UPDATED 12:24 P.M. ET (U.S.A.) Is Dean Blechman no longer the chief executive officer of Data Network Affiliates (DNA), an MLM firm that purports to be in the business of recording license-plate numbers of cars as they move from destination to destination?
Blechman, who identified himself as the CEO in an audio recording and was identified as the CEO in DNA marketing materials, no longer is listed on the website as an officer in any capacity.
An audio recording in which Blechman suggested he was monitoring “everyone that’s a distraction out there and anyone that’s printing stuff on the Internet or anywhere†and perhaps preparing to sue critics also has been removed from the website.
DNA has become the subject of criticism amid concerns about privacy and the propriety, safety and legality of recording license-plate numbers. The information purportedly was being collected for sale to companies that repossess automobiles. Because DNA customers would receive the addresses at which license-numbers were recorded by members, it raised the specter that repo men — or any data customer of DNA — could determine where car owners went to church, shopped and received medical care, including psychological treatment.
Some critics have said they believed Phil Piccolo, a notorious figure in MLM, was associated with the firm.
DNA’s website lists an address in the Cayman Islands.
It was not immediately clear if Blechman had resigned. Also unclear is why the recording was removed from the front page on the website. Blechman’s name has been removed from a roster of officers published on the website, leaving only the names of Arthur M. Kurek and Donald Kessler as officers.
Anthony Sasso is listed as a special consultant and founder. The site no longer lists a CEO. Blechman’s name was removed from both the main page of the website and from a page that appears after visitors click on an “About Us” tab at the top of the page.
The move occurred about three days prior to DNA’s claimed launch date of March 1. The launch date was postponed twice in February.
Video promotions for DNA have used images of Donald Trump and Oprah Winfrey. It is unclear if Trump and Winfrey approved the use of their images. At the same time, DNA members have made videos that identified stores such as Walmart and Target as the source of a ready supply of license-plate numbers.
Meanwhile, promoters have suggested that churches and doctors’ offices also were sources for license-plate data.
Blechman did not respond to the criticism. At the same time, threats to take legal action could be construed as a bid to muzzle affiliates to prevent them from writing anything less than a flattering review of the company in Blog and website posts, and in emails sent to prospects.