Archive

December 7, 2015

- Garen Ovsepyan of Glendale, California, and his companies Sharpe Signa, LLC and Haeres Capital, LLC have agreed to pay a $70,000 penalty to settle charges that they made false statements to the CFTC in their notices of exemption from registration and for engaging in foreign currency solicitation fraud.  CFTC

December 3, 2015

The CFPB ordered a nationwide credit reporting company, Clarity Services, Inc., to pay an $8 million penalty, halt its illegal practices, and improve the way it investigates consumer disputes and obtains, sells, and resells consumer credit reports. The company had illegally obtained consumer credit reports and failed to appropriately investigate consumer disputes. CFPB

November 18, 2015

The CFPB filed an administrative lawsuit against an online lender, Integrity Advance, LLC, and its CEO, James R. Carnes, for deceiving consumers about the cost of short-term loans. The suit seeks redress for harmed customers, injunctive relief, and a civil monetary penalty. CFPB

November 13, 2015

A federal court granted a request by the FTC to shut down a tech support scam that allegedly bilked consumers out of more than $17 million by pretending to represent Microsoft, Apple and other major tech companies. According to a complaint filed by the FTC, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General and State of Connecticut Office of Attorney General, the defendants in the case used internet advertisements and popups that appeared to be from well-known technology companies to lure consumers into calling them. FTC

October 1, 2015

The FTC is mailing 23,406 checks totaling more than $3.7 million to consumers who lost money after buying LeanSpa, a supplement whose marketers allegedly made deceptive weight-loss claims. The FTC and the State of Connecticut sued the marketers of LeanSpa in December 2011, charging that they used fake websites to promote acai berry and “colon cleanse” weight-loss products, and falsely told consumers they could receive free trials by paying a nominal shipping and handling cost. In reality, consumers ended up paying $79.95 for the trial, and for recurring monthly shipments of the product that were hard to cancel. FTC

September 16, 2015

The operators of a fraudulent debt collection scheme will be banned from the debt collection business under a settlement with the FTC, resolving charges that they illegally processed more than $5.2 million in payments from consumers for payday loan debts they did not owe. The settlement resolves a complaint the FTC filed against Kirit Patel, Broadway Global Master Inc., and In-Arabia Solutions Inc. In 2012, alleging that callers working with the defendants harassed consumers into paying on bogus debts, often pretending to be agents of law enforcement or fake government agencies such as the “Federal Crime Unit of the Department of Justice.” FTC

June 24, 2015

The CFTC has charged Nick A. Wurl and his company Ludiera Capital LLC, both of Chicago, Illinois, with fraud, misappropriation, and the issuance of false statements in connection with a $9 million investment pool scheme.  CFTC

March 31, 2015

New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced his office and the Attorneys General of Oregon, Minnesota, Missouri and Texas filed lawsuits against Orbital Publishing Group, Inc. for mailing millions of unauthorized and allegedly misleading magazine and newspaper subscription notices to consumers nationwide. The solicitations were sent without the permission of the publishers and overcharged consumers. NY

March 19, 2015

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Division of Consumer Protection is suing dating company Singles Plus for allegedly making false claims about success rates, matches and its screening process. FL

March 5, 2015

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Office announced the filing of four complaints involving deceptive marketing and sales of computer software and tech support services to Florida consumers, many of whom are senior citizens. The call centers allegedly used deceptive marketing, such as pop up ads warning of viruses or other malware, to lead consumers to call these companies who were then directed through scare tactics to pay for unnecessary computer repairs and support services. Consumers typically paid from $99 to $600 to resolve non-existent computer issues. The companies involved included ASAP Tech Help, LLC, E-Racer Tech, LLC, Protech Support, LLC (d/b/a Rapid Tech Support), and Techfix USA, LLC (d/b/a PC Smart Support and First Class Tech Support). FL