In March of this year I received an application form with a letter stating I would be paid$10 for each letter I stuffed in the provided envelope and mailed. However, they required a $99.00 good faith asking they to register me in their mailing program. On March 26th I received a package with 100 letter, 100 envelopes and 100 customer labels. I folded and stuffed the letters into the envelopes and mailed them on March 28th sending my receipt for the postage to them for reimbursement which was promised Their promotion said "You have the Right Opportunity in your hands today! Take action now! We can assure you, You wont regret it.
Unfortunately I do regret it as I have not heard a word from them and also have not received any payments or reibursement of my postage as of this date..
Consumers Seeking to Work from Home Lost Millions of Dollars
FOR RELEASE
November 25, 2015
TAGS: deceptive/misleading conduct Franchises, Business Opportunities, and Investments Northeast Region Consumer Protection Advertising and Marketing Work-at-Home
At the Federal Trade Commission’s request, a federal court has halted a nationwide work-at-home scam that took more than $7 million from tens of thousands of consumers. The defendants allegedly lured consumers with false claims that they could earn up to $5,000 or more in weekly income by stuffing and mailing “special advertising letters” from home.
According to the FTC’s complaint, David S. Brookman and his companies mailed unsolicited flyers, claiming:
GET PAID FOR MAILING OUR SPECIAL LETTERS FROM HOME!
POTENTIAL EARNINGS OF UP TO $5000 OR MORE WEEKLY!
FREE POSTAGE, FREE CIRCULARS, FREE ENVELOPES.
Pay Checks Mailed Every Tuesday.
Don’t Get Left Out! Give us a try & receive a check in as little as ten days!
According to papers filed with the court, only 10 percent of consumers received any payment at all, and their total average earnings was $19.50, far less than the $99 to $399 they had to pay up-front to participate.
According to the FTC’s complaint, the “special advertising letters” consumers were being asked to stuff and mail turned out to be nothing more than solicitation flyers for a second bogus work-at-home program. Consumers who joined the second program were asked to pay an up-front fee, typically $99, purportedly to assemble and mail the defendants’ “Get Credit Now” booklets from home and receive $20 per booklet mailed. In fact, consumers in the booklet program were not paid for fulfilling orders and were expected to market the booklets and generate orders to make any money.
Brookman and his companies are charged with violating the FTC Act and the FTC’s Business Opportunity Rule, which requires business opportunity sellers to provide specific information to help consumers evaluate a business opportunity, and prohibits sellers from making earnings claims without substantiation. The FTC seeks to permanently shut down the operation, which has used different business names to avoid negative publicity.
The defendants are Brookman and his companies, Capital Enterprises Inc., formerly known as David Gates Inc. and also doing business as Gordon James Enterprises, Maxwell Gates Enterprises, Maxwell Scott Enterprises, Preston Lord Enterprises, and Warner Daniel Enterprises; Carson Lord Enterprises LLC; Java Enterprises LLC; Mason Grace Enterprises LLC, also d/b/a Mason Grace Ventures; and Preston Lord Enterprises of New York LLC, also d/b/a Preston Lord Enterprises.
The Commission vote authorizing staff to file the complaint for permanent injunction was 4-0. On October 26, 2015, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York entered a temporary restraining order halting the defendants’ deceptive scheme and freezing their assets. On October 30, 2015, the court entered a stipulated preliminary injunction order continuing the ban on the defendants’ activities and the asset freeze pending litigation.
NOTE: The Commission authorizes the filing of 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 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 (link is external), follow us on Twitter (link is external), and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.
The following describes a pending government action that has been formally brought by a government agency but has not yet been resolved. We are providing a summary of the government’s allegations, which have not yet been proven.
On November 25, 2015, at the Federal Trade Commission’s request, a federal court has halted a nationwide work-at-home scam that took more than $7 million from tens of thousands of consumers. The defendants allegedly lured consumers with false claims that they could earn up to $5,000 or more in weekly income by stuffing and mailing “special advertising letters” from home. According to the FTC’s complaint, David S. Brookman and his companies mailed unsolicited flyers, claiming:
GET PAID FOR MAILING OUR SPECIAL LETTERS FROM HOME!
