Foreclosure Fortunes Scam

Foreclosure Fortunes Scam
foreclosure fortunes scam
foreclosure fortunes scam
foreclosure fortunes scam
foreclosure fortunes scam

FTC and AG "Operation Empty Promises" focuses on FHTM

Cooper joins nationwide crackdown on business opportunity rip offs
State attorneys general, federal officials announce Operation Empty Promises

Raleigh: Attorney General Roy Cooper today joined state attorneys general from across the country and the Federal Trade Commission to announce a national sweep targeting business opportunity scams, including actions against four companies that have targeted North Carolina consumers.

"When jobs are scarce, claims to help people make money fast become plentiful," Cooper said. "Consumers think they're buying into a great way to earn a living, but they could end up paying far more than they'll ever make."

In challenging economic times, many people in the state are looking for work. Unfortunately, sometimes they find scams instead of legitimate opportunities. Complaints to the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division about business opportunity, work-at-home schemes, and other employment related scams were up 11 percent last year, from 177 complaints in 2009 to 197 complaints in 2010.

Operation Empty Promises is a national sweep by the FTC, Cooper and other state attorneys general aimed at stopping business opportunity scams and educating consumers about how to avoid them. Announced as part of the sweep are actions taken by Cooper's Consumer Protection Division against four companies:

• The Beacon Project, Creative Marketing Solutions, Universal Placement Services, and Marilyn Broerman of Charlotte sold plastic countertop candy dispensers and coached people on starting their own candy vending business. The companies lured consumers with promises such as "Make $3,000 a week cash forever!" They told vendors to say that the money collected would be used to help find missing children, but it appears that all money from the sale of the dispensers went to the defendants and money from the sale of candy went to the individual vendors. Cooper filed suit against the defendants on February 28, 2011 for unfair and deceptive trade practices, seeking a permanent ban on their work. The suit asks the court to make the companies pay civil penalties and appropriate consumer refunds and give up illegal profits.

• StoresOnline and iMergent sell software that the companies claim will help people set up successful online businesses. But many consumers who paid thousands of dollars said they were not able to use the software and did not get the help they were promised. Cooper won a consent judgment with the Utah companies in August of 2008. A year later, a judge found the companies in contempt and ordered them to pay consumer refunds but the defendants appealed. Under an agreement worked out by Cooper's office in March of 2010, North Carolina consumers who paid StoresOnline and iMergent have gotten $1.3 million of their money back.

•Clean Sweeps Holdings of Raleigh allegedly sold sweepstakes machines to consumers in California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio and other states, according to consumer complaint. In complaints filed with Cooper's office, buyers said they paid for the machines and agreed to pay the company a percentage of their proceeds to place and manage the equipment. Consumers say the company advertised on Christian radio and spoke to churches, promising that anyone who bought in would make their money back within a year or get a refund. But those who paid Clean Sweeps say it never placed the sweepstakes machines and failed to provide refunds as promised. The Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division is currently investigating Clean Sweeps.

• Fortune Hi Tech Marketing claims that people who buy into its business earn thousands of dollars a year. Based on consumer complaints, Cooper's office launched an investigation into FHTM in mid 2010. Consumers say they paid money to the company but were only able to make money by recruiting others into the scheme, not by selling any actual goods or services. A total of 25 consumers have now complained about FHTM, and Cooper's office is investigating the company. Although this case is currently under investigation, it's important for consumers to know that a pyramid scheme is a violation of the law and is defined as any plan in which a participant pays money for the chance to receive money upon the introduction of new participants into the program.

"We're looking closely at business opportunities that seem to offer false hopes, and also reaching out to educate consumers on how to recognize and avoid fraud," Cooper said.

Later this month, Cooper's office plans to launch a tool kit to educate consumers on fake business opportunities which will include print, web and video materials. The goal is to prevent North Carolina consumers from losing their hard-earned money to scammers trying to take advantage of a tough employment market.

"Don't let scammers use empty promises of jobs with high earnings to take your money," Cooper warned consumers. "Before you agree to invest in any business, check it out thoroughly and always be skeptical of claims of guaranteed profits."

