The Federal Trade Commission is here to protect consumers against deceptive practices such as false advertising, identity theft, and other consumer related problems, and they fail. The FTC over the years has investigated thousands of false advertising, and other related consumer targeted frauds and always comes to a conclusion. So you would think that the FTC is doing its job. However I submit to you that they are failing constantly. They are not stopping the problem they are just fining the problem. I will bring you some case information and allow you to bring you own conclusion to this problem.
The Case of Donald Barrett
Donald Barrett, a prolific infomercial producer who owns ITV Ventures and Direct Marketing Concepts was fined $48 million dollars for deceptive advertisements and misleading infomercials. This would seem good right? However Donald Barrett still has over 20 more infomercials that are practicing the same things that he was fined for. However because they where not targeted by the FTC they are still allowed to run. These infomercials are fleecing consumers every single day for millions of dollars.
Donald Barrett was seen on my TV doing another book infomercial for Anthony Morrison Advertising Profits from Home. So the fines have done nothing they continue to practice the same thing they where before. Pay the fine and move forward seems to be the modus operandi of these people. They are making more money than they are being fined so they continue and see the fines as the price of doing business.
The Case of Kevin Trudeau
In 1998 the FTC fined Kevin Trudeau $500,000 for misleading and false statements in infomercials. Did this stop Kevin? Nope, in 2003 he was charged for violating the 1998 order for Coral Calcium Supreme and saying it could cure cancer. Move forward to 2004 and you see that he would pay $2 million and he was banned from infomercials unless they are for informational publications like books. So what does this clown do? He gets in trouble in 2007 for misrepresenting the contents of his weight loss book. So what does the FTC do? They fine him more than $5 million and ban him with this legalese.
“or any person acting in concert with him, from participating in the production or publication of any infomercial for any product, including books, in which Mr. Trudeau or any related entity has an interest, for a period of three years from the date of this order. “
Do we believe he has stopped? Hell no we don’t Donald Barrett and Kevin are close they have had business relationships for a long time. Why back in 2006 Donald Barrett and ITV Direct announced they had partnered up to market his Natural Cures books. He also helped Donald create ITV Ventures which was a MLM group. In December of 2006 ITV tried to close the public ties however the infomercials are still running they are still in bed. Wonder why they pulled the public plug in 2006? I guess more of the great fines are the price of doing business.
The Case of Jason Brailow
February 2009 FTC Fine Jason Brailow and a few other defendants in Acai Berry scams involving negative option billing. These injunctions where against JAB Ventures, LLC Jason Brailow, Terry Guthmiller and David Guthmiller in the case of Jason Brailow he was fined $7,803,425 and all but $610,000 was suspended for the inability to pay however they are still running around running the same types of scams today. (http://www.scamtimes.com/product-scams/crush-llc-crush-direct-response-tmp-nevada-scam-entity/ ) Terry and David Guthmiller where imposed a $2,532,014 judgment and all but $3000 was suspended due to the inability to pay. These clowns can pay because they are still ripping you off. So how do they get fined and then pay nothing really? Why are the consumers not getting the protection they deserve?
Other Cases that are pending:
John Beck/Mentoring of America, Grants for You Now, Cash Grant Institute, Mutual Consolidated Savings, Penbrook Productions, Classic Closeouts. But what will come of these cases? Jeff Paul is included in the John Beck programs however I just seen his infomercial in the past few weeks so they are still fleecing who they can. What do you think about these cases?
Conclusion
There are many other cases just like these that the FTC files a complaint fines the company and the company gets most of it suspended and continues business as usual. Why can the FTC not put these people out of business, why must we continue to deal with the same scams run by the same people over and over. Yet the FTC decides to fine bloggers $11,000 dollars if they do not disclose relationships between companies and reviews that are written. What about the Google related scams they have not gone after, what about the millions of dollars being lost daily by people being fleeced by the same scams that they have issued judgments against?
However we must continue to file complaints with the FTC because it is one of our only methods to gain some type of protection however I believe that the FTC needs to step up and quit being sissy’s and start putting people where they belong either in jail or out of business, these types of people seem to think the fines are the cost of doing business and they are making enough money to pay the fines and continue with the same deceptive practices they are getting in trouble for. Some of these people are still using the same exact scam that they got in trouble for.
Post your thoughts on what you believe the FTC should do in relation to what these and other cases. What is your thoughts on the FTC?
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
4 justice law firm was set up specifically to combat this injustice that is taking place by these mentioned companies.
we have 5 class action suits in process against these same types of companies. if the government wont put them out of business then we will do our best to do so.
If we cant force them out, then we plan to make it hurt bad enough that these scammers will take a second thought before they roll over to their next corporation and onto their next scam.
if you have bought products or services from any of the above mentioned companies, please email us and so we can discuss addding your name to an existing class, or possibly starting a new class against these dirt bags.
we have been permitted to do some discovery on one of the 5 defendants, all should be pleased to know that this discovery has been very insightful – we are very excited to bring this case to the public and expose how interconnected all of these companies are.
mark these word “they will pay”
I bought Trudeau’s book and ordered Morrison’s advertising income from home product but stopped short of paying $4,000 for their “experts’ “assistance to help me get set up. I tried to get them to help me do what they said they would do and they tried to make me into a cause for their program, only I would have to pay $400 and they would “finance” the rest of the $3,249 cost of the program at $142.28 per month for 24 months. When I tried to get more info on what I would get for that investment, the pitchwoman got pissed at me and started berating me. Very non-professional behavior for a ‘legitimate’ company. So I bailed and started a google search on Morrison only to find all the scam info.
Me &My wife are senior citizens we joined the anthony morrison thing 7,665.00 & the tax club 4,785.00& vital payroll 2,445.00&all asscess books 3,495.00 they all called like a day apart it made our head spin our computer broke down for three it took three weeks to get fixed we found out bad info about them and tried to quit they said no money back can anybody us get us out of this scam Thank You Frank
Wow wow I am so sorry to hear that Frank ,and thanks for letting people know because I am about to order his package but now i change my mind don’t give up You need to get your money back good luck
@Frank I am unsure on this one, you can call your Bank and ask them as well as calling the Attorney General’s office. They will probably provide you more information, I am sorry to hear about your plight
Add our name to your class action if youcould
This is how to get your money back from John beck, also known as “mentoring of America” You go to a website called: ripoffreport dot com
Then you file a complaint on John beck, just briefly mention what they did to you (don’t worry this website knows exactly who they are) Then what happens is that this ripoff report website will contact john beck and you will get a call from them, they will automatically give you a full refund. Just be prepared to explain to them briefly what happened, but they will treat you with respect and give you all your money back. That is because they are registered on ripoff report and don’t want to look bad or get in more trouble.
If you got a call from their affiliates: Strategic Financial, for their Tax and LLC service, which is also a scam, then include them as well in the John Beck complaint you write to rip off report and you will get helped as well.
It doesn’t matter if years have passed, you will still get helped and get your money back.
this ripoffreport website can be used against other scammers too and they do help you get if not most, all your money back. No one wants to be reported on this site.
ripoffreport dot com has helped me and other get their money back from scammers, since the FTC is not doing it’s job correctly, i suggest trying the ripoffreport website, it completely works in getting if not most, all your money back from scammers/fradulent companies.