California Department of Corporations, Federal and State Law Enforcement Agencies Launch Major Assault on Business Opportunity and Work-at-Home Scams.SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- In a massive criminal and civil crackdown on promoters of illegal business opportunity and work-at-home programs, the California Department of Corporations (Corporations), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC FTC See Federal Trade Commission (FTC). ), the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and state law enforcement agencies A law enforcement agency (LEA) is a term used to describe any agency which enforces the law. This may be a local or state police, federal agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). from 13 other states have charged more than 109 operations with violating consumer protection laws consumer protection laws n. almost all states and the federal government have enacted laws and set up agencies to protect the consumer (the retail purchasers of goods and services) from inferior, adulterated, hazardous and deceptively advertised products, and and/or engaging in fraud. Business opportunity and work-at-home fraud, in particular, cause substantial consumer injury. In California's cases, Corporations took enforcement actions against franchises and business opportunities that illegally offered or sold business operations Business operations are those activities involved in the running of a business for the purpose of producing value for the stakeholders. Compare business processes. The outcome of business operations is the harvesting of value from assets for payday advance loans, medical spas A medical spa is a facility whose medical program is run under the strict supervision of a licensed healthcare professional, according to The International Medical Spa Association. , mobile food kiosks, Internet kiosks, fitness centers, and restaurants. "The perpetrators of these frauds were operating illegally and without the proper registration from Corporations to offer and sell franchises," said Corporations Commissioner William P. Wood William P. Wood was the first Director of the United States Secret Service. He was sworn in on July 5, 1865 by Secretary of the Treasury Hugh McCulloch. He then headed the newly formed Secret Service for four years until he resigned in 1869. . "By coordinating efforts with federal regulators and law enforcement, we can move aggressively to stop these scam (SCSI Configured AutoMatically) A subset of Plug and Play that allows SCSI IDs to be changed by software rather than by flipping switches or changing jumpers. Both the SCSI host adapter and peripheral must support SCAM. See SCSI. operations which prey on unsuspecting consumers." The enforcement sweep, known as Project Biz Opp Flop, highlights enforcement actions filed by a multitude of state enforcement agencies, including Corporations. The 14 states, including Maryland, Texas and Washington, announced 109 actions against franchise, business opportunity, and work-at-home promoters. The perpetrators are located in 22 states and Canada, with the greatest number of actions taken in California, Florida and Arizona. (See below listing of state actions.) Corporations has teamed up with the FTC to provide the following tips for consumers before investing in any new business venture or work-at-home opportunity: --Investors may contact Corporations before they invest to check the registration status of the investment they are considering by calling our toll-free telephone number A toll-free, Freecall, Freephone, or 800 number is a special telephone number, in that the called party is charged the cost of the calls by the telephone carrier, instead of the calling party. , 1-866-ASK-CORP (1-866-275-2677). --If the ad promises big money for little effort, then investors should check with Corporations, the FTC, and local authorities. Fraudulent ads use similar bait such as fast cash, minimal work, no risk, and the advantage of being your own boss or working from home. --Before promoters may accept money from potential investors, the law requires that they give investors important disclosure documents. If the promoter does not make the document readily available, find another opportunity. --Talk to current