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Centerville firm running scam, suit claims
"Immediate Cash Flow! Incredible Return on Investment! The Perfect Home Based Business!" proclaims Universal Advertising Inc. of Centerville in promoting its franchises.
"Bogus business opportunity," responds the Federal Trade Commission.
"Lacking a reasonable basis for each claim," adds the U.S. Department of Justice.
The federal agencies on Dec. 6 filed a civil lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City that accuses Universal of harming consumers and the public interest.
It is the only Utah action among more than 100 taken nationwide in Project FAL$E HOPE$, an FTC crackdown on alleged franchise and work-at-home scams.
The suit alleges Universal has violated the Franchise Rule that requires franchisers to have a reasonable basis for earnings claims, to provide complete and accurate financial information to potential buyers and to disclose the number of prior purchasers who achieved the same or better results as touted in promotional material.
FTC launches crackdown on work-at-home scams
US consumer rights organisation the Federal Trade Commission has joined up with law enforcement agencies to launch a crackdown on bogus job opportunity scams.
Project FAL$E HOPE$ encompasses 100 law enforcement actions against various bogus work-at-home scams. The bogus business opportunities targeted include vending machines, ATM and Internet terminals, display racks for coffee and ink cartridges, Internet-based businesses, envelope stuffing, medical billing, and others.
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Centerville Company Targeted in Home-Based Business Lawsuit
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Federal prosecutors have filed a civil lawsuit against a Centerville, Utah, company that promised a home-based business opportunity would bring investors immediate cash flow and incredible returns. But the Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice say the promise was bogus and lacked a basis for the claim. Both agencies are parties in the lawsuit filed Dec. 6 in U.S. District Court.
The action is among 100 included in "Project False Hopes," an 11-state federal crackdown on work-at-home scams. Other cases involves home-based business opportunities for vending machines, ATM and Internet terminals, envelope stuffing and medical billing.
The Utah lawsuit alleges Universal Advertising Inc., failed to provide complete and accurate financial information to potentials buyers and failed to disclose the number of prior investors who had achieved the profit levels claimed in promotional material.
11 city workers fired for lying 7:57 AM
Charlotte city officials have fired 11 Department of Transportation employees for lying on applications for withdrawals from their state 401(k) retirement accounts.
The city has accepted the resignations of two other employees and demoted or suspended five more, city Human Resources Director Tim Mayes said Thursday.
All 18 employees worked in CDOT's street maintenance division, said Mayes, who declined to identify them. They are all men, and none is a supervisor, he said; they've worked for the city for between four and 30 years and make between $23,410 and $36,512 a year.
The city began investigating in late December, after Prudential Retirement raised questions about city employees' applications. Prudential administers the state 401(k) program, available to all public employees in North Carolina and overseen by the state treasurer's office.
Homes damaged by severe storms
Heavy rain and wind gusts of up to 120km/h brought down trees and power lines and caused damage to homes and sheds in the eye of the storm at Toogoolawah and Esk, west of Brisbane, late this afternoon.
Homes were also damaged at Tiaro, north of Brisbane, a police spokeswoman said.
"We had several houses lose roofs and sheds were knocked over at Toogoolawah," she said.
"I also believe there was some structural damage done to some homes at Esk and Tiaro as well."
Weather bureau senior forecaster Vikash Prasad said the strong winds were likely to have caused the destruction.
"There have been some very big damaging winds near Gympie and around Noosa which are heading north to Hervey Bay and then out to sea," Mr Prasad said.
Free Course Teaches the Basics of Buying a Home
ROCKLAND (Jan 16): MaineStream Finance, a wholly owned subsidiary of Penquis CAP, is offering a free 12-hour certified training course that helps potential home buyers make prudent home purchasing decisions. Classes will be held February 10 and 17, 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, at Penquis CAP, 170 Pleasant Street in Rockland.
This course uses a qualified trainer and discusses the roles of various professionals involved in the home buying process, such as attorneys, realtors, lenders, insurance agents and home inspectors. Components of this course are budget and debt management counseling and credit counseling.
There is no cost to participate in the training, but registration is required. Call MaineStream Finance at 974-2424 or 1-800-215-4942 for more information or to register. .
