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
Defendants in an operation that the Federal Trade Commission alleged stole millions of dollars from consumers by making unauthorized charges and debits to their bank accounts have reached settlement agreements with the FTC. In Operation Short Change – a July 2009 crackdown on scammers taking advantage of the economic downturn to bilk vulnerable consumers through a variety of schemes – the FTC announced a complaint against Classic Closeouts LLC, its principal Daniel Greenberg, and several other defendants.
Settlement Ends "Tested Green" Certifications That Were Neither Tested Nor Green
January 12th, 2011. Published under Business Scams, Scams. No Comments.
The Federal Trade Commission reached an agreement that will put an end to the deceptive tactics of a company that allegedly sold worthless environmental certifications for hundreds of dollars, and falsely told more than 100 customers that its certifications were endorsed by two independent firms – which it actually owned. The FTC settlement bars Tested Green and its owner Jeremy Ryan Claeys from making misrepresentations when selling any product. “It’s really tough for most people to know whether green or environmental claims are credible,” said David Vladeck, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “Legitimate seals and certifications are a useful tool that can help consumers choose where to place their trust and how to spend their money. The FTC will continue to weed out deceptive seals and certifications like the one in this case.” According to the FTC, between February 2009 and April 2010, Tested Green and Claeys advertised, marketed, and sold environmental certifications using both the website www.testedgreen.com and mass e-mails to prospective consumers. The company’s marketing claimed that Tested Green was the “nation’s leading certification program with over 45,000 certifications in the United States.” The FTC complaint alleges, however, that Tested Green never tested any of the companies it provided with environmental certifications, and would “certify” anyone willing pay a fee of either $189.95 for a “Rapid” certification or $549.95 for a “Pro” certification. After customers paid, Tested Green gave them its logo and the link to a “certification verification page” that could be used to advertise their “certified” status. The agency charged that the respondents violated the FTC Act by providing the means to deceive consumers. The FTC also alleges that Tested Green deceived consumers by citing its endorsements from the National Green Business Association and the National Association of Government Contractors – implying that these were independent organizations when, in fact, both are owned and operated by Claeys. The proposed order settles the FTC’s charges against Nonprofit Management LLC and Jeremy Ryan Claeys, both also doing business as Tested Green. It prohibits them from misrepresenting that: an outside party has evaluated a product, service, package, or program based on its environmental attributes; that they have or a third party has the expertise to evaluate the environmental benefits or attributes of a product, service, package, or program; the number of certifications they have issued; and that a product, package, certification, service, package, or program is endorsed by any person or organization. The order also bars Tested Green and Claeys from helping anyone else make false or misleading statements in connection with any of the conduct described above, and bars them from making any representations about a user or endorser unless they clearly and prominently disclose any connection they have with the endorser if one exists. The proposed order also contains reporting obligations and other provisions to ensure compliance with its terms. It will expire in 20 years. Source: FTC In the Matter of Nonprofit Management LLC, a limited liability corporation, also doing business as Tested Green, and Jeremy Ryan Claeys, also doing business as Tested Green, individually and as an officer and member of Nonprofit Management LLC FTC File No. 102 3064
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Settlement Ends "Tested Green" Certifications That Were Neither Tested Nor Green
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Massive Internet Enterprise Charged with Scamming Consumers Out of Millions Billing Month-After-Month for Products and Services They Never Ordered
December 24th, 2010. Published under Business Scams, Scams. No Comments.
The Federal Trade Commission is taking legal action against a far-reaching Internet enterprise that allegedly has made millions of dollars by luring consumers into “trial” memberships for bogus government-grant and money-making schemes, and then repeatedly charging them monthly fees for these and other memberships that they never signed up for. The FTC seeks to stop the illegal practices and make the defendants pay redress to consumers and give up their ill-gotten gains. “No consumer should be sucker-punched into making payments for products they don’t know about and don’t want,” said FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz. The FTC’s complaint alleges that the defendants offer consumers bogus money-making and government-grant opportunities. They claim that the offers are “free” or “risk-free,” and that they will charge customers only a small shipping and handling fee. According to the FTC’s complaint, the operation, doing business under the name I Works and controlled by Jeremy Johnson and nine other individuals, uses websites that tout the availability of government grants to pay personal expenses or pitch various money-making programs. The websites offer “free” information at no risk and ask consumers to provide their credit or debit card numbers to pay for a small shipping and handling fee such as $1.99. When consumers provide their billing information, though, I Works proceeds to charge them hefty one-time fees of up to $129.95 and monthly recurring fees of up to $59.95 for the grant or money-making programs. I Works charges them additional monthly fees for one or more unrelated programs that consumers did not agree to. The FTC’s complaint alleges that this scheme has caused hundreds of thousands of consumers to seek chargebacks – reversals of charges to their credit cards or debits to their banks accounts. The high number of chargebacks has landed the defendants in VISA’s and MasterCard’s chargeback monitoring programs, resulted in millions of dollars in fines for excessive chargebacks, and prevented the defendants from getting access to the credit card and debit card billing systems using their