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Tag: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

‘GooBets,’ Cross-Border Fraud Scheme, Emerges

2ND UPDATE 2:19 P.M. EDT U.S.A. A “program” known as “GooBets” that appears to be targeting speakers of Portuguese and English has emerged. BehindMLM.com broke the news this morning. After observing the GooBets site, the PP Blog sought comment from the National Football League and the National Basketball Association. That’s because GooBets is using the…

Apr 14, 2015
SEC Declines Comment On ‘IntellaShares’ And Its Purported ‘BLACKLIST’; Ponzi-Board ‘Program’ Trades On Name Of Save The Children

UPDATED 11:31 A.M. EDT U.S.A. In 2010, the Federal Trade Commission took action against an online venture known as iWorks. This allegation appeared on Page 7 of the FTC’s Dec. 21, 2010 complaint: “They have also attempted to drive down their chargeback rates by threatening to report consumers who seek chargebacks to an Internet consumer…

Apr 1, 2015
Registration Page At TelexMOB Triggers ‘Web Forgery’ Warning In Firefox Browser

Late last night the PP Blog visited the registration page of the emerging and bizarrely named “TelexMOB” scheme, which appears to be targeting victims of the alleged TelexFree Ponzi- and pyramid scheme. Our earlier story is here. The page now is triggering a “Web Forgery” warning in the Firefox browser. Such warnings may be associated…

Mar 24, 2015
Now, ‘TelexMOB’

UPDATED 11:25 A.M. EDT U.S.A. Something calling itself “TelexMOB” has established a web presence this month. A logo resembling that of TelexFree — an alleged Ponzi- and pyramid scheme said to have gathered $1.8 billion across national borders — appears on the site. BehindMLM.com was first with the news today. The PP Blog has sent…

Mar 24, 2015
WCM777: More Theft And Money Laundering MLM-Style

“Many investors gave cash to the company and to their leaders (or upline sponsors) who then deposited the cash along with other investor funds.” — Krista L. Freitag, court-appointed receiver in the WCM777 pyramid- and Ponzi case, Feb. 27, 2015 EDITOR’S NOTE: Tens of millions of dollars allegedly flowed through WCM777 and related entities. At…

Mar 5, 2015
URGENT >> BULLETIN >> MOVING: SEC Calls ‘Wings Network’ A ‘Ponzi And Pyramid Scheme’; Firms, Executives And A Dozen Promoters Charged

URGENT >> BULLETIN >> MOVING: (14th update 3:19 p.m. ET U.S.A.) The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has gone to federal court in Massachusetts, alleging the “Wings Network” MLM “program” is a Ponzi and pyramid scheme that gathered at least $23.5 million. Wings Network purported to offer “digital and mobile solutions to customers, including apps…

Feb 27, 2015
BULLETIN: ‘MooreFund,’ A Ponzi-Board HYIP ‘Program’ Pushed By Achieve Community Huckster, Is Using Unauthorized Security Seal From Norton

BULLETIN: (Updated 8:17 a.m. ET Feb. 25 U.S.A.) An HYIP “program” that operates at MooreFund.com is using a “Norton Secured” seal that is not authorized, Symantec told the PP Blog late this afternoon. Symantec, owner of the famous Norton brand, is a software and computer-security company. Its name is misspelled as “Symentec” on the FAQ…

Feb 24, 2015
BULLETIN: Troy Barnes, Kristi Johnson Invoke 5th Amendment In SEC’s Pyramid/Ponzi Case; Barnes Tells Agency He Is ‘Target’ Of Criminal Investigation; SEC Says Barnes ‘Discussed’ Moving ‘Victim Funds’ Outside Of United States

BULLETIN: “Achieve Community” Ponzi/pyramid defendants Troy Barnes and Kristi Johnson have informed the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that they have invoked their Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate themselves in the agency’s civil case. A deposition scheduled for Barnes Feb. 20 in Detroit was canceled. So was a deposition set for Johnson today in…

Feb 23, 2015
SPECIAL REPORT: How The SEC Silently Squared Off Against ‘Achieve Community’ In The Days Leading Up To The Asset Freeze

EDITOR’S NOTE: The personnel information in the first section below is gleaned from public records in the SEC’s pyramid- and Ponzi case against the “Achieve Community” and alleged principals Kristi Johnson and Troy Barnes. Some of the numbered points include additional notes by the PP Blog. These notes are based on public records or information…

Feb 23, 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