investors, but beware of paid "shills," people paid to give favorable reports. Visit other business sites in person. Get professional advice if you need it. Do not lose your life savings just because you did not spend a few hundred dollars to talk to a lawyer, an accountant, or another expert. Consumers should visit Corporations Web site at www.corp.ca.gov for information to help spot and avoid business opportunity scams. The Department of Corporations is California's Investment and Financing Authority. Corporations is responsible for the regulation, enforcement and licensing of securities, franchises, off-exchange commodities, investment and financial services The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please [ improve this article] or discuss the issue on the talk page. , independent escrows, consumer and commercial finance lending and residential mortgage lending. For further information or to obtain a complaint form, please visit Corporations' Web site at www.corp.ca.gov or call 1-866-ASK-CORP (1-866-275-2677). PROJECT BIZ OPP FLOP State Enforcement List for Calendar Year 2004 & Early 2005 California Department of Corporations Arkansas 1. Home Business Systems and Sharon Henningsen, Civil action filed for restitution, AR parties, AR Attorney General (1/28/05). California 2. Cash Now.com, LLC (Logical Link Control) See "LANs" under data link protocol. LLC - Logical Link Control , Cash Now Plus.com, LLC, Miro Zecevic, C&D Order, PA and Ontario, Canada parties The Canada Party was a short-lived political party in Canada that nominated 56 candidates in the 1993 federal election, and one candidate in a 1996 by-election. It was unable to win any seats. The party was populist, and ran on a platform of banking and monetary reform. , Cal. Dept. Corp. (4/2/04). 3. Cash-Now USA.Com, Inc., Cash Now.com, LLC, Miro Zecevic, David G. McClenan, Gary McNulty, Victor Graham, C&D Order, PA and Ontario, Canada parties, Cal. Dept. Corp. (3/30/04). 4. Caboto's Franchise Development Corp. d/b/a Caboto's and Caboto's Associated Food Services food services Hospital services A 24/7 department in a hospital that provides for the nutritional needs of inpatients–eg, those needing special diets, preparing meals and transporting them to the floor and, through the cafeteria, the hospital staff and , Inc., Herbert C. Davis, C&D Order, UT parties, Cal. Dept. Corp. (5/19/04). 5. Why Weight Women's Total Fitness, Inc., Matthew Craig Rubin, Ivan Bondy, Mark Haining, C&D Order, CA parties, Cal. Dept. Corp. (6/18/04). 6. HealthWest, Inc., Manmohan (Mo) Singh Biring, C&D Order, CA parties, Cal. Dept. Corp. (7/16/04). 7. Network Services Depot, d/b/a Net Depot, Charles V Charles V, duke of Lorraine Charles V (Charles Leopold), 1643–90, duke of Lorraine; nephew of Duke Charles IV. Deprived of the rights of succession to the duchy, he was forced to leave France and entered the service of the Holy Roman emperor. . Castro, and Bikini Bikini (bēkē`nē), atoll, c.2 sq mi (5.2 sq km), W central Pacific, one of the Ralik Chain, Marshall Islands. It comprises 36 islets on a reef 25 mi (40 km) long. Vending, 360 Wireless, and Edward Bevilacqua, C&D Order, CA and NV parties, Cal. Dept. Corp. (7/24/04). 8. Kanar Enterprise, Narinder Mahal Mahal may refer to:
9. Stroller Strides, Lisa Druxman, C&D Order, CA parties, Cal. Dept. Corp. (2/15/05). Connecticut 10. Debit Corporation of America, C&D Order, FL party, CT Dept. of Banking (1/13/04). 11. Debit Corporation of America, Stop Order and $50,000 fine, FL party, CT Dept. of Banking (3/18/04). 12. 1.800 Vending, Inc., C&D Order and $10,000 fine, UT parties, CT Dept. of Banking (7/15/04). 13. Taxback, LLC, C&D Order, AZ party, CT Dept. of Banking (1/29/05). Florida 14. Strategic Capital ATM Services, $2,000 administrative fine for bizop sales, Fla. Dept. Ag. & Consumer Svcs. (2004). 15. Futurequest Marketing, $5,000 administrative fine for bizop sales, Fla. Dept. Ag. & Consumer Svcs. (2004). 16. 1.800.Vending, $2,000 administrative fine for bizop sales, Fla. Dept. Ag. & Consumer Svcs. (2004). 17. American Technologies International, $2,000 administrative fine for bizop sales, Fla. Dept. Ag. & Consumer Svcs. (2004). 18. Touchpoll, $500 administrative fine for bizop sales, Fla. Dept. Ag. & Consumer Svcs. (2004). 