POTENTIAL EARNINGS OF UP TO $5000 OR MORE WEEKLY!
FREE POSTAGE, FREE CIRCULARS, FREE ENVELOPES.
Pay Checks Mailed Every Tuesday.
Don’t Get Left Out! Give us a try & receive a check in as little as ten days!
According to papers filed with the court, only 10 percent of consumers received any payment at all, and their total average earnings was $19.50, far less than the $99 to $399 they had to pay up-front to participate.According to the FTC’s complaint, the “special advertising letters” consumers were being asked to stuff and mail turned out to be nothing more than solicitation flyers for a second bogus work-at-home program. Consumers who joined the second program were asked to pay an up-front fee, typically $99, purportedly to assemble and mail the defendants’ “Get Credit Now” booklets from home and receive $20 per booklet mailed. In fact, consumers in the booklet program were not paid for fulfilling orders and were expected to market the booklets and generate orders to make any money.
Brookman and his companies are charged with violating the FTC Act and the FTC’s Business Opportunity Rule, which requires business opportunity sellers to provide specific information to help consumers evaluate a business opportunity, and prohibits sellers from making earnings claims without substantiation. The FTC seeks to permanently shut down the operation, which has used different business names to avoid negative publicity.
The defendants are Brookman and his companies, Capital Enterprises Inc., formerly known as David Gates Inc. and also doing business as Gordon James Enterprises, Maxwell Gates Enterprises, Maxwell Scott Enterprises, Preston Lord Enterprises, and Warner Daniel Enterprises; Carson Lord Enterprises LLC; Java Enterprises LLC; Mason Grace Enterprises LLC, also d/b/a Mason Grace Ventures; and Preston Lord Enterprises of New York LLC, also d/b/a Preston Lord Enterprises.
On October 26, 2015, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York entered a temporary restraining order halting the defendants’ deceptive scheme and freezing their assets. On October 30, 2015, the court entered a stipulated preliminary injunction order continuing the ban on the defendants’ activities and the asset freeze pending litigation.
What government actions does BBB report on?
Advertising Review
On August 5, 2014, BBB raised concerns about this firm’s advertising in its direct mail letters and requested that this firm substantiate the following claims: 1. Earn $490, Earn $690, Earn $990, Earn $2,900; 2. Income Group #1, Income Group #2, Income Group #3, Income Group #4; 3. Money Back Guarantee; 4. I realize I have nothing to lose...; 5. All postage cost is reimbursable...that means it's FREE! As of August 28, 2014, the company has responded to BBB but has not provided clarification or modification of the aforementioned issues.
I received an ad indicating that I could make up to $2500 per week assembling booklets. The ad says I will receive the booklets from the company that had to be stapled with an advance check. They would ask me to send X numbers of booklets out and I would receive an advance check for that amount when I received the package. I received the package which contained 4 booklets. The ad says that I have to purchase so many booklets from the company as well as a mailing list. You have no guarantee that any of the consumers on the list will respond. You have pay for the mailing list as well as the booklets which they suggest that you purchase and have so many in you possession. This is false advertisement.
I received a letter today for m MG Enterprises saying we'll pay you for mailing letters. I reverse checked the address and its says Regus. Regus.com is a business lounge, so whoever is sending these letters is leasing these offices for a short period of time. These offices have no contract. Probably to collect the money and leave. This is a scam. Do not send money!!!
I searched on-line for reviews of MG Enterprises prior to sending them any money. I'm so glad I did after reading what others have said. Today is 6/29/2020 and this SCAM apparently is still going on. It's so sad! I really wanted to try it out.
MG Enterprises Reviews
In March of this year I received an application form with a letter stating I would be paid$10 for each letter I stuffed in the provided envelope and mailed. However, they required a $99.00 good faith asking they to register me in their mailing program. On March 26th I received a package with 100 letter, 100 envelopes and 100 customer labels. I folded and stuffed the letters into the envelopes and mailed them on March 28th sending my receipt for the postage to them for reimbursement which was promised Their promotion said "You have the Right Opportunity in your hands today! Take action now! We can assure you, You wont regret it.
