WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Jan. 9 that it has reached a settlement with the operators of telemarketing scheme that allegedly bilked consumers out of millions of dollars.
According to the FTC, the operators of the scheme ran a company that sold business coaching services and business opportunities.They allegedly targeted consumers attempting to start home-based Internet businesses, convincing consumers they could help them develop the businesses. The FTC alleged, however, that these consumers failed to develop successful online businesses as the defendants had promised, and instead ended up thousands of dollars in debt.
The defendants in the case include three individuals and the company they control. Victoria A. Hansen, David R. Coffin, Jr. and Devan W. Leonard, also known as Devin Leonard, and ITT, also doing business as Internet Teaching and Training and as ITT Specialists, were officially named in the complaint.
The FTC charged the defendants with violating the FTC Act and the FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule. Under the terms of the settlement, the defendants are banned from selling business coaching services and business opportunities.
The FTC voted 2-0 to authorize the filing of the complaint and stipulated final order. The order was entered into the U.S. District Court for Nevada on Jan. 2, 2017.
Assisting the FTC in the case were the the Utah Department of Commerce, Division of Consumer Protection, and the Nevada Department of Business and Industry, Consumer Affairs Division.