own names. To keep the scam going, the defendants tricked banks into giving them continued access to these billing systems by creating 51shell companies with figurehead officers, and by providing the banks with phony “clean” versions of their websites. The FTC has charged the defendants with violating the FTC Act by misrepresenting that government grants are available for paying personal expenses, that consumers are likely to obtain grants by using the defendants’ program, that users of their money-making products will earn substantial income, and that their offers are free or risk-free. The complaint also alleges that defendants failed to disclose that consumers who pay a nominal shipping and handling fee will be enrolled in expensive plans that charge consumers fees until they cancel, and that the defendants charged consumers’ credit cards and debited their bank accounts without their consent. In addition, the FTC alleges that defendants posted deceptive positive reviews and used deceptive testimonials that misrepresented the benefits of their grant services. Finally, the FTC has charged the defendants with violating the Electronic Fund Transfer Act and Regulation E by debiting consumers’ bank accounts without their signed written consent and without providing consumers with a copy of the written authorization. As alleged in the complaint, the defendants gained access to the Visa and MasterCard systems through many entities. The banks included Wells Fargo, N.A., HSBC Bank USA, First Regional Bank, Harris National Association, and Columbus Bank and Trust Company. The payment processors the defendants used included First Data, ECHO, Global Payment Systems, Litle & Co., Moneris, Payment Tech, Trident, and Vital, as well as independent sales organizations, including CardFlex, RDK Inc., Merchant eSolutions, Pivotal Payments, PowerPay, and Swipe Merchant Solutions. The FTC complaint names 10 individuals, 10 corporations, and 51 shell companies as defendants. As alleged in the complaint, the lynchpin of the enterprise is Jeremy Johnson, the sole owner and officer of I Works Inc., which has done business under numerous names. The FTC’s complaint names Johnson and nine other individual defendants: Duane Fielding; Andy Johnson; Loyd Johnston; Scott Leavitt; Scott Muir; Bryce Payne; Kevin Pilon; Ryan Riddle; and Terrason Spinks. In addition, the 10 corporate defendants are: I Works Inc.; Anthon Holdings Corp.; Cloud Nine Marketing Inc.; CPA Upsell Inc.; Elite Debit Inc.; Employee Plus Inc.; Internet Economy Inc.; Market Funding Solutions Inc.; Network Agenda LLC; and Success Marketing Inc. The 51 shell companies named in the complaint are Big Bucks Pro Inc., Blue Net Progress Inc., Blue Streak Processing Inc., Bolt Marketing Inc., Bottom Dollar Inc., doing business as BadCustomer.com, Bumble Marketing Inc., Business First Inc., Business Loan Success Inc., Cold Bay Media Inc., Costnet Discounts Inc., CS Processing Inc., Cutting Edge Processing Inc., Diamond J. Media Inc., Ebusiness First Inc., Ebusiness Success Inc., Ecom Success Inc., Excess Net Success Inc., Fiscal Fidelity Inc., Fitness Processing Inc., Funding Search Success Inc., Funding Success Inc., GG Processing Inc., GGL Rewards Inc., Highlight Marketing Inc., Hooper Processing Inc., Internet Business Source Inc., Internet Fitness Inc., Jet Processing Inc., JRB Media Inc., Lifestyles For Fitness Inc., Mist Marketing Inc., Money Harvest Inc., Monroe Processing Inc., Net Business Success Inc., Net Commerce Inc., Net Discounts Inc., Net Fit Trends Inc., Optimum Assistance Inc., Power Processing Inc., Premier Performance Inc., Pro Internet Services Inc., Razor Processing Inc., Rebate Deals Inc., Revive Marketing Inc., Simcor Marketing Inc., Summit Processing Inc., The Net Success Inc., Tranfirst Inc., Tran Voyage Inc., Unlimited Processing Inc., and Xcel Processing Inc. The Commission vote to file the complaint was 5-0. The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada. Source: Federal Trade Commission Federal Trade Commission v. Jeremy Johnson, individually, as officer of Defendants I Works, Inc., Cloud Nine, Inc., CPA Upsell, Inc., Elite Debit, Inc., Internet Economy, Inc., Market Funding Solutions, Inc., and Success Marketing Inc.; as a member of Defendant Network Agenda, LLC; and as the de facto principal of numerous Defendant Shell Companies identified below; Duane Fielding, individually and as an officer of Anthon Holdings, Inc., and as a member of Defendant Network Agenda LLC; Andy Johnson, individually and as a manager of I Works, Inc., and as titular principal of numerous Defendant Shell Companies identified below; Loyd Johnston; Scott Leavitt; Scott Muir; Bryce Payne; Kevin Pilon; Ryan Riddle; Terrason Spinks; I Works, Inc.; Anthon Holdings Corp.; Cloud Nine Marketing, Inc.; CPA Upsell, Inc.; Elite Debit, Inc.; Employee Plus, Inc.; Market Funding Solutions, Inc.; Network Agenda, LLC; Success Marketing, Inc.; Big Bucks Pro, Inc.; Blue Net Progress, Inc.; Blue Streak Processing, Inc.; Bolt Marketing, Inc.; Bottom Dollar, Inc., d/b/a BadCustomer.com; Bumble Marketing, Inc.; Business First, Inc.; Business Loan Success, Inc.; Cold Bay Media, Inc.; Costnet Discounts, Inc.; CS Processing, Inc.; Cutting Edge Processing, Inc.; Diamond J Media, Inc.; EBusiness First, Inc.; EBusiness Success, Inc.; ECom Success, Inc.; Excess Net Success, Inc.; Fiscal Fidelity, Inc.; Fitness Processing, Inc.; Funding Search Success, Inc.; Funding Success, Inc.; GG Processing, Inc.; GGL Rewards, Inc.; Highlight Marketing, Inc.; Hooper Processing, Inc.; Internet Business Source, Inc.; Internet Fitness, Inc.; Jet Processing, Inc.; JRB Media, Inc.; Lifestyles for Fitness, Inc.; Mist Marketing, Inc.; Money Harvest, Inc.; Monroe Processing, Inc.; Net Business Success, Inc.; Net Commerce, Inc.; Net Discounts, Inc.; Net Fit Trends, Inc.; Optimum Assistance, Inc.; Power Processing, Inc.; Premier Performance, Inc.; Pro Internet Services, Inc.; Razor Processing, Inc.; Rebate Deals, Inc.; Revive Marketing, Inc.; Simcor Marketing, Inc.; Summit Processing, Inc.; The Net Success, Inc.; Tranfirst, Inc.; Tran Voyage, Inc.; Unlimited Processing, Inc.; Xcel Processing, Inc., Defendants. (United States District Court for the District of Nevada) Case No. 2:10-cv-02203 FTC File No. 102 3015
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Massive Internet Enterprise Charged with Scamming Consumers Out of Millions Billing Month-After-Month for Products and Services They Never Ordered
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Stay with the leaders, trade with confidence – Economic Times
December 20th, 2010. Published under Political Scams, Scams. No Comments.
