Markets Wired

At the request of the Federal Trade Commission, a federal judge has temporarily halted a telemarketing operation that allegedly sold bogus credit cards and took money from consumers’ bank accounts without their consent. The court ordered the defendants’ assets frozen and appointed a receiver to control the business, pending resolution of the case. As part of the FTC’s ongoing crackdown on schemes that prey on financially strapped consumers, the agency seeks to permanently stop the illegal practices and make the defendants pay refunds to consumers.

According to the FTC’s complaint and pleadings, the defendants have taken in at least $4.82 million in less than three years, including more than 10,000 sales during a recent two-month period. Doing business as Platinum Trust Card and Express Platinum Card, they operate in the Philadelphia area, but they engage in a variety of ruses to create the false appearance that they are based in Utah and Nevada. The defendants call consumers who recently applied online for a payday loan and offer them a purported general-purpose credit card with a credit limit of up to $9,500, in exchange for an advance fee of up to $99 and a monthly $19 fee. They falsely claim their cards can be used anywhere that accepts Visa, MasterCard, or American Express, and that the cards will help rebuild consumers’ credit ratings because the defendants report to the major credit bureaus. But according to the FTC, the defendants do not report to credit bureaus, and their “credit cards” only access an online store the defendants operate, which offers a variety of off-brand, outrageously overpriced products, most of which can be purchased only in bulk quantities. Examples of items for sale in the defendants’ store include a case of 3,240 “dolphin shaped craft embellishments” for $356.40, a case of 432 shower caps for $430.56, and a case of 144 “play flutes” for $573.12.

As alleged in the complaint, before the defendants contact consumers, in many instances they already have personal and bank account information about them, obtained from online payday loan applications. Using this information, the defendants often withdraw fees from the accounts of consumers who reject the “credit card” offer. Consumers who call the defendants to try to cancel their accounts or obtain a refund are subjected to an exhausting series of constant busy signals, endless hold times, and other tactics that limit refunds.

The FTC charged the defendants with making false claims in violation of the FTC Act and the FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule, and withdrawing money from consumers’ bank accounts without their consent in violation of the FTC Act. The defendants also are charged with submitting billing information for payment without consumers’ express informed consent, and promising to deliver a credit card in exchange for an up-front fee, all in violation of the Rule.

The defendants are Blake Rubin, also doing business as Platinum Trust Card, Express Platinum Card, CR Ventures LLC, and Maxim Management Group LLC; Chase Rubin, also doing business under those names and as Oakmont Management Services; Apogee One Enterprises LLC, also doing business as Apogee Enterprises LLC, Platinum Trust Card and Express Platinum Card; Marquee Marketing LLC, also doing business as Express Platinum Card; Jules Shore; and Justin Diaczuk.

The Commission vote authorizing the staff to file the complaint was 4-0. The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division.

To learn more about telemarketing scams, read Who’s Calling? Recognize and Report Phone Fraud.

NOTE: The Commission files a complaint when it has “reason to believe” that the law has been or is being violated and it appears to the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest. The complaint is not a finding or ruling that the defendant has actually violated the law. The case will be decided by the court.

The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call
1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 2,000 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s website provides free information on a variety of consumer topics. Like the FTC on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

(Platinum Trust Card)
(FTC File No. 1123212)