FTC busts alleged $10 million telemarketing scam in Largo

[Sammy]

Just waiting for their court date next july.

[love tree]

Sammy wrote:

Just waiting for their court date next july.

wake up it is over

[Sammy]

It is over, but some criminal charges down the road would be nice.

[News Item]

Suntasia Marketing Defendants Pay More Than $16 Million to Settle FTC Charges

Fourteen defendants involved in the massive telemarketing scheme operated by Largo, Florida-based Suntasia Marketing, Inc. have agreed to pay a total of more than $16 million to settle Federal Trade Commission charges. The funds obtained under the four settlements announced today are in addition to approximately $33 million that will be provided to Suntasia victims as part of a previously announced settlement between the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and Wachovia Bank, N.A., which allegedly processed thousands of unauthorized demand drafts on Suntasia’s behalf. Together, the FTC and OCC settlements will provide nearly $50 million in restitution to Suntasia’s consumer victims.

“This is a tremendous victory for consumers who were victimized by Suntasia’s deceptive negative-option telemarketing,” said Lydia Parnes, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.“The FTC, the OCC, and the Department of Justice have worked together to secure nearly $50 million for Suntasia’s victims.”

The more than $16 million in consumer redress required under the four settlements is comprised of the following:

Defendants FTN Promotions, Inc.; Guardian Marketing Services, Corp.; Strategia Marketing, LLC; Co-Compliance, LLC; Bay Pines Travel, Inc.; Suntasia Properties, Inc.; Bryon W. Wolf; and Roy A. Eliasson must pay over $11.25 million in consumer redress;
Those defendants also must turn over real and personal property worth approximately $3.1 million, including the Largo facility where they operated their business;
Defendants JPW Consultants, Inc.; Jeffrey P. Wolf; and Alfred H. Wolf must liquidate and turn over to the FTC the proceeds of two securities accounts valued in July 2007 at $2 million;
Defendants Travel Agents Direct LLC and John Louis Smith II must jointly pay $25,000 in consumer redress;
Defendant Donald L. Booth must pay $35,000 in consumer redress; and
Bryon Wolf and Roy Eliasson also are required to turn over to the FTC any tax refunds they may derive as a result of making the above redress payments, which may later add as much as $2 million to the consumer redress pool.

The whole story can be read by going to this link below.

http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/01/suntasia.shtm

[Anan3mos]

Kristen do you still have contact with Bryon? I also used to work in Suntasia, And would like to speak with Bryon about a very lucrative Idea, if you talk to him give him my email [e-mail] thanks

Kristen wrote:

<quoted text>
Any reputable company will ALWAYS do their absolute best to make sure their customer is satisfied with their products and services to insure repeat business. They will NEVER insult
their customers. They don't change their company name repeatedly because they want to build brand loyalty. Customers can reach managers on a timely basis, and WILL provide refunds.
Give Strategia no breaks. It's owners are clearly irresponsible schmucks who are all too willing to blame others for their ill-gotten gains. Consider a class action suit to bring them to justice. And making children uncomfortable can motivate parents to do the right thing ... don't be too anxious to feel sorry for them.