Stay with the leaders, trade with confidence Economic Times If you are looking to add mid- cap stocks to your portfolio, IIFL suggested Escorts, Yes Bank and Petronet LNG . Mr Gujral was more upbeat. “ Scams are a mere …
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Stay with the leaders, trade with confidence – Economic Times
The Serial Scamster Is Indicted For A Second Time – Forbes (blog)
December 16th, 2010. Published under Money Order Scams, Scams. No Comments.
The Serial Scamster Is Indicted For A Second Time Forbes (blog) His serial scamming started in 2004, when he pleaded guilty to forgery in a money order scam foisted on Neiman Marcus, court records show, but he got off … and more
Get to the root of the scams – Economic Times
December 2nd, 2010. Published under Political Scams, Scams. No Comments.
Get to the root of the scams Economic Times One, political expenditure must shrink; and two, all funding above a smallish cap must be by cheque or electronic transfer. The state could consider …
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Get to the root of the scams – Economic Times
9 hot credit card scams to watch out for – CreditCards.com
December 1st, 2010. Published under Political Scams, Scams. No Comments.
9 hot credit card scams to watch out for CreditCards.com Chances are it's one of a couple of scams , says Nadine Samter, an attorney with the Federal Trade Commission. The catch is buried in the fine print, … and more
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Court Shutters International Credit Card Interest Rate Scam Robocall Operation
November 15th, 2010. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
At the request of the Federal Trade Commission, a federal district court in Chicago has shut down an international robocall ring that allegedly conned consumers out of $995 each with false promises that it would reduce their credit card interest rates, but provided little or nothing in return. As part of its crackdown on frauds that seek to take advantage of consumers hurt by the recent economic downturn, the FTC charged that the robocall ring made bogus promises that it would provide refunds to consumers if they did not save at least $2,500. When consumers called to complain, however, the robocallers simply disappeared, the FTC charged. The FTC alleges that this company has defrauded nearly 13,000 consumers out of almost $13 million from this scheme. The agency has brought several other cases in the past year against the marketers of worthless credit card interest rate reduction services. According to the FTC, since at least 2007, the defendants allegedly used at least 10 different company names, including AFL Financial Services, when pitching the service. The defendants, who are in Toronto, Canada, and the Rochester, New York, area, operated two telemarketing boiler rooms in Orlando, Florida. They employed illegal robocalls to contact consumers, and then claimed that for $995 they would substantially reduce credit card interest rates and enable consumers to get out of debt three to five times faster. They also falsely suggested that the savings from the lower interest rates would pay for the service. In reality, the defendants failed to lower consumers’ interest rates, and consumers did not save the $2,500 promised by the defendants or receive refunds, the FTC alleges. The FTC complaint charges that the misrepresentations violated the FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule and the FTC Act. It also charges that the defendants called consumers whose numbers are on the National Do Not Call Registry and made illegal robocalls. The Commission vote authorizing the staff to file the complaint was 5-0. It was filed under seal in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, against Direct Financial Management Inc.; 2194673 Ontario Inc., doing business as (d/b/a) The Elite Financial Group; F&F Payment Processing Inc.; Bajada Management Group Inc.; David D. Richards; Baird B. Fisher; Jacqueline M. Fisher; and Joseph B. Foley. On November 8, 2010, Judge Joan H. Lefkow entered a temporary restraining order with an asset freeze, halting the defendants’ operations pending trial and appointing a receiver over the two United States corporate defendants. In filing its complaint, the FTC is seeking to stop permanently the defendants’ allegedly illegal conduct and return their ill-gotten gains to defrauded consumers. The FTC brought this case in cooperation with the Ministry of the Attorney General of Ontario, Civil Remedies for Illicit Activities Office. The Ministry simultaneously filed a separate lawsuit in Ontario seeking assets for consumer redress to victims in the United States and Canada. The FTC also worked cooperatively with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the Toronto Strategic Partnership in bringing this case. The Toronto Strategic Partnership members include the Competition Bureau Canada, the Toronto Police Service Fraud Squad – Mass Marketing Section, the Ontario Provincial Police Anti-Rackets Section, the Ontario Ministry of Consumer Services, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the United Kingdom’s Office of Fair Trading. Source: Federal Trade Commission
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Court Shutters International Credit Card Interest Rate Scam Robocall Operation
Vocus Inc aka PR-OutOut.com You’ve Been Blacklisted For PR Spam–Just Freaking Go Away
November 1st, 2010. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
I am up to my eyeballs sick with Vocus Inc’s public relations (PR) spam. I’ve tried to be nice and unsubscribe our company from hundreds of PR release that Vocus sends us. We’ve never asked for or requested to receive any press releases from Vocus Inc (aka PR-OptOut.com). Yet I and others continuously receive release about freaking window blinds, software we have no interest in and countless other PR pitches. If I were a client of Vocus I would be asking some hard questions at just who exactly signed up to get releases. I wouldn’t doubt for one minute that Vocus buys email lists from questionable companies that harvest email addresses from the Internet (aka Spam harvesters). It seems to get worse every week. It is almost as if we’ve been added to ever blasted PR list that Vocus blasts out to unsuspecting recipients. Well I’ve had it. Vocus and PR-OptOut.com emails are now auto-deleted as soon as they come in. If by chance any future emails get through I will consider litigation as my next step to put a stop to the crap Vocus keeps trying to cram into our inboxes. In fact any future PR crud from Vocus or PR-OptOut.com gets through we will start publically humiliating the client involved as well as Vocus. So bring it on you clueless spamming PR hacks, I have something for you and your clients. If you ever send another press release to anyone at Designer Today Magazine, Statesboro Business Magazine, FMD Consumer, Smarterotti or any other website we own, you’ll be the laughing stock of the PR industry, of that I guarantee. Signed, Allen Harkleroad – Owner, Publisher and PR Nightmare Generator
