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Blessings in No Time
The Federal Trade Commission and the state of Arkansas sued the operators of a “blessing loom” investment program, alleging that it has operated as an illegal pyramid scheme that bilked tens of millions of dollars from thousands of consumers, and targeted African Americans and harmed people struggling financially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In their joint complaint, the FTC and Arkansas charged that the operators of Blessings in No Time (“BINT”) have lured people into joining their program by falsely promising investment returns as high as 800 percent. The complaint alleges that some BINT members paid as much as $62,700 to participate. In reality, though, as in other pyramid schemes, the vast majority of participants have lost money, the complaint alleges.
BINT’s operators are banned from the business of multi-level marketing as a result of enforcement actions taken by the Federal Trade Commission and the State of Arkansas alleging the operation of an illegal pyramid scheme.
FTC Announces Claims Process for Consumers Who Purchased DreamCloud Mattresses
Resident Home LLC, In the Matter of
Resident Home LLC and owner Ran Reske paid $753,000 to settle FTC charges that they made false, misleading, or unsupported advertising claims that their imported DreamCloud mattresses were made from 100% USA-made materials. According to the complaint, although the company and Reske repeatedly claimed in promotional literature that their mattresses were “proudly made with 100 percent USA-made premium quality materials,” all DreamCloud mattresses were finished overseas, and in some cases were wholly imported or used significant imported materials. On June 14, 2022, the Commission announced the final consent agreement in this matter.
On March 30, 2023, the FTC began sending payments totaling nearly $45,000 to consumers who purchased DreamCloud mattresses sold by Resident Home, LLC, the parent company of Nectar Sleep, which used misleading “Made in USA” claims to pitch its products to consumers.
In the next few months, the FTC will be contacting an additional 12,300 consumers who bought DreamCloud mattresses and may be eligible for a payment. Consumers who believe that they may be eligible and want more information about the claims process can contact the administrator, JND Legal Administration, at 844-798-0740.
FTC and Federal and State Partners to Announce Nationwide Robocall and Telemarketing Enforcement Sweep in Chicago on July 18
FTC Reaches Settlement with Crypto Platform Celsius Network; Charges Former Executives with Duping Consumers into Transferring Cryptocurrency into their Platform and then Squandering Billions in User Deposits
FTC Action Leads to Industry Bans for Operators of ‘Extended Vehicle Warranty’ Scam
FTC Acts to Stop Owner, Marketers of ‘Smoke Away’ from Deceptively Claiming Products Enable Users to Quit Smoking
FTC Files Amended Complaint Charging that Walmart Facilitated Scams Through Its Money Transfer Services That Fleeced Customers Out of Hundreds of Millions
Elite IT Partners, Inc.
The Federal Trade Commission alleged Elite IT Partners, Inc. and its founder, President and CEO James Martinos settled FTC allegations that they tricked consumers into believing their computers were infected with viruses in order to sell them costly computer repair services.
Publishers Clearing House, LLC (PCH), FTC v.
As a result of a Federal Trade Commission lawsuit, Publishers Clearing House (PCH) has agreed to a proposed court order will require it to pay $18.5 million to consumers who spent money and wasted their time, and make substantial changes to how it conducts business online.
In a complaint against PCH, the FTC charges that the company uses “dark patterns” to mislead consumers about how to enter the company’s well-known sweepstakes drawings and made them believe that a purchase is necessary to win or would increase their chances of winning, and that their sweepstakes entries are incomplete even when they are not. The FTC also charges that the company has added surprise shipping and handling fees to the costs of products, misrepresented that ordering is “risk free,” used deceptive emails as part of its marketing campaign, and misrepresented its policies on selling users’ personal data to third parties prior to January 2019. Many consumers affected by these practices are older and lower-income.
Vitagene, Inc.; Analysis of Proposed Consent Order To Aid Public Comment
FTC Takes Action Against Amazon for Enrolling Consumers in Amazon Prime Without Consent and Sabotaging Their Attempts to Cancel
FTC Acts to Stop Real Estate and Online Commerce Coaching Scheme ‘Ganadores’ Targeting Spanish-Speaking Consumers With Brazen Money-Making Pitches
Cycra, Inc.
The Federal Trade Commission is taking action against motocross and ATV parts maker Cycra and its officer, Chad James, for falsely claiming that the company’s products were manufactured in the U.S. The FTC’s proposed order would stop Cycra and James from making deceptive claims about products being “Made in USA” and require them to pay a monetary judgment. In June 2023, the Commission announced the finalized order. In May 2024, the FTC sent $180,000 in refunds to consumers in this case.
Federal Court Finds James D. ‘Jay’ Noland, Jr., Operator of ‘Success By Health’ and ‘VOZ Travel,’ in Contempt of Court Order Barring Pyramid Schemes
FTC Sends More Than $557,000 to Consumers Harmed by Credit Card Interest Rate Reduction Scam
FTC Suit Leads to $16.7 Million Judgment Against Principals and Celebrity Endorsers of Real Estate Investment Training Program
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