Case Summary
The Â鶹´«Ã½ Trade Commission charged three individuals and nine businesses with bilking more than $125 million from thousands of consumers with a fraudulent business education program called MOBE (“My Online Business Educationâ€). A federal court halted the scheme and froze the defendants’ assets at the FTC’s request. The FTC alleged that the defendants falsely claim that their business education program will enable people to start their own online businesses and earn substantial income. They claim to have a “proven†21-step system for making substantial sums of money quickly and easily from internet marketing, which they promise to provide to those who join their program. Most people who buy into the program and pay for the expensive memberships are unable to recoup their costs, and many experience crippling losses or mounting debts, including some who have lost more than $20,000, the FTC alleged. The defendants agreed to pay more than $17 million as part of settlements with the Â鶹´«Ã½ Trade Commission.