Archive for December 2013

Kansas Dismisses Action Against Profitable Sunrise Figure Nancy Jo Frazer

Kansas Dismisses Action Against Profitable Sunrise Figure Nancy Jo Frazer

The office of the Securities Commissioner of Kansas has dismissed a civil action against Profitable Sunrise HYIP figure Nancy Jo Frazer and Ohio-based Focus Up Ministries, doing business as NJF Global Group. The dismissal was “without prejudice,” meaning that the state could file again under certain conditions. The dismissal order is dated Nov. 26. It […]

Former Michigan Lawmaker Accused Of Helping Ponzi Schemer From House Floor Pleads No Contest

Former Michigan Lawmaker Accused Of Helping Ponzi Schemer From House Floor Pleads No Contest

“[Former State Rep. Brian] Palmer carried a cell phone provided by API and answered calls from potential investors even while on the House floor. To circumvent state security laws, Palmer assisted Ripley by providing documents to make the scheme appear legitimate and signed investment guarantees. And, with Palmer’s knowledge, Ripley used Palmer’s name and position […]

Zeek Receiver In Process Of Sending Large Batch Of Claim-Determination Notices; ‘Program’ Operated ‘Like World’s Biggest Chain Letter,’ Likely Created Losers On Unprecedented Scale And Resulted In Ill-Gotten Gains In All 94 Federal Districts, Receiver Says

Zeek Receiver In Process Of Sending Large Batch Of Claim-Determination Notices; 'Program' Operated 'Like World's Biggest Chain Letter,' Likely Created Losers On Unprecedented Scale And Resulted In Ill-Gotten Gains In All 94 Federal Districts, Receiver Says

The court-appointed receiver in the Zeek Rewards Ponzi-scheme case has announced he is in the process of sending a batch of more than 80,000 Notices of Claims Determination. This is the first batch of such notices, which the receiver began to issue yesterday. The first batch is expected to take through Dec. 31 to be […]

EDITORIAL: Zeek Jungleland Exposed: A Brilliant Disguise No More

EDITORIAL: Zeek Jungleland Exposed: A Brilliant Disguise No More

“So tell me what I see when I look in your eyes. Is that you baby or just a brilliant disguise?” — Bruce Springsteen, Jersey Shore poet, lyricist, singer, musician, philanthropist and American icon. From “Brilliant Disguise” on the “Tunnel of Love” album, Columbia Records, 1987 That something can become an embarrassment to an entire […]

URGENT >> BULLETIN >> MOVING: Zeek Rewards Figures Dawn Wright-Olivares And Daniel Olivares Charged Criminally, Sued Civilly

URGENT >> BULLETIN >> MOVING: Zeek Rewards Figures Dawn Wright-Olivares And Daniel Olivares Charged Criminally, Sued Civilly

URGENT >> BULLETIN >> MOVING: (21st update 5:49 p.m.) Zeek Rewards figures Dawn Wright-Olivares and Daniel Olivares of Clarksville, Ark., have been charged criminally by federal prosecutors in the Western District of North Carolina and sued civilly by the SEC. Among the criminal allegations are tax-fraud conspiracy and investment-fraud conspiracy, according to a charging document. […]

A PROFITABLE SUNRISE-LIKE SCHEME: American ‘Hard Money’ Ponzi Fugitive Who Fled To Brazil Arrested in Panama While Trying To Cross Border Into Costa Rica, Orange County (Calif.) District Attorney Says

A PROFITABLE SUNRISE-LIKE SCHEME: American 'Hard Money' Ponzi Fugitive Who Fled To Brazil Arrested in Panama While Trying To Cross Border Into Costa Rica, Orange County (Calif.) District Attorney Says

Thomas Franklin Tarbutton, a purported “hard-money lender” who operated a $3 million Ponzi scheme in California and fled to Brazil, was detained by authorities Dec. 14 in Panama while trying to cross the border into Costa Rica, the office of Orange County (Calif.) District Attorney Tony Rackauckas said. Tarbutton, 54, of Newport Beach, was held […]

URGENT >> BULLETIN >> MOVING: Judge Approves Filing Of Lawsuits Against Alleged Zeek Insiders, Winners

URGENT >> BULLETIN >> MOVING: Judge Approves Filing Of Lawsuits Against Alleged Zeek Insiders, Winners

URGENT >> BULLETIN >> MOVING: (2nd update 3:21 p.m.) Senior U.S. District Judge Graham C. Mullen of the Western District of North Carolina has issued an order authorizing the court-appointed receiver to file lawsuits against alleged Zeek insiders and winners. Receiver Kenneth D. Bell asked for the order last week. He is expected to file […]

MORE FROM MLM LA-LA LAND: (1) ‘Totally Wild Cover Story’ Puff Piece On TelexFree Promoter Doesn’t Reference TelexFree By Name And Doesn’t Mention Pyramid-Scheme Probe; (2) Cash-Gifting, A Bill-Counting Machine And ‘Economically Sovereign’ Individuals; (3) Jesus — (Again)

MORE FROM MLM LA-LA LAND: (1) 'Totally Wild Cover Story' Puff Piece On TelexFree Promoter Doesn't Reference TelexFree By Name And Doesn't Mention Pyramid-Scheme Probe; (2) Cash-Gifting, A Bill-Counting Machine And 'Economically Sovereign' Individuals; (3) Jesus -- (Again)

UPDATED 11:23 A.M. ET (U.S.A.) The November/December issue of Home Business Advertiser carries a puff piece on TelexFree promoter Scott Miller. The one-page article, described by the publication as a “totally wild cover story,” does not reference TelexFree by name. Nor does the piece mention that TelexFree is the subject of a pyramid-scheme probe in […]

Public Citizen, Nonprofit Consumer Group, Sues KlearGear.com, Firm That Allegedly Fined Utah Couple $3,500 For Posting Negative Review Online

Public Citizen, Nonprofit Consumer Group, Sues KlearGear.com, Firm That Allegedly Fined Utah Couple $3,500 For Posting Negative Review Online

EDITOR’S NOTE: The case described below is apt to be followed closely by First Amendment advocates and companies trying to avoid PR calamities. Public Citizen has gone to federal court in Utah, alleging that Michigan-based KlearGear.com effectively fined a Utah couple $3,500 after the wife posted a negative review of KlearGear at RipoffReport.com after her […]

TOMORROW (DEC. 17) AT THE ZEEK AUCTION: Branded Ponzi History Up For Bid: Coffee Mugs, Water Bottles, Key Chains, Refrigerator Magnets — And Plaques Of Network Marketing Business Journal Puff Pieces

TOMORROW (DEC. 17) AT THE ZEEK AUCTION: Branded Ponzi History Up For Bid: Coffee Mugs, Water Bottles, Key Chains, Refrigerator Magnets -- And Plaques Of Network Marketing Business Journal Puff Pieces

It won’t be quite like buying Bonnie and Clyde’s fateful getaway car, but it still will represent a purchase of American crime or fraud history. In Lexington, N.C., tomorrow — on the second and final day of the court-approved Zeek Rewards auction — pieces of MLM Ponzi-scheme history will be put up for bid. And […]

Watch Bidding Action In The Zeek Auction LIVE!

Watch Bidding Action In The Zeek Auction LIVE!

UPDATED 5:14 P.M. ET U.S.A. The court-approved auction in the Zeek Rewards Ponzi scheme case is being conducted today and tomorrow. Bidding already is under way — and you can observe it live. We just observed bidding for an autographed poster of Loretta Lynn start out at $100. Competitive bids flowed in, and the poster […]