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Vocus Inc aka PR-OutOut.com You’ve Been Blacklisted For PR Spam–Just Freaking Go Away
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Florida Judge A Hero In My Eyes–Dismisses 155 cases, Refers Collection Firm To The Florida Bar
November 1st, 2010. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
A Naples Florida judge, Vince Murphy, dismissed 155 debt lawsuits filed by Stone Colman & Gonzalez Arbitration LLC (owned by William and Blanchi Dugatkin of Las Vegas and Palm Beach County) for defects in it’s legal filings. The judge also had concerns that the the firm may have been practicing law illegally. Despite the fact that the cases were dismissed based on incorrect filings, I do think that Judge Murphy is a consumer hero. Rather than sit back and let collection firms prostitute his courtroom he stood up and made it clear that this behavior would not be tolerated. It’s a shame that more judges hearing civil debt cases, don’t do the same. “A Las Vegas couple convicted of trying to solicit funds for a fake presidential campaign fundraiser in Washington, D.C., is now being accused of trying to illegally collect medical debt in Collier County.” ~ source Naples News Perhaps the legal system is beginning to take notice of questionable debt lawsuits and will take action. Being that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state law enforcement rarely take action, perhaps the legal system will begin to sift the “chaff from the wheat”. Consumers should not rely on the legal system or enforcement to do anything. Consumers must take action, respond and fight back against debt lawsuits.
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Florida Judge A Hero In My Eyes–Dismisses 155 cases, Refers Collection Firm To The Florida Bar
Chinese chemical companies’ $2.8 billion carbon trading scam unplugged – Shanghaiist
October 29th, 2010. Published under Political Scams, Scams. No Comments.
Shanghaiist Chinese chemical companies' $2.8 billion carbon trading scam unplugged Shanghaiist Add greenhouse gas trading to the list of scams in China. Apparently earning and trading carbon credits is one dodgy business and a few Chinese chemical … and more
Nationwide Credit Services Inc Barred From Making False Claims and Charging Up-Front Fees
October 28th, 2010. Published under Business Scams, Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
A credit repair operation has agreed to stop making false claims and stop charging up-front fees under a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission. The settlement is part of an ongoing crackdown on scams that target financially strapped consumers, taking hundreds of dollars of fees to purportedly remove negative information from consumers’ credit reports even if the information is accurate and timely. The FTC filed the action in “Operation Clean Sweep” in October 2008. According to the FTC’s complaint, James R. Dooley and his company, Nationwide Credit Services, Inc., falsely claimed that bankruptcies, judgments, slow pay history, repossessions, and collection accounts could be “legally erased” from consumers’ credit reports. The defendants allegedly charged up to $150 in advance and debited a monthly fee from some consumers’ bank accounts. The defendants rarely, if ever, delivered the promised results, and in many instances took consumers’ money without providing any services. Consumers often found their cancellation requests ignored, and their refund requests were almost always denied, the FTC complaint alleged. The settlement order bars the defendants from making misrepresentations about any good or service, such as the ability to improve a consumer’s creditworthiness or remove negative information from their reports. It also prohibits them from charging money up-front for credit repair services, and from collecting payments from consumers who purchased their services before October 20, 2008, when the court froze the defendants’ assets. The order further bars the defendants from disclosing or benefitting from customer information, and from failing to properly dispose of customer information. The settlement order imposes a judgment of more than $1.3 million that will be suspended once the defendants have surrendered funds frozen by the court. The full judgment will become due immediately if they are found to have misrepresented their financial condition. The Commission vote to file the stipulated final order was 5-0. The order was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Jacksonville Division. Federal Trade Commission v. Nationwide Credit Services, Inc., a Florida corporation and James R. Dooley, individually and as president of Nationwide Credit Services, Inc. (United States District Court Middle District of Florida) Civil Action No. 3:08-CV-1000-J-25TEM FTC File No.
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Global warming fraud: the tide begins to turn – Telegraph.co.uk (blog)
October 12th, 2010. Published under Fraud, Political Scams, Scams. No Comments.
Telegraph.co.uk (blog) Global warming fraud: the tide begins to turn Telegraph.co.uk (blog) All credit to Harold Lewis for his honesty and for the having the courage to state his position. It is indeed one of the greatest scams to have been …
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Global warming fraud: the tide begins to turn – Telegraph.co.uk (blog)
Watch Out For Those Money Order Scams: Police – Westcoaster
September 29th, 2010. Published under Money Order Scams, Scams. No Comments.
