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Court Seizes Internet Treasure Chest |
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July 2, 2003 At the request of the Federal Trade Commission, the judge also has ordered an asset freeze, pending a preliminary injunction hearing, to provide for consumer redress. In May 2003, the FTC charged that End70 Corporation and its principal, Damien Zamora, used a Web site and infomercials to claim that their Internet Treasure Chest (ITC) business opportunity was very profitable and very inexpensive. Infomercials and a Web site claimed:
The FTC asserts that these claims are false. The Web site and infomercials also made earnings and income claims and testimonials such as:
The FTC asserts that these claims are without any basis in fact. The operation offers a 30-day, money-back guarantee. According to the FTC, after consumers purchased their ITC Home Business System the defendants directed them to call ITC to activate their Web site. The defendants then allegedly told consumers that they must make numerous additional purchases to operate their new Internet home business. According to the FTC consumers also may have received additional calls urging them to purchase even more features, upgrades, and services for substantially more money. In addition, the FTC alleged that the defendants denied refunds to many consumers who did not specify that they wanted expedited shipping, and therefore received their ITC Home Business System after the 30 day money-back guarantee had expired. Consumers – even consumers who invested hundreds or thousands of dollars on expensive upgrades to the $59.95 system – allegedly were unable to make the substantial earnings the defendants promised. The FTC charged the defendants with deceptive and misleading advertising and violations of the Telemarketing Sales Rule. At the request of the FTC, Judge David C. Godbey of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division, has issued a temporary restraining order barring the defendants from misrepresenting the total cost of purchasing a business opportunity or the ITC products; barring misrepresentations that purchasers are likely to earn substantial income; freezing the defendants’ assets; and ordering the defendants to repatriate assets held abroad, pending trial. The judge has ordered the defendants to stop airing the deceptive infomercial and required that FTC review scripts for future infomercials. In addition, the order requires the defendants to tell consumers about additional fees that they charge for certain payment options and Web hosting. |
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