Telemarketing fraud claimed to help handicapped halted.

May 19, 2010

Consumer Health Digest #10-19, May 13, 2010

An Arizona-based telemarketing operation that

called itself " Helping Hands of Hope " has settled

FTC charges that it conned consumers into buying

household items such as light bulbs and trash

bags that were priced substantially higher than

at retail, by falsely promising the proceeds

would benefit charities or the disabled. A court

order settles the FTC's charges against Helping

Hands of Hope, Inc.; U.S. Blind Services, Inc.;

Employment Opportunities of America, Inc.; Third

Strike Employment, Inc.; and Robyn Mayhan,

president of these companies. The defendants will

be permanently barred from such fraudulent

conduct and from calling consumers who have asked

not to be called. The consent order imposes a

judgment of $26.3 million against all of the

defendants. The corporate defendants will turn

over assets worth more than $60,000 in partial

satisfaction of the judgment. The judgment

against Mayhan has been suspended, based on her

inability to pay, but she will be responsible for

the full amount if she is later found to have

misrepresented her financial condition.

[Telemarketers barred from falsely telling

consumers that proceeds from the sale of

household goods will benefit charities or the

disabled: Complaint brought as part of 2008's

" Operation Tele-Phoney " law enforcement sweep.

FTC news release, April 10, 2010]

Recommended Posts