CONSUMERS RECEIVING REFUND CHECKS FOR HARM DONE BY TAX RELIEF SCAMMERS

FROM:  U.S. FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION 

FTC Sends More Than $16 Million in Refunds to Consumers Harmed by Tax Relief Scam

The Federal Trade Commission is mailing refund checks totaling more than $16 million to 18,571 consumers who paid money to American Tax Relief, which bilked financially distressed consumers by falsely claiming it could reduce their tax debts. Under a settlement, the defendants turned over millions of dollars in assets the court had frozen, including bank accounts, jewelry, and a Ferrari. The relief defendants, who were the parents of one of the defendants, also turned over bank accounts, jewelry, a Beverly Hills residence, and a Los Angeles condominium.

Affected consumers will receive, on average, 16 percent of the amount they lost. Those who receive checks from the FTC’s refund administrator should cash them 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 GET REFUNDS IN ALLEGED CREDIT CARD INTEREST TELEMARKETING FRAUD CASE

 FROM:  FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION 

FTC Mails Refund Checks to Consumers Allegedly Defrauded by Telemarketers Who Charged a Fee, Promising to Help Lower Their Credit Card Interest Rates
An administrator working for the Federal Trade Commission today began mailing refund checks to more than 4,800 consumers allegedly defrauded by National Card Monitor, LLC, a telemarketing operation that promised to substantially lower consumers’ credit card interest rates for an advance fee.

In July 2013, National settled an FTC complaint, agreeing to provide the FTC with lists of consumer victims and to have their assets frozen by the court. Based on the money recovered, a refund check for $25.13 will be mailed to defrauded consumers. The checks must be cashed within 60 days of when they are issued.