Watch Out For Those Money Order Scams: Police Westcoaster By Westcoaster.ca Staff UCLUELET — A Ucluelet-area resident is out thousands of dollars thanks to a money-order scam . Sgt. Jeff Swann, of the Ucluelet RCMP …
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Watch Out For Those Money Order Scams: Police – Westcoaster
Data Broker US Search Inc Settles Charges Privacy Pledges Were Deceptive
September 22nd, 2010. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
An online data broker that charged consumers $10 based on the promise that it could “lock their records”so others could not see or buy them, has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that its claims were deceptive and violated federal law. The settlement requires that the operation refund the fees it charged to nearly 5,000 consumers and bars misrepresentations about the effectiveness of any service that purports to remove information about consumers from the broker’s website. This is the latest in a series of FTC cases challenging companies’ failure to honor their privacy pledges. US Search, Inc., is an online data broker that compiles public records and sells data about consumers to the public. The records may contain not only names, addresses and phone numbers, but also information such as aliases, marriages and divorces, bankruptcies, neighbors, associates, criminal records, and home values. US Search offered customers a variety of search services, including “People Search,” “Background Check,” Real Estate Reports,” and “Criminal Records/Court Records Searches.” It also offered a “Reverse Lookup” service that can return the name of an individual associated with a particular phone number or property address. Since June 2009, US Search sold consumers its “PrivacyLock” Service, which it claimed would allow them to “lock their records” and prevent their names and other information from appearing on the company’s website, its search results, or advertisements for a year. According to the FTC complaint, the claims were false. The agency alleged the PrivacyLock Service: did not block consumers’ names from showing up as an associate of someone else in a search for the other person’s name; did not block consumers’ information from appearing in a “reverse search” of their phone number or address, or in a search of their address in real estate records; did not work if the consumer changed addresses, thereby generating new records that would not be subject to the PrivacyLock; and did not work if the consumer had multiple records – for example “John Smith” and “John T. Smith.” The settlement bars US Search, Inc. and US Search, LLC from misrepresenting the effectiveness of their PrivacyLock Service or any other service they offer that will allow consumers to remove information about themselves from search results, websites, and advertisements. The settlement order also requires that they disclose any limitations on such services and provide refunds to consumers who paid for the service. The FTC wishes to acknowledge the assistance of the World Privacy Forum in this area. The Commission vote to approve the complaint and accept the proposed consent agreement was 5-0. The FTC will publish an announcement regarding the agreement in the Federal Register shortly. The agreement will be subject to public comment for 30 days, beginning today and continuing through October 22, 2010. after which the Commission will decide whether to make it final. To file a public comment electronically, please click on the following hyperlink and follow the instructions: https://ftcpublic.commentworks.com/ftc/ussearch . Written comments should be addressed to the FTC, Office of the Secretary, Room H-135, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20580. The FTC is requesting that any comment filed in paper form near the end of the public comment period be sent by courier or overnight service, if possible, because U.S. postal mail in the Washington area and at the Commission is subject to delay due to heightened security precautions. NOTE: Consent agreements are for settlement purposes only and do not constitute an admission by the defendants of a law violation. The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 1,800 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s website provides free information on a variety of consumer topics .
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Data Broker US Search Inc Settles Charges Privacy Pledges Were Deceptive
Court Halts Deceptive Envelope-Stuffing Operation
September 21st, 2010. Published under Business Scams, Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
Consumers Misled to Believe They Could Earn Substantial Income, FTC Alleges At the request of the Federal Trade Commission, a U.S. district court has temporarily halted an envelope-stuffing operation that allegedly scammed cash-strapped consumers by falsely promising they could make substantial income working from home. As part of ongoing efforts to protect Americans who are struggling to cope with the economic downturn, the FTC charged that Louis Salatto and his company, Global U.S. Resources, deceived consumers into paying up-front fees by making phony promises about the earning potential of their envelope-stuffing operation. According to the FTC’s complaint, Salatto bought classified ads in local pennysavers and community newspapers that promised weekly earnings ranging from $1,200 to $4,400.
A history of scams and frauds – Investors Chronicle
September 17th, 2010. Published under Fraud, Political Scams, Scams. No Comments.
A history of scams and frauds Investors Chronicle Essentially, what Cap 'n Bob had was several powerful weapons in a fraudster's armoury; an ability to bind people to him through either loyalty or greed, …
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A history of scams and frauds – Investors Chronicle
Court Orders Credit Repair Operation To Stop False Claims; Family-Run Scam Surrenders Cars, Houses and Real Estate
September 1st, 2010. Published under Business Scams, Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
A credit repair operation has agreed to stop making false claims and stop charging up-front fees under a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission. The settlement is part of an ongoing crackdown on scams that target financially strapped consumers, in this case taking hundreds of dollars in fees to purportedly remove negative information from consumers’ credit reports even if the information is accurate and timely. The FTC filed the action in “Operation Clean Sweep” in October 2008. The settlement agreement requires that Clean Credit Report Services, Inc., Ricardo A. Miranda, Ruthy Villabona, and their son, Daniel R. Miranda give up two cars, three houses, and six commercial properties in Broward and Miami-Dade counties in Florida, and in Bogota, Colombia. According to the FTC, they told consumers they would help remove all the negative remarks from their credit reports, as well as current debt. Clean Credit often debited $400 from consumers’ bank accounts before receiving a signed contract, and then did little, if anything, to fulfill its promises. See http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2008/10/opcleansweep.shtm . The settlement order bars Clean Credit and its owners from making misrepresentations about any good or service, such as the ability to improve a consumer’s creditworthiness or remove negative information from a consumer’s credit report. The order also prohibits Clean Credit from charging money up-front for credit repair services, and from collecting payments from consumers who purchased its services before October 22, 2008, when the court froze the defendants’ assets, including their bank accounts. The order further bars the defendants from disclosing, benefitting from, or failing to properly dispose of customer information. In addition, the settlement order imposes a $14.4 million judgment that will be suspended, contingent upon the defendants surrendering their assets, including frozen funds totaling about $165,000 and any proceeds received from selling their six commercial and three residential properties under foreclosure in Florida; commercial property in Bogota, Colombia; a 1992 Mercedes S300; and a 1997 Chevrolet Venture. The full judgment will become due immediately if the defendants are found to have misrepresented their financial condition. The Commission vote to file the stipulated final order was 5-0. The order was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. NOTE: Stipulated court orders are for settlement purposes only and do not necessarily constitute an admission by the defendants of a law violation. Stipulated orders have the full force of law when signed by the judge. The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 1,800 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s Web site provides free information on a variety of consumer topics .