Unfortunately I do regret it as I have not heard a word from them and also have not received any payments or reibursement of my postage as of this date..
Mason Grace is BUSTED BY THE FTC!!!!
FTC Halts Bogus Envelope-Stuffing Scam
Consumers Seeking to Work from Home Lost Millions of Dollars
FOR RELEASE
November 25, 2015
TAGS: deceptive/misleading conduct Franchises, Business Opportunities, and Investments Northeast Region Consumer Protection Advertising and Marketing Work-at-Home
At the Federal Trade Commission’s request, a federal court has halted a nationwide work-at-home scam that took more than $7 million from tens of thousands of consumers. The defendants allegedly lured consumers with false claims that they could earn up to $5,000 or more in weekly income by stuffing and mailing “special advertising letters” from home.
According to the FTC’s complaint, David S. Brookman and his companies mailed unsolicited flyers, claiming:
GET PAID FOR MAILING OUR SPECIAL LETTERS FROM HOME!
POTENTIAL EARNINGS OF UP TO $5000 OR MORE WEEKLY!
FREE POSTAGE, FREE CIRCULARS, FREE ENVELOPES.
Pay Checks Mailed Every Tuesday.
Don’t Get Left Out! Give us a try & receive a check in as little as ten days!
According to papers filed with the court, only 10 percent of consumers received any payment at all, and their total average earnings was $19.50, far less than the $99 to $399 they had to pay up-front to participate.
According to the FTC’s complaint, the “special advertising letters” consumers were being asked to stuff and mail turned out to be nothing more than solicitation flyers for a second bogus work-at-home program. Consumers who joined the second program were asked to pay an up-front fee, typically $99, purportedly to assemble and mail the defendants’ “Get Credit Now” booklets from home and receive $20 per booklet mailed. In fact, consumers in the booklet program were not paid for fulfilling orders and were expected to market the booklets and generate orders to make any money.
Brookman and his companies are charged with violating the FTC Act and the FTC’s Business Opportunity Rule, which requires business opportunity sellers to provide specific information to help consumers evaluate a business opportunity, and prohibits sellers from making earnings claims without substantiation. The FTC seeks to permanently shut down the operation, which has used different business names to avoid negative publicity.
The defendants are Brookman and his companies, Capital Enterprises Inc., formerly known as David Gates Inc. and also doing business as Gordon James Enterprises, Maxwell Gates Enterprises, Maxwell Scott Enterprises, Preston Lord Enterprises, and Warner Daniel Enterprises; Carson Lord Enterprises LLC; Java Enterprises LLC; Mason Grace Enterprises LLC, also d/b/a Mason Grace Ventures; and Preston Lord Enterprises of New York LLC, also d/b/a Preston Lord Enterprises.
The Commission vote authorizing staff to file the complaint for permanent injunction was 4-0. On October 26, 2015, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York entered a temporary restraining order halting the defendants’ deceptive scheme and freezing their assets. On October 30, 2015, the court entered a stipulated preliminary injunction order continuing the ban on the defendants’ activities and the asset freeze pending litigation.
NOTE: The Commission authorizes the filing of 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 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 (link is external), follow us on Twitter (link is external), and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.
CONTACT INFORMATION
MEDIA CONTACT:
Office of Public Affairs
202-326-2180
STAFF CONTACT:
Savvas S. Diacosavvas
FTC Northeast Region
212-607-2809
SCAM!!!
Government Actions
FTC Halts Bogus Envelope-Stuffing Scam
Date of Action: 11/25/2015
The following describes a pending government action that has been formally brought by a government agency but has not yet been resolved. We are providing a summary of the government’s allegations, which have not yet been proven.