Cooper has taken action against a number of other kinds of scams fueled by hard times.

For example, his Consumer Protection Division has won 13 cases against foreclosure assistance and loan modification scams in the past five years, including two so far in 2011.
North Carolina consumers can report scams and find tips on how to avoid problems at www.ncdoj.gov or by calling 1-877-5-NO-SCAM toll-free within the state.

About the Author

Why won't Hillary release her tax returns?

Her daughter Chelsea works for a hedge fund, whose founder is a big contributor to Hillary's campaign. They specialize in buying up foreclosed real estate and bankrupt companies, then sell at a profit.
With this economy in such bad shape I don't know how Chelsea's firm can afford to be without her as she campaigns for her mother.
It just doesn't seem right that as the economy tanks, the fortunes of the Clinton's could really grow and grow and grow.

I am not holding my breath. We are dealing with The Clinton's and The Clinton Machine. I doubt if we will ever see their tax returns for reasons that we are all speculating on, especially since Slick Willy has been linked to obtaining his newest riches from his associations and speeches in The Middle East. It sounds like a conflict of interest should Hillbilly become the next president.
Do you all remember when The Clinton's began shipping items from The White House one year before they left? They were so unpopular with that staff there that some of the staff helped compile the list of missing items. Of course, The Clinton's plead their case, stating that they thought the items were theirs. They were made to return a number of items and paid well over 80,000 for others. Who could stand four or eight more years of a Clinton?
There is new hope though. I recently learned that Chelsea has no designs on a political career. Thank God, we don't have to worry about another Clinton running for office.

February 27, 2008 1:02 PM

ABC News' Rick Klein Reports: The White House on Wednesday blamed the Clintons for a month-long delay in the release of some 11,000 pages of records relating to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's years as first lady, despite Sen. Clinton's contention at Tuesday night's debate that she has "urged that the process [of releasing documents] be as quick as possible."

White House Press Secretary Dana Perino said that Clinton representatives have known since Jan. 31 that the documents -- Hillary Clinton's daily public schedule during her husband's presidency -- have been deemed ready for public release by the National Archives.

But under a November 2001 exectuive order, the White House can't make them available to the public until approval is given by a designated representative of former President Bill Clinton.

"Presently, we have not received notice that the Clinton representative has reached a decision on the release or withholding of any of Mrs. Clinton's schedules," Perino said, adding that the White House has not objected to approval of any of the more than 550,000 pages of documents released so far from the Clinton years.

"It is our intent and has been the practice to act on any requests as quickly as possible," Perino said.

On Tuesday, Clinton was asked about the backlog by debate moderator Tim Russert. She said she had urged both her husband's representatives and the Bush administration to move as quickly as possible in releasing the records.

"I've urged that the process be as quick as possible," said Clinton, D-N.Y. "And I have urged that our end of it move as expeditiously as we can. Now, also, President Bush claims the right to look at anything that is released, and I would urge the Bush White House to move as quickly as possible."

Pressed by Russert whether, after a month, the documents could be sent to the White House for final review "immediately," Clinton responded: "As soon as we can, Tim. I've urged that, and I hope it will happen."

Perino said Wednesday that the backlog exists entirely on the Clintons' end.

"There are none that are ripe for White House action that we know of," she said. "And, no, to my knowledge we have not been contacted by Mrs. Clinton or anyone else about moving more quickly with the review and release of Clinton material, specifically, her schedules."

UPDATE: In response to the comments from the White House, the Clinton Foundation issued this statement from Bruce Lindsey -- the former president's point person for reviewing documents for public release -- indicating that the documents will be sent to the White House for final review within the next two weeks:

"To be clear, there is no delay. After a six month review, [the National Archives and Records Administration] finished the first step of the process of reviewing 11,000 pages of First Lady Hillary Clinton schedules on January 31, 2008. I have been reviewing those schedules and expect to complete that part of the process within the 45 day window allotted by NARA. More importantly, because of President Clinton's commitment to make public a full record of his presidency, I will be recommending that NARA release more information than they currently have designated for release."

Secrets to Foreclosure Fortunes