Mes: diciembre 2020

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Federal Trade Commission, along with 19 federal, state, and local law enforcement partners today announced a nationwide crackdown on scams that target consumers with fake promises of income and financial independence that have no basis in reality. The impact of these scams has intensified as scammers take advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic and financial crisis.

Called «Operation Income Illusion,» the crackdown encompasses more than 50 law enforcement actions against the operators of work-from-home and employment scams, pyramid schemes, investment scams, bogus coaching courses, and other schemes that can end up costing consumers thousands of dollars.

Income scams have a massive effect on consumers, according to a new analysis of FTC complaint data. Consumers have reported to the FTC that they lost more than $610 million to these scams since 2016, with reported losses of more than $150 million in the first nine months of 2020. The income scams that the FTC has pursued through its law enforcement actions in this sweep collectively bilked over a billion dollars from consumers.

«Scammers are preying on the unemployment and anxiety arising from the pandemic by making false promises of big income working from home,» said Andrew Smith, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. «If someone promises you guaranteed income, but then tells you to pay them, tell the FTC right away so we can work to shut them down.»

In addition to ten previously announced cases, the FTC is bringing four new law enforcement cases as part of Operation Income Illusion, as well as announcing a new settlement in a previously filed case. In these cases, the FTC is asking the court to stop the deceptive schemes and to get money back for affected consumers. Other agencies reporting actions as part of the sweep include: the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas, state agencies in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, New Hampshire, Oregon, and Pennsylvania, and the Maricopa County Attorney’s office in Arizona.

Some of the schemes targeted in Operation Income Illusion had a noted impact on one or more specific groups: students, military families, people on a limited fixed income, immigrants, Black Americans, Latinos, the deaf and hearing loss communities, or older adults. A new analysis explores what groups of consumers were most likely to be affected in certain FTC income scam actions.

FTC Announces Four New Cases, One New Settlement Against Income Scammers

Digital Income System: On November 17, 2020, a federal court granted the FTC’s motion for a temporary restraining order against Digital Income System, Inc. and five individual defendants. The FTC’s complaint alleges that the Florida-based scam falsely told consumers that by selling memberships in the defendants’ programs, consumers were likely to earn large sums of money. For example, the website stated, «Consumers will earn between $500 and $12,500 per sale,» and «Every time one of our professionals closes a sale on your behalf, we will send you a huge commission check right to your doorstep.» The defendants allegedly charged consumers a substantial amount of money, ranging from $1,000 to $25,000. The complaint states, however, that the vast majority of consumers who paid the defendants never earned substantial income, and in fact many consumers earned nothing. The complaint alleges the defendants violated both the FTC Act and the Business Opportunity Rule. The Commission vote to authorize staff to file the complaint against Digital Income System, Inc.; Derek Jones Foley, William Foley, Christopher Brandon Frye, Jennifer Hedrick, and Kaitlyn Scott was 5-0. The case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Moda Latina: The FTC’s complaint alleges that the company specifically targets Latina consumers in Spanish-language ads on TV with false promises of earnings at home. The defendants allegedly lure consumers into buying a work-at-home business with the false promise that consumers will earn «large profits» re-selling luxury products such as brand-name perfumes. Misrepresentations alleged in the complaint include «Want to have your own business and earn up to a thousand dollars per week?» and «Crisis? What crisis? I forgot about that ever since I started selling with Perfume Box. It completely changed my life and my finances.» The complaint also alleges that the defendants’ telemarketers routinely threaten consumers in violation of the Telemarketing Sales Rule. From March 2017 to August 2020, the FTC alleges, the defendants took more than $7 million from consumers who purchased their work-at-home opportunities but did not make the promised earnings. The Commission vote to authorize staff to file the complaint against Moda Latina BZ Inc., Esther Virginia Fernandez Aguirre, and Marco Cesar Zarate Quíroz was 5-0. The case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