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Court Orders Credit Repair Operation To Stop False Claims; Family-Run Scam Surrenders Cars, Houses and Real Estate
Auto Warranty Robocaller To Pay $2.3 Million, Sell Mercedes For Consumer Redress
August 23rd, 2010. Published under Business Scams, Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
Consumer Redress Collected from All Defendants in Robocall Case Totals $3 Million One of the telemarketers who blasted U.S. consumers with millions of illegal auto “warranty” robocalls last year will pay approximately $2.3 million, give up his Mercedes, and be barred from telemarketing, under a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission that wraps up the agency’s case against the deceptive operation. In sum, the FTC is collecting nearly $3 million to reimburse victims of the scam. The settlements resolve FTC charges that Damian Kohlfeld and his two firms made millions of illegal prerecorded calls to consumers nationwide in an attempt to deceive them into buying extended auto warranties or service contracts (audio files of these calls can be found on the FTC’s website as a link to this press release). The robocalls misled consumers into thinking that the callers were affiliated with consumers’ car dealerships or manufacturers, and that their auto warranty was expiring or about to expire. Earlier this year, the FTC announced a settlement with two other defendants who helped make the robocalls, under which they have paid more than $655,000. The FTC also announced a settlement in September 2009 with Transcontinental Warranty, Inc, the company that employed the defendants in this case to make the illegal prerecorded calls. (See press release at http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/09/twi.shtm .) “Fortunately for American consumers, the telemarketers who were responsible for millions of unsolicited and annoying robocalls will never be able to telemarket again,” said FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz. “We’ve also taken away all of their money to provide redress for consumers who were defrauded. This case serves as a clear message: telemarketers who violate the privacy of ordinary Americans will have to pay the price.” According to the FTC’s complaint, Kohlfeld and the Chicago-based firms Voice Foundations, LLC, and Network Foundations, LLC, violated the FTC’s Do Not Call Registry and falsely represented that: the telemarketers were calling from, or affiliated with, the manufacturer or dealer of the consumer’s automobile; the consumer’s original automobile warranty was about to expire; and the telemarketer had specific information about whether the consumer’s vehicle was the subject of a recall. The settlement requires Kohlfeld to pay more than $2.2 million. In addition, he is required to liquidate two investment accounts totaling approximately $130,000 and to sell his 2006 Mercedes. All of the money collected will be used for consumer redress. The settlement order also bans Kohlfeld from telemarketing or assisting others engaged in telemarketing, prevents him from making the misrepresentations alleged in the FTC’s complaint, and bars him from making any misrepresentations related to the sale of any goods or services. The order specifically prohibits him from misrepresenting the cost, use, or effectiveness of any product or service or any of the refund policies associated with any product or services. In addition, Network Foundations will pay $50,000 to be used for consumer redress. Voice Foundations has no assets to pay toward a judgment. If either of the companies later is found to have misrepresented its financial condition, it will be subject to a larger monetary judgment. The Commission vote authorizing the three stipulated final orders settling the court actions against Network Foundations, LLC, Voice Foundations, LLC, and Damian Kohlfeld was 5-0. They were filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, on August 19, 2010, and signed by the judge the same day. NOTE: These stipulated final orders are for settlement purposes only and do not constitute an admission by the defendants of a law violation. Stipulated final orders requires approval by the court and have the force of law when signed by the judge. Copies of the stipulated final orders are available from the FTC’s website at http://www.ftc.gov and from the FTC’s Consumer Response Center, Room 130, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580. The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, click: http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/complaint.shtm or call 1-877-382-4357. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 1,800 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. For free information on a variety of consumer topics, click http://ftc.gov/bcp/consumer.shtm .
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Auto Warranty Robocaller To Pay $2.3 Million, Sell Mercedes For Consumer Redress
Abusive and Stupid Debt Collector Headlines of the Week
August 20th, 2010. Published under Business Scams, Scams. No Comments.
