Category Archives: Scam

Mass Joinder Leader Mitchell Stein Found Guilt and Behind Bars for Years

A tipster just let me know that Mitchell Stein, the California attorney who was leading the charge selling consumers access to lawsuits to sue their lenders in a mass joinder action, was taken into custody today in court when he was found guilty on 14 counts in Florida today. Here is what the tipster said, [...]

FTC Catches Bogus Tech Support Scam and Then Finds a Debt Relief Company

The Federal Trade Commission announced a settlement over a bogus tech support service and accidentally found a debt relief company that was violating the Telemarketing Sales Rules in the process. Mikael Marczak, doing business as Virtual PC Solutions, and Sanjay Agarwalla were among the subjects of a series of six complaints filed by the FTC [...]

Infomercial Pitchman Kevin Trudeau Claims He’s Too Broke to Pay Millions in Sanctions

Kevin Trudeau is best known on this site for his books targeted towards those in financial trouble, including “Debt Cures” and “Free Money “They” Don’t Want You to Know About.” On March 6, 2013 U.S. District Court Judge Robert Gettleman issued an opinion and order that describes how Kevin Trudeau has been dodging his $37 [...]

Consumers in Life and Money Trouble More Likely to be Scammed

Consumers who were more willing to take risks and those who had recently experienced a negative life event (such as a divorce, death of a family member or close friend, serious injury or illness in their family, or the loss of a job) were much more likely to have been victims of fraud and scams. [...]

FTC Takes Action Against Company That Hits Cell Phone Users With Charges

The Federal Trade Commission has taken legal action to shut down an operation that allegedly took in millions of dollars from placing charges on consumers’ mobile phone bills, many of which were “crammed” or unauthorized charges. The complaint against Wise Media, LLC, Brian M. Buckley and William J. Deloney is the first FTC case against [...]

Fidelity Land Trust Sued to Give Title Back to Homeowner

Kimberly Miller with the Palm Beach Post is reporting at least one homeowner is suing Fidelity Land Trust. “Kenneth and Joycelin Morgan filed a lawsuit last week against Fidelity Land Trust Co. and affiliated firms, saying they thought they were signing up for help reducing their mortgage amount but instead were deceived into a contract [...]

FTC Stops Scam That Charged Companies for Bogus Online Directory

At the Federal Trade Commission’s request, a federal judge has temporarily halted a Slovakia-based operation that allegedly tricked small businesses and non-profits into collectively paying millions of dollars to be listed in an online directory in which they had no interest in being listed and for which they did not understand they would be charged. [...]

Remember the Spam Text Warning? FTC Shuts Them Down.

Previously I reported on spam text that were being sent to consumers, claiming that people had one a major gift card. However the fine print showed that “winners” would have to apply for products and services including financial services and debt relief. See these stories, Bxsy.biz Best Buy Giftcard Spam Text – Scam Alert, Avoid [...]

Veterans Target of Financial Scammers – Beware

The Federal Trade Commission warns veterans and their families: Be wary of dishonest advisers offering “free” help with paperwork for pension claims. Unscrupulous lawyers, financial planners and insurance agents advise veterans over 65 to transfer their assets to a trust, or to invest in insurance products, so they can qualify for Aid and Attendance benefits. [...]

FTC Halts Financial Scam That Targeted Vulnerable Consumers

At the Federal Trade Commission’ request, a federal court has temporarily halted an operation that allegedly used an intricate web of concealment to debit hundreds of thousands of consumers’ bank accounts and bill their credit cards more than $25 million without their consent. The court also froze the defendants’ assets and appointed a receiver to [...]

BBC National Lottery Emails Are a Scam. Warn Others.

Readers keep sending in emails, like the one below, wanting to believe it is real. It’s a scam and typically results in a request for the recipient to pay some fee to get their prize. The scammers can’t even spell correctly. From:BBC NATIONAL LOTTERY To: Date:12/14/12 Subj: CONGRATULATION,DEAR WINNER OPEN THE ATTACHED FILE FOR DETAILS. [...]

Raspberry Ultra Drops – Fox News Scam Page

WARNING: Emails are going out that contain links that lead to efx-news.com. You can see a copy of that page below. It is a scam site and the Federal Trade Commission has previously shutdown other companies making similar claims about similar products using fake news sites. This site uses Fox News, Dr. Oz, Los Angles [...]

USA Payday Loan Scheme is a Total Scam. Run Away.

A reader just filed a consumer complaint about a company called USA PaydayLoan. You can read it here. The consumer alleges they applied for an online payday loan through usapaydayloan.com and was contacted by telephone. They state they were told they were approved for a loan but had to pay an advance fee. Unfortunately the [...]

Forensic Loan Audit Mortgage Scam Settles FTC Charges

The defendants behind an operation that allegedly preyed on vulnerable homeowners have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that they lured people into paying $1,995 or more by holding out bogus promises that they could help them avoid foreclosure and renegotiate their mortgages. The FTC’s settlement order against the Los Angeles, California-based Consumer Advocates [...]

American Tax Relief Scammers Agree to Pay Millions to Settle With FTC Over False Promises

Under an agreement with the Federal Trade Commission, the defendants in a scheme that allegedly bilked consumers out of more than $100 million by falsely claiming they could reduce their tax debts must surrender more than $15 million in cash and assets to settle charges that they violated federal law. Under the settlement order, American [...]