19. American Technologies International, Inc., $2,000 administrative fine, FL party, Fla. Dept. Ag. & Consumer Svcs. (8/29/04). 20. Cyberwize.com, Inc., Cyberwize, Travelwize, $3,000 administrative fine, FL parties, Fla. Dept. Ag. & Consumer Svcs. (9/21/04). 21. Route Lizard lizard, a reptile of the order Squamata, which also includes the snake. Lizards form the suborder Sauria, and there are over 3,000 lizard species distributed throughout the world (except for the polar regions), with the greatest number found in warm climates. , Inc., $4,000 administrative fine, Montgomery, AL party, Fla. Dept. Ag. & Consumer Svcs. (10/25/04). 22. Entertainment Books of Florida, $2,000 administrative fine, FL party, Fla. Dept. Ag. & Consumer Svcs. (11/17/04). 23. Candy King of Florida, $2,000 administrative fine, FL party, Fla. Dept. Ag. & Consumer Svcs. (12/8/04). 24. Global Resources, Inc., $6,000 administrative fine, FL party, Fla. Dept. Ag. & Consumer Svcs (12/20/04). 25. United Merchants Group, LLC, $6,000 administrative fine, FL party, Fla. Dept. Ag. & Consumer Svcs (12/21/04). 26. Power Internet Terminals, Inc. $2,000 administrative fine, FL party, Fla. Dept. Ag. & Consumer Svcs (12/30/04). 27. Vending for Charity, $2,000 administrative fine, NY party, Fla. Dept. Ag. & Consumer Svcs (1/14/05). 28. Carousel Marketing, Inc., $2,000 administrative fine, AL party, Fla. Dept. Ag. & Consumer Svcs (1/26/05). 29. Taxback, LLC, $5,000 administrative fine, AZ party, Fla. Dept. Ag. & Consumer Svcs (2/4/05). Illinois 30. Paris Hill d/b/a Hill & Associates Consulting Center, Civil complaint, IL Attorney General (10/27/04). Kentucky 31. Dennis Lee Dennis Lee is the name of:
32. Combined Resource Systems, Barry Wise, Gary Cesaro, and Tammy Powers, Default Judgments (2/2/04 and 10/12/04). Louisiana 33. Global Ventures, Inc., Civil complaint, FL party, LA Attorney General (2/18/05). Maryland 34. Lady of America Franchise Corp., Stipulated Order to C&D, FL party, MD Securities Div. (2/04). 35. Christmas Decor, Inc., Stipulated Order to C&D, TX party, MD Securities Div. (3/04). 36. True Colors (1) Specifically, refers to 16,777,216 colors (24-bit color). See high color. (2) Generically, refers to photo-realistic color (typically requires 24-bit color as a minimum). Custom Auto Touch-Up, Inc., Stipulated Order to C&D, PA party, MD Securities Div. (3/04). 37. Vocelli Pizza, LP, Stipulated Order to C&D, PA party, MD Securities Div. (4/04). 38. Hollywood Tanning tanning, process by which skins and hides are converted into leather. Vegetable tanning, a method requiring more than a month even with modern machinery and tanning liquors, employs tannin; its use is shown in Egyptian tomb paintings dating from 3000 B.C. Systems, Inc., Stipulated Order to C&D, NJ party, MD Securities Div. (5/25/04). 39. Prosperity Systems, Inc., d/b/a Pizza Boli's, Consent Order, Permanent Injunction permanent injunction n. a final order of a court that a person or entity refrain from certain activities permanently or take certain actions (usually to correct a nuisance) until completed. and payment of $5,000 fine, MD party, MD Securities Div. (5/04). 40. Dryclean Depot, LLC, Calimar, LLC, and Randy M. Lievan, Stipulated Order to C&D, MD parties, MD Securities Div. (6/14/04). 41. Eggspectations International Holding Corp., Inc., Stipulated Order to C&D, Canadian party The Canadian Party was a group founded by John Christian Schultz in 1869, in the Red River Settlement (which later became the Canadian province of Manitoba). It was not a political party in the modern sense, but was rather a forum for local ultra-Protestant agitators. , MD Securities Div. (6/23/04). 42. Advanced Composites Technology, LLC, Advanced Coatings Technology, LLC, and Kevin A. Heronimus, Stipulated Order to C&D, AL parties, MD Securities Div. (9/7/04). 43. Giles Enterprises, Inc., d/b/a Chester Fried, Stipulated Order to C&D, AL party, MD Securities Div. (9/8/04). 44. Let's Dish! Inc., Stipulated Order to C&D, MN party, MD Securities Div. (10/8/04). 45. Jean-Marc DeFague, Stipulated Order to C&D w/ bizop ban in Maryland, MD party, MD Securities Div. (11/4/04). 46. Five Guys Enterprises, LLC, Stipulated Order to C&D, NY party, MD Securities Div. (1/14/05) 47. Espresso Italia Marketing, Inc., Stipulated Order to C&D, FL party, MD Securities Div. (1/28/2005). 