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Return-A-Pet Scam Preys On Victims Of Lost Pets

It’s annual pet scammer week! That’s a lie. But it sure feels like it. Eric Stein was charged with running an investment scam through Return-A-Pet LLC. Return-A-Pet was a New York company that allegedly facilitated the return of lost pets to their owners. Stein was out on supervised release for a previous investment fraud scheme …

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Talk Show Host And Financial Advisor Sentenced For Ponzi Scheme

Wednesday marked the announcement that Anthony Cutaia was sentenced to 51 months in prison for mail fraud “Ponzi” investment scheme. Cutaia had pled guilty in July 2011 to Count 2 of a Criminal Information filed in June 2011, which charged him with mail fraud in connection with his participation in a real estate investment scheme …

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Elaborate Scheme Leaves 180 With Over $1 Million In Fraudulent Purchases

Charges were announced last Thursday against seven members of an identity theft ring that allegedly used stolen identities of more than 180 people at major New York City retail stores including Home Depot, Sears, Kmart and Kohl’s, among others. The ring of fraudsters resold merchandise and gift cards for a profit after purchasing them under …

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Ponzi Schemes Are The New Black

Thirteen days into the year and I feel like all I’ve written about is Ponzi-scheme after Ponzi-scheme after Ponzi-scheme. Today I bring to you the sentencing of Jenifer Devine, the woman who owned a purported wholesale merchandise broker and admitted to running a multimillion-dollar Ponzi scheme that resulted in over $2 million in losses to …

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Four Israeli Residents Charged With Phony Lottery Prize Scheme Extradited To US

It was recently announced that four defendants have been extradited from Israel on charges relating to their participation in multiple lottery telemarketing fraud schemes. The schemes targeted elderly victims in the United States and netted millions of dollars in profits. In July of 2009 three of the extradited defendants, Avi Ayache, Yaron Bar, and Ian …

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Two More Charged In Rothstein Billion Dollar Fraud Scheme

On the first of this month it was announced that two more Rothstein Associates were charged in connection with the billion dollar fraud scheme. Announced was the filing of charges against William Boockvor and Marybeth Feiss for conspiring to commit crimes through the operation of the former Fort Lauderdale law firm of Scott W. Rothstein, …

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The Best Way To Sucker A Timeshare Owner Into Something (Other Than A Timeshare) Is A Way OUT Of A Timeshare

Another Florida based telemarketing scam has arose under the name Universal Marketing Solutions and Creative Vacation Solutions targeting owners of timeshares throughout the United States. Last week, Joel Intravaia, of Florida was sentenced to 60 months in prison followed by three years supervised release along as a result of his guilty plea to a one …

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The Formula For Fraud Is Not Greater Than Or Equal To The Formula For Investing

An alleged investment fraud scheme has lead to an indictment charging Robin Brass with four counts of mail fraud where she could face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on each count. Allegedly, from around March 2009 until approximately November 2011, Brass acting as a principal of The …

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Adoption Scams Make Me Sick

In the business of reporting fraud and scams you often find similar situations, scenarios and stories across the huge array of scams in this world. Although I’ve heard, seen and read a lot of similar cases and continually question my faith in humanity there’s nothing like an adoption scam to get the blood boiling. A …

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North Carolina Man Is Seventh Convicted Of $40 Million Black Diamond Ponzi Scheme

It was announced last week that Bryan Keith Coats of Clayton, North Carolina plead guilty to his role in connection with the Black Diamoind Ponzi Scheme Investigation that resulted in a $40 million investment fraud conspiracy. Coats admitted to one count of conspiracy to commit commodities, securities, and wire fraud and one count of promotional …

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