Court Orders Internet Marketers of Acai Berry Weight-Loss Pills and "Colon Cleansers" to Stop Deceptive Advertising and Unfair Billing Practices
August 17th, 2010. Published under Business Scams, Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
At the request of the Federal Trade Commission, a U.S. district court has ordered the marketers of acai berry supplements, “colon cleansers,” and other products to temporarily halt an Internet sales scheme that allegedly scammed consumers out of $30 million or more in 2009 alone through deceptive advertising and unfair billing practices. The FTC will seek a permanent prohibition. Since 2007, victimized consumers have flooded law enforcement agencies and the Better Business Bureau with more than 2,800 complaints about the company. Acai berry supplements, derived from acai palm trees that are native to Central and South America, have become popular in recent years. Last year, the Better Business Bureau named fake “free” trial offers – including those for acai supplements offered by the defendants in this case – as one of the “Top 10 Scams and Rip Offs of 2009.” “Too many ‘free’ offers come with strings attached,” said David Vladeck, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “In this case, the defendants promised buyers a ‘risk free’ trial and then illegally billed their credit cards again and again – and again. We estimate that about a million people have fallen victim to this scam. As if that weren’t enough, there were fake endorsements from celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and Rachael Ray for a product that didn’t work in the first place.” The court order halts the allegedly illegal conduct of Central Coast Nutraceuticals, Inc., imposes an asset freeze, and appoints a temporary receiver over CCN and several related companies, while the FTC moves forward with its case to stop the company’s bogus health claims and other deceptive and unfair conduct. The FTC charged CCN, two individuals, and four related companies with multiple violations, including deceptively advertising AcaiPure, an acai berry supplement, as a weight-loss product, and Colopure, a colon cleansing supplement, as an aid for preventing cancer. The FTC complaint alleges that to sell AcaiPure, the marketers made dramatic claims on their website, including: “ WARNING! AcaiPure Is Fast Weight Loss That Works. It Was Not Created For Those People Who Only Want To Lose A Few Measly Pounds. AcaiPure was created to help you achieve the incredible body you have always wanted …USE WITH CAUTION! Major weight loss in short periods of time may occur.” In pitching Colopure, the defendants cited frightening statistics about colon cancer, while promising that their product would get rid of consumers’ “excess weight and toxic buildup.” The marketers also deceived consumers about their purported “free” or “risk free” trial offers, and about the charges and refund terms consumers could expect, according to the FTC’s complaint. The FTC also alleges that the marketers made numerous additional unauthorized charges to consumers’ credit and debit card accounts. The alleged deceptive practices include: Falsely claiming that using AcaiPure could lead to rapid and substantial weight loss. Consumers were told that “[m]ost consumers taking AcaiPure report weight loss anywhere from 10-25 pounds in the first month.” Making unproven claims that AcaiPure’s weight-loss claims are backed by “double-blind, placebo-controlled weight loss studies.” Deceptively claiming that Colopure could help prevent colon cancer because it would “cleanse your entire system,” “detoxify your organs,” and break down and remove “toxic waste matter which may have been stuck in the folds and wrinkles of your digestive system for years and years.” Falsely claiming that celebrities including Oprah Winfrey and Rachael Ray have endorsed products marketed by Central Coast Nutraceuticals, Inc. In marketing AcaiPure, the defendants declared on their homepage, “Acai Berry rated #1 SUPERFOOD by Rachael Ray.” A photo of Oprah appeared on the homepage, next to a quote that read in part, “Studies have shown that this little berry is one of the most nutritious and powerful foods in the world!” In fact, in declarations to the FTC, both celebrities denied endorsing AcaiPure. Deceptively claiming that the marketers will provide full refunds to all consumers who request them, and that consumers who paid a nominal fee for a “free” trial supply of supplements would incur no risks or obligations. In fact, many consumers found it all but impossible to avoid paying full price for the products, typically $39.95 to $59.95. Failing to adequately disclose that consumers would be automatically enrolled in a membership program and charged for additional monthly supplies of a product. Failing to adequately disclose that consumers would be automatically charged for items other than the trial product unless they opted out. Failing to adequately disclose the terms and conditions of trial programs, membership programs, and additional charges. Making numerous unauthorized charges to consumers’ credit and debit card accounts. Debiting consumers’ bank accounts on an automatic, recurring basis, without obtaining proper preauthorization. The unauthorized debits violated the FTC Act as well as the Electronic Fund Transfer Act and Regulation E, according to the complaint. “Visa is committed to ensuring that consumers trust digital currency when they shop online by protecting them from deceptive merchant marketing practices,” said Martin Elliott, Senior Business Leader, Payment System Risk, Visa Inc. “Deceptive merchant practices hurt the economy by eroding trust in e-commerce and undermining the vast majority of ethical merchants who deal and compete fairly. We have tightened enforcement of our rules against banks whose merchants generate excessive levels of cardholder disputes because of deceptive marketing. We also make it a priority to partner with law enforcement and agencies like the Federal Trade Commission and support their investigations such as this case.” The FTC would like to thank the Better Business Bureau of Central, Northern & Western Arizona and Visa, Inc. for their invaluable assistance in this investigation. The Commission vote authorizing the staff to file the complaint and seek a temporary restraining order was 5-0. The FTC filed its complaint and requested a temporary restraining order against the defendants from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division. On August 6, 2010, the court granted the request for the temporary restraining order. The complaint also names as defendants Graham D. Gibson and Michael A. McKenzy, and four companies affiliated with Central Coast Nutraceuticals, Inc. – iLife Health and Wellness LLC; Simply Naturals LLC; Health and Beauty Solutions LLC; and Fit for Life LLC. NOTE: The Commission files a complaint when it has reason to believe that the law has been or is being violated, and it appears to the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest. The complaint is not a finding or ruling that the defendants have actually violated the law. The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 1,800 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s website provides free information on a variety of consumer topics .