RagingBull.com: On December 8, 2020, a federal court granted the FTC’s motion for a temporary restraining order against RagingBull.com, LLC and its co-defendants. The FTC’s complaint alleges that the defendants fraudulently marketed investment-related services that they claimed would enable consumers to make consistent profits and beat the market. Instead, the FTC alleges that consumers—many of them retirees, older adults, and immigrants—have lost at least $137 million to the scam in just the last three years. The defendants claimed in their pitches that consumers don’t need a lot of time, money, or experience, and that the global coronavirus pandemic represents a great time to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars to learn their secret trading techniques, claiming in one ad that the pandemic «…might be the most exciting opportunity in decades!» The defendants also made claims like «Learn how you could DOUBLE or TRIPLE your account in One Week!» The Commission vote to authorize staff to file the complaint against RagingBull.com, LLC; Jeffrey M. Bishop; Jason Bond (formerly known as Jason P. Kowalik); Kyle W. Dennis; Sherwood Ventures, LLC; Jason Bond, LLC; MFA Holdings Corp.; Winston Research, Inc.; and Winston Corp. was 5-0. The case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. The FTC thanks the New Hampshire Bureau of Securities Regulation and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for their assistance in this matter.

Randon Morris: On December 1, 2020, a federal court granted the FTC’s motion for a temporary restraining order against Randon Morris and four companies he controls for perpetrating a telemarketing fraud scheme. The FTC alleges that the defendants initiated millions of robocalls nationwide to promote sham work-from-home business opportunity programs. The defendants lured consumers into purchasing these programs with false promises that consumers could earn hundreds of dollars a day and claimed an affiliation with Amazon.com where none existed. They also invoked the coronavirus pandemic in robocall messages to prey on consumers who are concerned about working outside of their homes during a national public health crisis. The order stops the defendants’ deceptive sales practices, freezes their assets, and appoints a receiver over the companies. The Commission vote to authorize the filing of a complaint against Morris, National Web Design, LLC, B2B Website Design, LLC, Amazon Affiliate Program, LLC, and R&C Consultation, LLC was 5-0. The case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah. The FTC thanks the Utah Attorney General’s Office, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Police Department of Orem, Utah for their assistance in this matter.

8 Figure Dream Lifestyle: The ten defendants in this 2019 case, who the FTC alleged targeted older adults while selling phony money-making opportunities, have settled the FTC’s charges against them. Under the terms of two stipulated final orders, the defendants either are banned from selling money-making methods or business coaching programs, and nine of the defendants are banned from using robocalls for most purposes, including marketing or advertising. In addition, three defendants are prohibited from selling any investment opportunities. The stipulated final orders impose monetary judgements totaling more than $32 million, which are partially suspended based on the defendants’ inability to pay. The defendants have surrendered assets totaling more than $1.25 million to the Commission, and if they are found to have misrepresented their financial status, the judgments will become immediately payable in full. The Commission vote to authorize the settlement with 8 Figure Dream Lifestyle, LLC; JL Net Bargains, Inc.; Kappy Enterprises, LLC; Millionaire Mind Enterprises, LLC; Spirit Consulting Group, Inc.; John A. Bain; Alex Dee; Brian M. Kaplan; and Jerrold S. Maurer was 3-0-2, with Commissioners Christine S. Wilson and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter recorded as not participating. The Commission vote to authorize the settlement with OEA LLC was 5-0. The stipulated final orders were entered by the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

New Educational Materials Help Consumers Spot and Avoid Income-Based Scams

In addition to law enforcement actions, the FTC has released updated information for consumers about a variety of income-based scams

• Three new consumer articles give consumers tips on how to spot and avoid job scams, investment schemes, and business coaching scams.
• A new video shows how to avoid income scams.
• Two new infographics help people spot these scams and avoid them.

All of these educational materials are also available in Spanish at consumidor.ftc.gov. As part of Operation Income Illusion, the CFTC and state authorities in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah, and Wisconsin, and the Fresno County District Attorney’s office in California have joined the FTC’s outreach efforts by disseminating the consumer education materials in their local communities. 

