Announcement

**bgeorgia** · 10-23-2001, 05:03 PM

Observatorio,

i believe there are many unanswered questions with securebuxx. in addition, i don't see the big guys knocking down the door to add securebuxx to their option of payment. whether someones name is on a piece of paper of its not does not necessarily mean there is no direct ties between shady individuals with less than stellar pasts. bettorsworld recommends you DO NOT even consider this option. neteller and/or pay pal will certainly suffice.

brian

**Observatorio** · 10-23-2001, 10:22 PM

All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable;
when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.

Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him. If he is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him.

If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant.

S�lo el fuerte sobrevivir� - y algunos tienen a muchos enemigos, m�s que ellos saben

**Jeff** · 10-23-2001, 10:37 PM

Mantenga a sus amigos cercanos y a sus enemigos m�s cercanos.

**Jeff** · 10-23-2001, 10:39 PM

:D

**Observatorio** · 10-23-2001, 11:10 PM

Welcome Major Wager readers.

Gary D. Hosman is Peter Jacoby of Grand Central - validated by Covers.com

FOR RELEASE: FEBRUARY 16, 1994
FTC GARNERS $1 MILLION FOR CONSUMERS
AND BAN ON ANY ROLE IN FUTURE PRIZE-PROMOTION SCHEMES,
IN SETTLEMENT WITH DEFENDANTS IN LAS VEGAS TELEMARKETING CASE

The principal officers of three Las Vegas-based telemarketing companies have agreed to pay $1 million for redress to consumers,
and neither the officers nor their companies could play a future role in any type of sweepstakes or prize-promotion scheme, as part
of a settlement of Federal Trade Commission charges. The FTC charged in court last year that these defendants conducted a nationwide telemarketing scheme in which they falsely told consumers they had won valuable prizes and then used a variety of misrepresentations to induce the consumers to purchase cosmetics,
vitamins, water purifiers and other products for prices from $399 to thousands of dollars.
The defendants are Sierra Pacific Marketing, Inc., which also did business as American Premier Products; Legacy Unlimited, Inc., of Nevada and Legacy Unlimited, Inc., of Arizona; and corporate
officers and owners Steven Morris Rowe, Gary D. Hosman , and Robert Morris Rowe.
According to the February 1993 complaint detailing the FTC charges, the defendants made unsolicited telephone calls to consumers, telling the consumers they had won one of four or five
listed prizes (one of which often was a car) as part of special promotions. Many of the victims were elderly, the FTC said. The ensuing sales pitch to entice consumers to purchase the promoted
merchandise allegedly included misrepresentations about the value of the prizes, which typically turned out to be watches or jewelry
for which the defendants had paid less than $60 each, the FTC - more -
Sierra Pacific--02/16/94)
alleged. Some consumers were solicited to buy again -- or "reloaded" -- before they had a chance to see the first prize they
had won, based on alleged promises that the additional purchases would make them more likely to win even more valuable prizes. The
defendants also allegedly aided and abetted other telemarketers engaging in similar deceptive practices, the FTC charged. The proposed consent judgment to settle these charges, which
requires the court's approval to become binding, would require Steven and Robert Rowe to pay a total of $500,000 and Hosman to pay the other $500,000 within 90 days. A court-ordered receiver-
ship and freeze on these defendants' assets will remain in effect until the payments are made. If practical, the money will be used to provide redress to consumers. As noted above, the judgment also would permanently bar all
six defendants from participating in, or assisting others in any way to run, a prize-promotion scheme. This would include any
scheme that involves any sweepstakes or other contest where a prize or gift is offered, whether or not the defendants are trying to sell a product or service. Further, in connection with any other marketing program they run, or any telemarketing program they assist others to run, the defendants would be prohibited from:
-- misrepresenting any material fact, such as the value or nature of the product or service being marketed or the incentive item offered as an inducement to purchase; or -- resoliciting a telemarketing customer before he or she has
received an ordered item and any incentive item associated with it. In addition, in connection with such efforts, the consent judgment would require the defendants to: -- provide customers a statement with all material terms and
conditions of any sale before obtaining their credit-card information or agreement to purchase;
-- disclose any refund policy they may offer or that may be required by law and provide an easily-understandable statement of the steps to take to get a refund, or clearly state that they do not offer refunds; -- state up front to consumers that the purpose of the contact is to make a sales presentation; Sierra Pacific--02/16/94)
-- disclose the reasonable retail value of any incentive item they offer when asked by consumers;
-- take reasonable steps to monitor employees to ensure they are complying with the settlement, and to terminate those who do not; and
-- investigate and promptly resolve consumer complaints they receive. Moreover, when assisting other telemarketers under certain circumstances, the defendants would be required to obtain their
clients' agreement to comply with the settlement, and to make a reasonable evaluation of their marketing program both before taking them on as clients and on an ongoing basis thereafter.
Finally, the settlement would prohibit the defendants from providing information about prior customers to any third party. The Commission vote to accept the settlement for filing in
court was 5-0. It was filed on Feb. 15 in U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada, in Las Vegas. The investigation and litigation were handled by the FTC's Seattle Regional Office.
NOTE: This consent judgment is for settlement purposes only and does not constitute an admission by the defendant of a law
violation. Consent judgments have the force of law when signed by the judge.
A free FTC fact sheet for consumers titled "Prize Offers" lists tips on avoiding scams. Copies of the fact sheet, as well as the settlement and other documents associated with this case,
are available from the FTC's Public Reference Branch, Room 130, 6th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580;
202-326-2222; TTY for the hearing impaired 202-326-2502.
# # #
MEDIA CONTACT: Bonnie Jansen, Office of Public Affairs
202-326-2161
STAFF CONTACT: Tracy S. Thorleifson, Seattle Regional Office
2806 Federal Building, 915 Second Avenue
Seattle, Washington 98174
206-220-6350
(FTC Matter No. X930020)
(Civil Action No. CV-S-93-134-PMP(RJJ))
(sierra2)