FTC Halts Cross Border Domain Name Registration and SEO Fees Scam
August 9th, 2010. Published under Business Scams, Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
The Federal Trade Commission has permanently halted the operations of Canadian con artists who allegedly posed as domain name registrars and convinced thousands of U.S. consumers, small businesses and non-profit organizations to pay bogus bills by leading them to believe they would lose their Web site addresses unless they paid. Settlement and default judgment orders signed by the court will bar the deceptive practices in the future. In June 2008, the FTC charged Toronto-based Internet Listing Service with sending fake invoices to small businesses and others, listing the existing domain name of the consumer’s Web site or a slight variation on the domain name, such as substituting “.org” for “.com.” The invoices appeared to come from the businesses’ existing domain name registrar and instructed them to pay for an annual “WEBSITE ADDRESS LISTING.” The invoices also claimed to include a search engine optimization service. Most consumers who received the “invoices” were led to believe that they had to pay them to maintain their registrations of domain names. Other consumers were induced to pay based on Internet Listing Service’s claims that its “Search Optimization” service would “direct mass traffic” to their sites and that their “proven search engine listing service” would result in “a substantial increase in traffic.” The FTC’s complaint charged that most consumers who paid the defendants’ invoices did not receive any domain name registration services and that the “search optimization” service did not result in increased traffic to the consumers’ Web sites. A federal district court judge in Chicago, Robert M. Dow, Jr., ordered a temporary halt to the deceptive claims and froze the defendants’ assets, pending trial. The settlement and default judgment orders announced today end that litigation. The orders bar the defendants from misrepresenting: that they have a preexisting business relationship with consumers; that consumers owe them money; that they will provide domain name registration; and that they will provide “search optimization services” that will substantially increase traffic to consumers’ Web sites. The defendants are also required to disclose any material restrictions or aspects of any goods or services they provide. The settlement order, entered against defendants Isaac Benlolo, Kirk Mulveney, Pearl Keslassy, and 1646153 Ontario Inc., includes a suspended judgment of $4,261,876, the total amount of consumer injury caused by the illegal activities. Based on the inability of the settling defendants to pay, they will turn over $10,000 to satisfy the judgment. The default judgment order was entered against defendant Steven E. Dale and includes a judgment in the amount of $4,261,876. Charges against Ari Balabanian and Data Business Solutions were dismissed by the court at the FTC’s request. NOTE: Stipulated orders are for settlement purposes only and do not necessarily constitute an admission by the defendants of a law violation. Stipulated orders have the full force of law when signed by the judge. The Federal Trade Commission works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, click http://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov or call 1-877-382-4357. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 1,800 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. For free information on a variety of consumer topics, click http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/consumer.shtm .
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FTC Halts Cross Border Domain Name Registration and SEO Fees Scam
Sharron Angle: I would refuse money from company that supports gay rights – Washington Post (blog)
August 6th, 2010. Published under Political Scams, Scams. No Comments.
Sharron Angle: I would refuse money from company that supports gay rights Washington Post (blog) … freedom-killing scams like Obamacare and cap and trade . Initially the millions invested in propaganda and the lies and manipulation used by progressives … and more
Investment Schemes To Avoid – The Enterprise Ledger
August 4th, 2010. Published under Political Scams, Scams. No Comments.
Investment Schemes To Avoid The Enterprise Ledger … carbon credits and other alternative energy financing. Gold and Precious Metals. High gold prices have trapped some investors in gold bullion scams in …
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Investment Schemes To Avoid – The Enterprise Ledger
Home Assure LLC, Mortgage Relief Marketer Will Return $2.4 Million to Consumers to Settle Charges
July 30th, 2010. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.
A company that deceived consumers with promises it could save their homes from foreclosure will pay $2.4 million to victims as part of a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission. The case is part of the agency’s continuing crackdown on scams that prey on financially distressed homeowners. According to the FTC’s complaint, Home Assure LLC conducted a nationwide marketing campaign designed to take advantage of struggling homeowners by offering so-called mortgage foreclosure rescue services. Home Assure typically charged consumers an up-front fee of $1,500 to $2,500. The company’s representatives falsely claimed that its special relationships with lenders would enable it to get favorable loan modifications or stop foreclosure, and that the company had helped thousands of consumers avoid foreclosure. One of the claims on its website was, “If we are unable to negotiate a plan with your lender that improves your situation or gives you a viable strategy to avoid foreclosure, we will refund 100% of your money. . . No questions asked!” According to the FTC, however, Home Assure did little or nothing to help consumers avoid foreclosure. In numerous instances the company refused to pay refunds, sometimes claiming that consumers did not meet the terms of the contract for a refund or that they had breached the contract by contacting their lender or filing for bankruptcy, and sometimes without giving a reason. (4/6/2009 release http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/04/hud.shtm ; 11/24/2009 release http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/11/stolenhope.shtm ) The settlement order imposes a $2.4 million judgment on Home Assure and bans the company from selling mortgage loan modification and foreclosure relief services. The order also permanently prohibits Home Assure from misrepresenting any good or service, disclosing or benefitting from customers’ personal information, and failing to dispose of customer information properly. The Commission vote to authorize staff to file the stipulated final order was 5-0. The order was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division. NOTE: Stipulated court orders are for settlement purposes only and do not necessarily constitute an admission by the defendants of a law violation. Stipulated orders have the full force of law when signed by the judge. The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 1,800 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s Web site provides free information on a variety of consumer topics .
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Home Assure LLC, Mortgage Relief Marketer Will Return $2.4 Million to Consumers to Settle Charges
Georgia’s JAK Productions Inc to Pay $300,000 for Abandoning Millions of Telemarketing Calls
June 30th, 2010. Published under Fraud, Scams. No Comments.