Brief

Summary:

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is distributing $1.2 million in refunds to 19,857 consumers who were deceived by Wealthpress, a company that claimed to offer investment advising services with a guaranteed profit. The FTC sued Wealthpress in January 2023, alleging that the company made false claims about earning profits. The company's owners, Roger Scott and Conor Lynch, agreed to a settlement that required them to pay monetary relief and civil penalties. Eligible consumers will receive checks or PayPal payments, and can contact the refund administrator for questions about their payment. The FTC urges consumers to report scams, fraud, and bad business practices, and provides resources for consumer protection and education.

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For Release

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The Federal Trade Commission is sending $1.2 million in refunds to consumers who paid for the advice of supposed experts based on deceptive claims of substantial investment profits.

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The FTC sued Wealthpress in January 2023 along with two of its owners, Roger Scott and Conor Lynch, alleging that the company used deceptive claims of likely profits to sell consumers investment advising services—often touting that the services’ recommendations were based on a specific “algorithm” or “strategy” created by a purported expert. The company charged consumers hundreds or even thousands of dollars for access to these services but could not show that services they offered purchasers were likely to reap substantial profits. Indeed, many consumers lost substantial amounts of money in attempting to follow the services’ advice.

The defendants in the case agreed to a settlement that required them to pay more than $1.2 million in monetary relief along with $500,000 in civil penalties. The settlement also prohibits them from making any claims about earnings without having written evidence to back those claims up.

The FTC is sending payments to 19,857 consumers. Most consumers will get a check in the mail. Recipients should cash their checks within 90 days, as indicated on the check. Eligible consumers who did not have an address on file will receive a PayPal payment, which should be redeemed within 30 days.

Consumers who have questions about their payment should contact the refund administrator, JND Legal Administration, at 877-231-0641 or visit the FTC website to view frequently asked questions about the refund process. The Commission never requires people to pay money or provide account information to get a refund.

The Commission’s interactive dashboards for refund data provide a state-by-state breakdown of refunds in FTC cases. In 2023, FTC actions led to $324 million in refunds to consumers across the country.

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The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition and to protect and educate consumers. The FTC will never demand money, make threats, tell you to transfer money, or promise you a prize. 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. 

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Highlights content goes here...

Summary:

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has sent $1.2 million in refunds to consumers who were victims of a deceptive investment scheme. The scheme, run by Wealthpress, promised large investment profits to customers based on expert advice, but failed to deliver. The FTC sued Wealthpress and its owners in January 2023, alleging deceptive claims of likely profits and a lack of evidence to support the claims.

The settlement requires the defendants to pay over $1.2 million in monetary relief and $500,000 in civil penalties. The settlement also prohibits them from making earnings claims without written evidence. The FTC is sending checks to 19,857 consumers, with most recipients receiving a check in the mail. Eligible consumers without an address on file will receive a PayPal payment.

The FTC offers various resources for consumers, including tips on how to spot scams and report fraudulent activities. The commission also encourages consumers to be wary of schemes that promise unusually high investment returns and to always research investment opportunities thoroughly before committing to them.

Key Points:

The FTC has sent $1.2 million in refunds to consumers who lost money in a deceptive investment scheme.
The scheme, run by Wealthpress, promised large investment profits based on expert advice.
The settlement requires the defendants to pay over $1.2 million in monetary relief and $500,000 in civil penalties.
The settlement also prohibits the defendants from making earnings claims without written evidence.
* Consumers who have questions about their refund should contact the refund administrator, JND Legal Administration, at 877-231-0641 or visit the FTC website.

Federal Trade Commission

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