NOTE: The Commission files a complaint when it has «reason to believe» that the named defendants are violating or are about to violate the law and it appears to the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest. Stipulated final injunctions/orders have the force of law when approved and signed by the District Court judge.

The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition and to protect and educate consumers. You can learn more about consumer topics and report scams, fraud, and bad business practices online at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Like the FTC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, get consumer alerts, read our blogs, and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.

PRESS RELEASE REFERENCE: 
FTC, Law Enforcement Partners Announce New Crackdown on Illegal Robocalls

CONTACT INFORMATION
CONTACT FOR CONSUMERS: 
FTC Consumer Response Center

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1081416/Federal_Trade_Commission_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Federal Trade Commission

MIAMI, Dec. 14, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — With the celebration of its 73rd Graduation as an online Commencement Ceremony, the consolidation of the hybrid teaching model, new courses, and online commemorative activities, CBT College marked its thirty-second anniversary in the South Florida educational scene.

The celebratory activities included knowledge and skills competitions for students, academic and staff recognitions, the launch of new IT courses, and the consolidation of the hybrid teaching model (online lectures combined with hands-on training in laboratories) implemented since July 2020.

CBT College is a Miami-based trade school that provides technical training and continuing education in construction, information technology, business, languages, and allied health. Mrs. Gladys Llerena, co-founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Monica Llerena, Corporate Communications Officer, and Luis Llerena, President & CEO, shared their thoughts about this significant institutional achievement.

The Beginnings

In 1988, Mr. Fernando Llerena and his wife, Gladys Llerena – educators who emigrated to Miami, FL from their native Peru in 1980 – founded the Business and Technology Institute (BTI).

The Institute’s first headquarters were located in the Little Havana neighborhood. They provided training to community members seeking to learn accounting, computer repair, and English as a second language (known as the ESOL program). Mrs. Gladys said that, «After ten years of adapting and growing in this country that welcomed us and provided us with many opportunities, my husband and I decided to continue in our field of education.» They intended to help other immigrants achieve the economic and professional profile they had in their countries of origin and grow in America.

«Don Fernando Llerena’s passion was to educate students on practical skills alongside technology,» said Monica Llerena, CBT College’s C.C.O. «Always a teacher at heart, he was able to gain support from local organizations as they saw in him an individual whose earnest wish was to help other individuals achieve personal success and growth for their families.»

In 1994 the school moved to the Kendall area. It continued its mission of preparing students with the highest ethical, technical, and professional excellence who will build a better life for themselves, their families, and their community.

«By understanding that education is an essential aspect of our society, we firmly believe that every business should be relevant to the needs of the community,» said Luis Llerena, President and CEO. He highlights that since its foundation, CBT College has been focused on aligning with the local community through partnerships implemented with public schools, private businesses and organizations such as Career Source of South Florida, Mission United, and Gang Alternatives.

In 2002, after obtaining national accreditation from the Accreditation Council of Independent Schools and Colleges (ACICS) – which allows the school to award Associate of Science degrees – BTI changed its name to CBT College. In 2005, CBT College opened two new locations, one in Miami (Flagler St.) and the second in Hialeah. In 2008, it added a new branch in Cutler Bay, FL, to serve the southern county population and introduced health-related programs.

Mr. Llerena stated that, «After 32 years, we are proud to say that thanks to the support of our community, we can provide our educational services and train our students in key sectors (construction and technology) that lead to long-term careers.» Today, CBT College offers Associate Degrees and Diplomas in Electricity, Air Conditioning, Business, Computer Networks, and Medical Information Technology.

CBT College also has a School of Continuing Education and Professional Development that offers refresher courses and preparation for certifications in construction, technology, and allied health sciences. The continuing education courses prepare the students for taking the Journeyman’s Electrician, Air Conditioning Journeyman and Master Electrician license exams, and for the CompTIA Security +, CompTIA Networks, HEDIS, NCLEX RN and QuickBooks certification tests, among others. «It was not easy for us to achieve this American dream, but with persistence and determination, we achieved it,» said Mrs. Gladys Llerena.

