FTC Refunds | March 2020

In March, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) started mailing refunds to consumers in five of their enforcement actions. Find out if you should be getting a check in the mail from one of the following refunds. 

Telestar Consulting FTC Refunds

On March 23, the FTC announced that they are sending 13,181 refund checks averaging $525 each to victims of a scam perpetrated by Telestar Consulting. The company allegedly bilked consumers out of money by sending them items that they did not order as well as charging them more than the items were worth.

The FTC refunds, totaling $6.9 million will go to small businesses, nonprofits, and government entities which were targeted by Telestar in an office supply telemarketing scam.

When the organizations challenged the invoices for the items that they did not order, Telestar threatened to send them to “collections.” After the consumers paid for these items, the company continued to send them items for which they did not pay for, according to the FTC.

Those who receive their refund checks should deposit them in their bank accounts within 60 days, the FTC notes. In addition, the FTC never requires consumers to pay in order to cash a refund check.

Any questions about the FTC refunds in the Telestar Consulting case should contact the refund administrator, Rust Consulting at 1-800-870-7192.

Strategic Student Solutions FTC Refund

On March 26, the FTC announced that they are sending 20,988 checks—averaging $148 each to victims of a scam by Strategic Student Solutions. The FTC claims that the company had a student loan debt relief and credit repair scheme.

The FTC states that Strategic Student Solutions charged consumers illegal upfront fees and promised to reduce their student loan debt or monthly payments by getting them to enroll in student loan forgiveness and other types of programs.

The FTC also alleged that the company falsely promised to apply monthly payments to the students’ loans as well as improve their credit scores and histories. These promises were allegedly false.

Consumers who receive the FTC refunds, which total $3.1 million, should deposit the refund checks into their bank accounts within 60 days.

Anyone who has questions in the Strategic Student Solutions case should contact the FTC refund administrator, JND Legal Administration, at 1-888-304-0184.

Fat Giraffe Marketing Group LLC FTC Refunds

The FTC has also announced that they are sending refund checks to consumers who paid Fat Giraffe Marketing Group money for a work-from-home opportunity.

The FTC alleges that the company charged people an upfront fee of $97 to enter into a program where they would make a lot of money by posting advertising links to various websites.

The FTC says that consumers who signed up for this program found out that the company did not provide any advertising links or pay them to perform any of the work.

According to the FTC refunds press release, consumers were led into the scheme by spam emails which contained links that sent them to a website which contained fake reviews by reporters singing the praises of Fat Giraffe Marketing.

Fat Giraffe Marketing advertised their programs under many fake names, including Online Cash Commission, Excel Cash Flow, and Cash From Home, according to the FTC.

Individuals with more questions about the FTC refunds can contact the refund administrator, Rust Consulting Inc., at 1-800-870-7192.

World Patent Marketing Inc. FTC Refund

The FTC is also sending 5,503 refunds of $185 each totaling more than $1 million to consumers who signed up with World Patent Marketing Inc., the organization announced in a March 30 press release.

According to the FTC, the consumers paid World Patent Marketing thousands of dollars to market and patent their inventions based on fake “success stories” made up by the defendant.

However, the company allegedly strung consumers along for months and sometimes years, collecting money all along. World Patent Marketing never delivered on what was promised to consumers, according to the FTC.

The FTC notes that most recipients will obtain their refunds via PayPal, but those who receive checks should deposit or cash their checks within 60 days.

If consumers have any questions about the World Patent Marketing FTC refunds should contact the refund administrator Analytics at 855-949-1644.

Premium Business Pages FTC Refunds

Last, the regulator will start sending FTC refunds to consumers who paid money to Premium Business Pages, also doing business as Ameteck Group, The Local Business Pages, and Data Net Technologies.

The FTC alleges that the company would trick small businesses and other organizations into paying for internet directory listings, search engine optimization services, and website design and hosting services that they never ordered.

In December 2018, the FTC announced a court order which barred the company from doing business in the U.S. and obtained a judgment of $4.6 million against the company which will be used to provide refunds to consumers.

Were you the victim of one of these companies? Leave a message in the comments section below.

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