48. Cheeburger Cheeburger Restaurants, Inc., C&D Order Stipulated Order to C&D, FL party, MD Securities Div. (1/28/2005). Nevada 49. Combined Resource Systems, Inc., Civil complaint, Nev. party, Nev. Attorney General (10/14/04). South Dakota South Dakota (dəkō`tə), state in the N central United States. It is bordered by North Dakota (N), Minnesota and Iowa (E), Nebraska (S), and Wyoming and Montana (W). 50. L. Lewis & Associates, C&D Order, IL party, So. Dak. Div. of Securities (1/30/04). 51. Push Button Promotions, C&D Order, IA party, So. Dak. Div. of Securities (2/27/04). 52. Universal Connections, C&D Order, CA party, So. Dak. Div. of Securities (2/27/04). 53. Beltway Systems, Inc., C&D Order, TX party, So. Dak. Div. of Securities (3/4/04). 54. Debit Corporation of America, C&D Order, FL party, So. Dak. Div. of Securities (3/18/04). 55. Medical Billers Network, C&D Order, NY party, So. Dak. Div. of Securities (3/25/04). 56. JMW JMW Junior Maine Woodsman Financial Services, C&D Order, AZ party, So. Dak. Div. of Securities (3/26/04). 57. Liberty League, C&D Order, AZ party, So. Dak. Div. of Securities (4/5/04). 58. Federated Connected and treated as one. See federated database and federated directories. Publishing, Inc., C&D Order, NH party, So. Dak. Div. of Securities (4/6/04) 59. Gold Leaf Distribution, C&D Order, FL party, So. Dak. Div. of Securities (4/6/04). 60. Max Marketing, C&D Order, CA party, So. Dak. Div. of Securities (4/6/04). 61. Prosperity Group International, C&D Order, AZ party, So. Dak. Div. Of Securities (4/6/04). 62. Seasilver, C&D Order, CA party, So. Dak. Div. of Securities (4/6/04). 63. Global Internet Terminals and I. Sites, Inc., C&D Order, FL parties, So. Dak. Div. of Securities (4/22/04). 64. Big Sky Marketing, C&D Order, MN party, So. Dak. Div. of Securities (5/4/04). 65. Empire Publishing, C&D Order, CT party, So. Dak. Div. of Securities (5/4/04). 66. Homemailers, Inc., C&D Order, SD party, So. Dak. Div. of Securities (5/4/04). 67. SR & Associates, C&D Order, FL party, So. Dak. Div. of Securities (5/4/04). 68. American Publications, C&D Order, MO party, So. Dak. Div. of Securities (5/11/04). 69. H. Communications and Distributor Enterprises System, C&D Order, FL parties, So. Dak. Div. of Securities (5/11/04). 70. Income Solutions, C&D Order, NV party, So. Dak. Div. of Securities (5/11/04). 71. HomeStuffers, C&D Order, CA party, So. Dak. Div. of Securities (5/12/04). 72. Lead Streams, C&D Order, UT party, So. Dak. Div. of Securities (6/1/04). 73. Phase 7 and Fred Bailey, C&D Order, TN parties, So. Dak. Div. of Securities (7/6/04). 74. Angel Pin Creations, Inc., C&D Order, FL party, So. Dak. Div. of Securities (7/6/04). 75. GICO GICO Gigabit Correlator and James Neely, C&D Order, Antioch, TN parties, So. Dak. Div. of Securities (7/9/04). 76. Travis Temple, Inc., C&D Order, IA party, So. Dak. Div. of Securities (7/9/04). 77. Coffee Fair, C&D Order, CA party, So. Dak. Div. of Securities (8/2/04). 78. Fortune Marketing, C&D Order, SD party, So. Dak. Div. of Securities (8/6/04). 79. Home Associates, C&D Order, TX party, So. Dak. Div. of Securities (8/6/04). 80. Intralinx, C&D Order, FL party, So. Dak. Div. of Securities (8/6/04). 81. Elite Designs, Inc, Expresscents, Inc., Designer Scents, Anthony Antonelli, Ron Wattu, and Erica Roberts, C&D Order, RI parties, So. Dak. Div. of Securities (8/10/04). 82. Cardona Consulting, C&D Order, IL party, So. Dak. Div. of Securities (8/10/04). 83. Pay-N-Go, Joel Santucci, Alberto Ferrerias, and Noel Beres, C&D Order, FL parties, So. Dak. Div. of Securities (8/11/04). 84. Sunshine Candle Corp, C&D Order, NY party, So. Dak. Div. of Securities (9/2/04). 85. Vernon Sougstad, C&D Order, SD party, So. Dak. Div. of Securities (9/7/04). 86. Millionaire Web Club, Marvin Q. Wilson, Jon D. Clark, Mike Zito, Shawn Casey, and Phil Damiano, C&D Order, AZ parties, So. Dak. Div. of Securities (10/7/04). 87. Proven Record, Inc., Saxby's Coffee, and Jeff Larson, C&D Order, NV parties, So. Dak. Div. of Securities (10/13/04). 88. CMG CMG Coastal & Marine Geology (USGS) CMG Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (stock symbol) CMG Companion (of the Order Of) St Michael and St George CMG Computer Measurement Group , Inc. and Cervo.net, C&D Order, IL parties, So. Dak. Div. of Securities (10/19/04). 89. Power Internet Terminals, Inc., Frank Mineo, Crystal Nadel, Michelle Gale, and Michael Collins Michael Collins is the name of:
