FTC Returns $1.87 Million to Consumers Harmed by Debt Relief Scam

The Federal Trade Commission is mailing 1,630 checks totaling nearly $1.87 million to consumers who lost money to an illegal telemarketing operation, known as Expense Management America, that charged homeowners an up-front fee for debt and mortgage relief services it never provided. Since bringing its action against the Canada-based scheme in September 2012, the FTC has obtained a series of orders limiting the defendants’ conduct and collecting money for consumers.

The amount of each check will vary based upon the amount of each consumer’s loss. Consumers should deposit or cash checks within 60 days of the mailing date. The FTC never requires consumers to pay money or to provide information before refund checks can be cashed. Consumers who receive checks and have questions can contact the FTC’s refund administrator, Gilardi & Co., LLC, at 844-239-8891. Learn more about the FTC’s refund program.

The FTC acknowledges the Centre of Operations Linked to Telemarketing Fraud (“Project COLT”) for their assistance in this case. Project COLT includes the FTC, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Sureté du Québec, Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal, Canada Border Services Agency, Competition Bureau of Canada, Canada Post, U.S. Homeland Security (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Secret Service), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the FBI.

The FTC also acknowledges the valuable assistance of the Department of Justice’s Office of Foreign Litigation, which helped recover money from Canada for consumer redress.

The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition, and protect and educate consumers. You can learn more about consumer topics and file a consumer complaint online or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357).  Like the FTC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, read our blogs and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.