FTC investigates Van Nuys companies
A local company is among the targets of a Federal Trade Commission crackdown on consumer fraud. From The Times' Jim Puzzanghera:
One of the FTC's new cases alleged that five Van Nuys companies had bilked consumers out of about $300 million by selling fraudulent programs related to real estate or online businesses.
The companies -- John Beck Amazing Profits, John Alexander, Jeff Paul, Mentoring of America and Family Products -- and five people who had founded or run those companies were accused of violating federal laws related to telemarketing and consumer fraud.
The FTC accuses the companies of making "false and unsubstantiated claims about potential earnings" that customers could make by following their advice in books, CDs and DVDs titled "John Beck's Free & Clear Real Estate System," "John Alexander's Real Estate Riches in 14 Days" and "Jeff Paul's Shortcuts to Internet Millions," which were sold for $39.95 each.
People who purchased the programs, advertised through infomercials, unknowingly were signed up for additional monthly charges of $39.95 and offered "personal coaching services" that cost several thousand dollars.
Messages left at the companies' offices were not returned Wednesday.
Anyone in L.A. Land have any first-hand experience with any of these outfits? By the way, the FTC is calling this push "Operation Short Change."
-- Lauren Beale
Thoughts? Comments?
Excellent artical on John Beck. You'd think, as old as I am, I would know a scam when I see it.
Then I did it again, on a smaller scale, on "A1 Member" also known as BlazingAdwords on Google. This is a biggy also. The Nigerian company will ask for $1.95 then within a week will bill your credit card of $142.42.
To late for me
Thanks for the artical,
Paul
Posted by: Paul Grenier | July 02, 2009 at 09:19 PM
Tthese are books. If the FTC thinks they're fraudulent, then classify them as fiction.
Posted by: syscom3 | July 06, 2009 at 04:44 PM
On this page, which contains a report about the FTC cracking down on scams, are advertisements for the same type of scams. Ironic, isn't it? Click away!
Posted by: Nick Merrill | July 07, 2009 at 12:07 PM