90. Success Thru Networking and Dana M. Dempsey, C&D Order, NV parties, So. Dak. Div. of Securities (10/27/04). 91. Route Crafters, C&D Order, AL party, So. Dak. Div. of Securities (11/8/04). 92. United Publications, C&D Order, UT parties, So. Dak. Div. of Securities (11/8/04). 93. Route Wizard, C&D Order, AL parties, So. Dak. Div. of Securities (11/29/04). Tennessee 94. Keith Dyer, James Neely, Fred Bailey, and Dennis Dyer Dennis Victor Dyer (born May 2, 1914, Durban, Natal, died June 16, 1990, Durban, Natal) was a South African cricketer who played in 3 Tests in 1947. Dennis Dyer was an opening right-hand batsman who announced himself with an innings of 185 for Natal against Western Province , all d/b/a GICO and Phase 7; Phyllis Winston d/b/a GICO; and Detria Dyer, d/b/a Phase 7, civil suit with stipulated preliminary injunction A temporary order made by a court at the request of one party that prevents the other party from pursuing a particular course of conduct until the conclusion of a trial on the merits. A preliminary injunction is regarded as extraordinary relief. obtained, TN parties (1/24/05). Texas 95. Lady of America Franchise Corp., AVC (1) (Advanced Video Coding) The video compression techniques used in the H.264 standard, jointly developed by ISO and the ITU-T. See H.264. (2) (Audio Visual C , FL party, Tex. Atty. Genl. (11/4/04). 96. Patricia G. Thomas d/b/a Wedding Careers Institute, Inc., Wedding Careers Worldwide Assoc., LLC, civil contempt Noun 1. civil contempt - a failure to follow a court order that benefits someone else contempt of court - disrespect for the rules of a court of law filed, Tex. Atty. Genl. (12/7/04). 97. iMergent, Inc., Stores Online, Inc., d/b/a StoresOnLine.com, John J. Poelman, Brandon Lewis Brandon Kenneth Lewis (born June 1971) is the Conservative Leader of Brentwood Borough Council, England. Lewis was born in 1971 in Harold Wood, United Kingdom. He received a degree in Economics from the University of Buckingham and further law degrees from Buckingham and , and Donald Danks, Civil complaint, UT parties, Tex. Attorney General (2/22/05). Washington State 98. Imergent, Inc, StoresOnline, Inc, John Poelman, Brandon Lewis, Donald Danks, and Charles Andrews <noinclude> Charles Andrews could refer to: </noinclude>
99. Mark 5, Inc., Robert King Robert King may refer to:
100. Culinary Communion, Gabriel Claycamp, and Heidi Kenyon, C&D Order, WA parties, Wa. Securities Div. (6/11/04). 101. Dinners Ready, Inc., C&D Order, WA parties, Wa. Securities Div. (8/27/04). 102. Power Internet Terminals, aka M&N Venture Capital Group, Frank Mineo, Crystal Nadel, Max Bacal, Chantelle Langley, and Tristan Garcia, C&D Order, FL parties, Wa. Securities Div. (9/13/04). 103. Taxback, LLC, Shawn D. Hull, and Lindsay J. Hull, C&D Order, AZ parties, Wa. Securities Div. (10/12/04). 104. Let's Dish! C&D Order, MN parties, Wa. Securities Div. (10/15/04). 105. Nanny's, Inc., Kenneth L. Stephens, Nanette M. Stephens, C&D Order, WA parties, Wa. Securities Div. (10/18/04). 106. Monart Franchise Corp., C&D Order, CA parties, Wa. Securities Div. (12/8/04). Wisconsin 107. Matthew D. Wiley, d/b/a Home Stuffers, search warrant executed and criminal charges, WI party, WI DATCP DATCP Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (Wisconsin) investigation w/ prosecution by Eau Claire Eau Claire (ō klâr), city (1990 pop. 56,856), seat of Eau Claire co., W central Wis., on the Chippewa at the mouth of the Eau Claire River, in a hilly lake region; inc. 1872. County District Attorney (9/04). 108. Timothy K. Lamere d/b/a Entertainment Books Fast Food Coupons, AVC, WI party, WI DATCP (10/11/04). 109. Orlando Brown For the offensive lineman, see . Orlando Brown (born December 4, 1987) is an American actor and singer. He has played supporting roles in several Disney Channel television shows, notably That's So Raven. d/b/a Turn-Key Systems, Inc. a/k/a TK$, AVC, WI party, WI DATCP (11/3/04). Consumer Ed Only: 110. Alaska, new consumer education publication. |
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