FOR RELEASE: JUNE 25, 1997

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CALIFORNIA-BASED TELEMARKETER AGREES TO SETTLE FTC CHARGES;

Owner Permanently Banned From Future Telemarketing Activities

Michael Garganese, former owner of a Beverly Hills, California-based company, Ideal Concepts, Inc., has agreed to settle charges brought by the Federal Trade Commission in December 1995 as part of Project Senior Sentinel -- a nationwide, multi-agency telemarketing sweep against telemarketers who preyed on senior citizens. According to the FTC’s complaint in this case, Ideal Concepts’ telemarketers promised consumers valuable prizes or awards that allegedly were never delivered or, if delivered, were worth a fraction of their claimed value. As part of the proposed settlement of these charges, defendant Michael Garganese would be prohibited from engaging or assisting others to engage in any telemarketing activity, including the telemarketing sale of any good or service or charitable solicitation. In addition, Garganese has agreed to pay $15,000 in consumer redress.

Project Senior Sentinel, coordinated by the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, was aimed primarily at bringing criminal charges against telemarketers who defraud the elderly, and culminated in hundreds of arrests and indictments across the country. The FTC brought five cases against fraudulent telemarketers in Project Senior Sentinel. Telemarketers for Ideal Concepts made unsolicited telephone calls to consumers nationwide, many of whom were senior citizens. In these calls, the defendants offered consumers valuable awards as an inducement to purchase mugs, frisbees, baseball caps, and space pens, often with anti-drug slogans printed on the items. The prices of the items ranged from $400 to over $1,000.

In many instances, according to the FTC, the defendants misrepresented to consumers that the value of the prize or award they were to receive was worth significantly more than what they were paying for the products. In fact, according to the FTC, the prizes, if received, had little or no value at all.

The proposed settlement would permanently ban defendant Michael Garganese from any future telemarketing activities, including the telemarketing sales of any goods or services, or the telemarketing of charitable solicitations. In addition, the proposed settlement would require Garganese to pay consumer redress in the amount of $15,000. Finally, the settlement contains a number of recordkeeping requirements designed to assist the FTC with monitoring the defendants’ compliance.

The Commission vote to file the Stipulated Final Judgment and Order for Permanent Injunction was 5-0. It was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, in Los Angeles on June 24, and is subject to approval by the court. This matter was handled by the FTC’s Regional Office in Denver, Colorado.

NOTE: A stipulated final judgment and order for permanent injunction is for settlement purposes only and does not constitute an admission by the defendant of a law violation. The judgment has the force of law when signed by the judge.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Copies of the proposed settlement, as well as other documents associated with Project Senior Sentinel, are available from the FTC’s Public Reference Branch, Room 130, 6th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580; 202-326-2222; TTY for the hearing impaired 202-326-2502. To find out the latest news as it is announced, call the FTC NewsPhone recording at 202-326-2710. FTC news releases and other materials also are available on the Internet at the FTC’s World Wide Web site at: http://www.ftc.gov

MEDIA CONTACT:
Howard Shapiro,
Office of Public Affairs
202-326-2176

STAFF CONTACT:
Jeffery T. Dahnke or
Elizabeth M. Palmquist
Denver Regional Office
1961 Stout St., Suite 1523
Denver, Colorado 80294
303-844-2274 or 303-844-2254

(Civil Action No. 95-8403 TJH (AJWx))
(FTC File No: X96 0002)

(idealcon)
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/1997/9706/idealcon.htm

Announcement

Apprehensions about securebuxx and grand central sports

Apprehensions about securebuxx and grand central sports

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