On November 25, 2015, at the Federal Trade Commission’s request, a federal court has halted a nationwide work-at-home scam that took more than $7 million from tens of thousands of consumers. The defendants allegedly lured consumers with false claims that they could earn up to $5,000 or more in weekly income by stuffing and mailing “special advertising letters” from home. According to the FTC’s complaint, David S. Brookman and his companies mailed unsolicited flyers, claiming:
GET PAID FOR MAILING OUR SPECIAL LETTERS FROM HOME!
POTENTIAL EARNINGS OF UP TO $5000 OR MORE WEEKLY!
FREE POSTAGE, FREE CIRCULARS, FREE ENVELOPES.
Pay Checks Mailed Every Tuesday.
Don’t Get Left Out! Give us a try & receive a check in as little as ten days!
According to papers filed with the court, only 10 percent of consumers received any payment at all, and their total average earnings was $19.50, far less than the $99 to $399 they had to pay up-front to participate.According to the FTC’s complaint, the “special advertising letters” consumers were being asked to stuff and mail turned out to be nothing more than solicitation flyers for a second bogus work-at-home program. Consumers who joined the second program were asked to pay an up-front fee, typically $99, purportedly to assemble and mail the defendants’ “Get Credit Now” booklets from home and receive $20 per booklet mailed. In fact, consumers in the booklet program were not paid for fulfilling orders and were expected to market the booklets and generate orders to make any money.
Brookman and his companies are charged with violating the FTC Act and the FTC’s Business Opportunity Rule, which requires business opportunity sellers to provide specific information to help consumers evaluate a business opportunity, and prohibits sellers from making earnings claims without substantiation. The FTC seeks to permanently shut down the operation, which has used different business names to avoid negative publicity.
The defendants are Brookman and his companies, Capital Enterprises Inc., formerly known as David Gates Inc. and also doing business as Gordon James Enterprises, Maxwell Gates Enterprises, Maxwell Scott Enterprises, Preston Lord Enterprises, and Warner Daniel Enterprises; Carson Lord Enterprises LLC; Java Enterprises LLC; Mason Grace Enterprises LLC, also d/b/a Mason Grace Ventures; and Preston Lord Enterprises of New York LLC, also d/b/a Preston Lord Enterprises.
On October 26, 2015, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York entered a temporary restraining order halting the defendants’ deceptive scheme and freezing their assets. On October 30, 2015, the court entered a stipulated preliminary injunction order continuing the ban on the defendants’ activities and the asset freeze pending litigation.
What government actions does BBB report on?
Advertising Review
On August 5, 2014, BBB raised concerns about this firm’s advertising in its direct mail letters and requested that this firm substantiate the following claims: 1. Earn $490, Earn $690, Earn $990, Earn $2,900; 2. Income Group #1, Income Group #2, Income Group #3, Income Group #4; 3. Money Back Guarantee; 4. I realize I have nothing to lose...; 5. All postage cost is reimbursable...that means it's FREE! As of August 28, 2014, the company has responded to BBB but has not provided clarification or modification of the aforementioned issues.
Mailing Booklets is Scam
I received an ad indicating that I could make up to $2500 per week assembling booklets. The ad says I will receive the booklets from the company that had to be stapled with an advance check. They would ask me to send X numbers of booklets out and I would receive an advance check for that amount when I received the package. I received the package which contained 4 booklets. The ad says that I have to purchase so many booklets from the company as well as a mailing list. You have no guarantee that any of the consumers on the list will respond. You have pay for the mailing list as well as the booklets which they suggest that you purchase and have so many in you possession. This is false advertisement.
I received a letter today for m MG Enterprises saying we'll pay you for mailing letters. I reverse checked the address and its says Regus. Regus.com is a business lounge, so whoever is sending these letters is leasing these offices for a short period of time. These offices have no contract. Probably to collect the money and leave. This is a scam. Do not send money!!!
This is still going on
I searched on-line for reviews of MG Enterprises prior to sending them any money. I'm so glad I did after reading what others have said. Today is 6/29/2020 and this SCAM apparently is still going on. It's so sad! I really wanted to try it out.