The 2020 Challenge

Globally, 2020 has been a challenging year for all industries. To comply with the CDC regulations and to ensure their students and faculty safety, CBT College transitioned to a hybrid teaching model and adapted its headquarters to the new social distancing and strict bio-security protocols. According to Luis Llerena, on-site, hands-on training is vital in the school’s academic model and one reason for its success in teaching technology careers. He stated that, «CBT College has decided to continue the hybrid approach as a modality of lifelong learning in our institution so that our students continue to receive their hands-on training in our laboratories while they study theoretical subjects online.»

CBT College also provided laptops to students who did not have computers at home to help the student population adopt the new learning modality, and the Career Services department is providing support for the job relocation of those students who lost their jobs. In this regard, Mr. Llerena emphasized that the students received a stimulus check from the CARES grant requested by CBT College and that his teams focus day by day on supporting the student population to overcome these difficult times.

Monica Llerena, who also leads the corporate social responsibility program #CBTCollegeCares, said that, «Empathy and communication are two words with different levels. Achieving an optimal level of understanding and collaboration between our students and CBT’s teaching and administrative teams (within all these circumstances) has been a fundamental lesson for us. It is inspiring to witness how resilience has gone hand in hand with the determination not only during this pandemic but during the 32 years we have served our community.» In this regard, she stated that CBT College continues to assist local businesses in their skilled staffing requirements. «As a trade school, we are here to support our community with a skilled workforce and will work alongside community leaders to ensure that CBT College is a knowledgeable partner in advocating for their needs.»

Graduation in times of pandemic

Planning its 73rd Commencement Ceremony to honor more than 600 graduating students posed a challenge to CBT College. To celebrate this milestone-marking ceremony, CBT College conducted its first-ever Virtual Graduation on November 21 on the Zoom platform so that students, their family and friends, and the leadership of CBT College could celebrate this milestone together.

Yesenia Ferrari, director of Admissions, was the Master of Ceremony of the event. Alongside the Board of Directors, CBT College’s faculty, leadership, and administrative and staff teams attended the ceremony to celebrate the student’s achievements. Maricel Spezzacatena, director of Operations, Hector Dueñas, director of Academic Operations, Alexandra Ramírez, director of the Hialeah Campus, Peter Bastiony, director of the Flagler Main Campus, Yasmin Palma, director of Financial Aid, Jorge Cubillo, IT manager, and Jean Varela, Marketing support specialist, were among the participants in the event.

The Miami Jackson Senior High School Honor Guard was in charge of interpreting the National Anthem. Senator Manny Díaz Junior, District 36 Representative in the Florida State Senate, addressed a special greeting to the graduates, highlighting both the importance of trade careers for the state economy and the need for qualified labor that companies and corporations currently have. Likewise, students Jesús Soberón and Jean Suárez addressed the virtual audience acknowledging the value of graduating in the current circumstances and thanking CBT for the support provided during their college years.

President Llerena acknowledged the commitment of the graduates and said that, «During this journey that began thirty-two years ago, we have nurtured a culture which makes us feel like we belong, and we must challenge each other every day to keep growing. These are the pillars that have brought us here and are the values that will continue to take us forward.»

About CBT College: 

CBT College provides career training through a hands-on learning approach within the construction, technology, and allied health fields at its three locations across Miami-Dade County (Cutler Bay, Flagler, and Hialeah.) Over the past 31 years, the organization has graduated thousands of students into the Miami-Dade County workforce throughout more than 70 graduation ceremonies. The College’s involvement with employers, local organizations, and strategic business initiatives has opened up plenty of opportunities for our current students and graduates.

CBT College is also listed as a Military-friendly school and participates in the Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program, as well as is approved by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to participate in the Student Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) to enroll International F-1 Visa students. The College is nationally accredited by ACICS, licensed by the Commission of Independent Education (CIE), and certified by the US Department of Education to receive Title IV funding. 

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1385274/CBT_32_Anniversary_Logo.jpg

SOURCE CBT College