cash-gifting schemes

The successful felony prosecutions under federal law of two Connecticut women in a cash-gifting scam apparently hasn’t registered in Idaho. Now, the state’s attorney general, citing the Connecticut prosecutions that led to lengthy prison sentences, is taking action. And he’s not mincing words. “Taking part in an unlawful pyramid scheme violates the Idaho Consumer Protection […]

In May 2012, three American women and alleged “leaders” of a cash-gifting pyramid scheme were arrested in Connecticut for their roles in the purported “opportunity,” a pyramid that featured so-called “Women’s Gifting Tables” and had a food theme. Two of the woman later were sentenced to prison. The third woman was placed on three years’ […]

“Women’s Gifting Circles” or “Women Empowering Women Circles” pyramid schemes are operating in Hawaii, said Kauai Prosecuting Attorney Justin F. Kollar. “These schemes are marketed as a way to entice women through a tiered investment model, often using language that speaks in terms of ‘empowering’ women spiritually or financially,” Kollar said. “The people at the […]

UPDATED 8:37 A.M. EDT (OCT. 21, U.S.A.) Former AdSurfDaily President Andy Bowdoin is continuing to serve 78 months in federal prison at the age of 78  — in part because he borrowed liberally from the MLM scammer’s playbook and planted the seed that the President of the United States (then George W. Bush) backed his […]

URGENT >> BULLETIN >> MOVING: UPDATED 10:18 P.M. EDT (U.S.A.) Two Connecticut women convicted of wire fraud and filing false tax returns in a multimillion-dollar cash gifting scam have been sentenced to a combined 10.5 years in federal prison, federal prosecutors announced tonight. Donna Bello, 57, was sentenced to six years. Jill Platt, 65, was […]

EDITOR’S NOTE: In May 2012, the PP Blog reported that three women had been arrested on federal charges in Connecticut that flowed from an alleged cash-gifting pyramid scheme. One of the women has pleaded guilty. Two others now are on trial. Cash-gifting often is associated with affinity fraud. The alleged Connecticut scheme centered around women […]

OregonLive (The Oregonian) is reporting that the state has taken action against participants in an alleged cash-gifting pyramid scheme. Like recent cases in Connecticut and Michigan, the Oregon case involves women. The paper is reporting that four naturopathic physicians were involved in the scheme. One of them was ordered to pay a fine of $15,000 […]

So, you think your cash-gifting “sponsor” has your best interest at heart? Three women who were “leaders” of a cash-gifting scheme in Connecticut were arrested earlier today on charges of conducting a pyramid scheme and engaging in a conspiracy, wire fraud and tax fraud, federal prosecutors said. The scam operated between 2008 and 2011, reached […]

In this post, we included a March 2008 Dailymotion video of Hank Needham — later to emerge as one of Club Asteria’s purported owners — hawking a cash gifting scheme in which five $100 bills (U.S.) spilled out of an envelope tucked inside an envelope delivered by overnight courier DHL. (Please note that March 2008 […]

UPDATED 9:36 P.M. EDT (U.S.A.) The American Red Cross is a national treasure whose powerful and noble name never should be diluted or trifled with. But it is now apparent that various Club Asteria-related entities have done exactly that by not revealing certain critical information to the Red Cross while at once shamelessly seeking to […]

Just prior to Christmas last year, seven Michigan women were charged with felonies in an alleged cash-gifting pyramid scheme that targeted women. Now, just prior to Memorial Day, eight more women have been charged, bringing the total number of women charged to date to 15. The Michigan State Police said last year that gifting schemes […]