PatrickPretty.com

Category: Writing And Branding

BULLETIN: ‘Trinity Lines,’ A ‘Program’ Pushed By ‘Achieve Community’ Huckster Rodney Blackburn, Goes Missing After Targeting People Of Faith

BULLETIN: (2nd Update 2:35 p.m. ET U.S.A.) A Ponzi-board “program” known as “Trinity Lines” that was targeted at people of faith and was pushed by “Achieve Community” huckster Rodney Blackburn has gone missing. The domain name now resolves to a GoDaddy page, despite claims from Trinity Lines just two days ago that “[e]xciting times are…

Feb 20, 2015
BULLETIN: Zeek Receiver Sues Alleged ‘Winners’ In Norway

BULLETIN: (5th update 8:31 p.m.) Zeek Rewards receiver Kenneth D. Bell has sued more than a dozen alleged “winners” with residencies in Norway. These are believed to be the first cases against defendants in Europe. Bell previously has sued U.S. residents and residents of Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the British Virgin Islands. As is…

Feb 19, 2015
URGENT >> BULLETIN >> MOVING: SEC Charges ‘Achieve Community,’ Troy Barnes, Kristi Johnson; Federal Judge Approves Asset Freeze

URGENT >> BULLETIN >> MOVING: (17th update 3:07 p.m. ET U.S.A.) The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has charged “Achieve Community” (as Work With Troy Barnes Inc.) and alleged operators Troy A. Barnes and Kristine L. Johnson with operating a combined pyramid- and Ponzi scheme that raised more than $3.8 million. A federal judge in…

Feb 18, 2015
In Wake Of Asset-Seizure Claim, Videos By ‘Achieve Community’ Huckster Rodney Blackburn Go Missing From You Tube

With “Achieve Community” members posting on Facebook over the long President’s Day weekend claims attributed to co-founder Troy Barnes that he was under criminal investigation and assets had been seized, something seemed a bit odd on YouTube: Search results appeared to demote Rodney Blackburn in listings when the term “Achieve Community” was entered into the…

Feb 16, 2015
PP Blog Subscription Post

NOTE: This subscription post originally was published at 11:34 p.m. ET U.S.A. on Feb. 7. As was the case with our 2,500th-post commemoration in November, there are four subscription options. In the spirit of that post and the 6th anniversary post last month, I’m returning to the “penny a post” theme. We’re asking readers who…

Feb 15, 2015
Post Attributed To Troy Barnes In ‘Achieve Community’ Private Forum Claims ‘Achieve Assets Have Been Frozen’

UPDATED 4:36 A.M. ET FEB. 16 U.S.A. “Achieve Community” members this evening are circulating on Facebook a screen shot from a forum post attributed to Michigan-based co-founder Troy Barnes that claims “Achieve’s assets have been frozen.” Members say the post appeared earlier today in Achieve’s recently installed private forum. “I am facing criminal charges,” the…

Feb 14, 2015
EDITORIAL: Case Against Alleged New York Scammer With Eye-Pleasing Website Could Help Educate ‘Achieve Community’ Members And Newcomers Who Encounter The Ponzi Boards — If They Choose To See

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is one to think about if you’re an “Achieve Community” fan who’s moved over to the “Rockfeller” Ponzi-board scam while asserting its professional-looking website puts you at ease — even though you don’t know who’s running the purported company and apparently have formed the irrational belief that engaging a “chat” attendant through…

Feb 14, 2015
BULLETIN: Zeek Receiver Sues Alleged ‘Winners’ In New Zealand And British Virgin Islands

BULLETIN: (9th update 9:57 p.m. ET U.S.A.) Zeek Rewards receiver Kenneth D. Bell has sued alleged “winners” with residencies in New Zealand and the British Virgin Islands. One BVI winner is alleged to have gained more than $2 million from Zeek’s combined Ponzi- and pyramid scheme. Bell identified her as Agnita Solomon of Road Town,…

Feb 13, 2015
‘Achieve Community’ Now Serving Up Spectacle In Which Confusion Reigns; Video On Sign-Up Instructions For Purported New Processor Goes Missing From YouTube, As Report Of New Investigation Surfaces

3RD UPDATE 4:02 P.M. ET U.S.A. The “Achieve Community,” an 800-percent ROI Ponzi-board “program” apparently hamstrung by problems with payment processors, now is serving up a spectacle in which confusion and delay are the only consistent themes. BehindMLM.com reported late last night (or early today, depending on your time zone) that the office of Michigan…

Feb 13, 2015
In Response To Search Warrant In TelexFree Case, YouTube Delivers 45GB Of Data

2ND UPDATE 9:18 A.M. ET FEB. 13 U.S.A. On Oct. 16, 2014, Google was served a search warrant in the TelexFree criminal case against accused operators James Merrill and Carlos Wanzeler, according to joint court filings by federal prosecutors in the office of U.S. Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz of the District of Massachusetts and Robert…

Feb 12, 2015
IN MEMORY: Bob Simon, 1941-2015

American journalism has lost a legend. Bob Simon, the veteran CBS News correspondent, was killed early last evening when the cab in which he was riding was involved in a horrific crash on West Side Avenue, the New York Daily News reported. Simon was 73. CBS broke into programming to report the news. Tributes poured…

Feb 12, 2015