My Call to the FTC on Consumer Retrieval Services
Following up on Consumer Retrieval Services, I decided to give a call today to my friends at the FTC. To see if in fact CRS was “working with” or being monitored by them, their phone numbers were run through a database to see if any information could be pulled up.
I gave the assistant the 4 numbers I have access to.
1-866-454-5109 which was the number to call back to order a package
And the 3 numbers listed with the BBB listing:
Phone Number:
(866) 454-5109
(602) 772-3157
Fax Number:
(602) 870-5703
The FTC had no knowledge of any of these numbers, and in addition when supplying the names of the owners of the business Paul Rosenburg and Frank Epifani they had no knowledge of these two names.
Perhaps there is a “secret bat phone” I am unaware of. For now, I’m lead to believe at this current time that CRS is not connected with the FTC – even though their business may be following “rules” to keep their business in tact.
I am truly saddened at this time by the information found. I would have liked to have found a quick and easy way for my friend Jim to get his money back but I am led to believe Consumer Retrieval Services is not the answer.
I encourage others who have been approached by this company – don’t take my word on anything and do your own investigation! In addition, I still invite anyone who has had success with this company to share your experience.
I questioned the manager at CRS a couple of days ago and had asked why their companies website was still not up. His reply to me was something along the lines of “that’s what got people in trouble in the first place.”
He explained the site was on the way, but was also well aware on the ease of creating fake testimonials and other nefarious tactics to convince the potential buyer. I have to wonder – is CRS using terms like FTC and BBB to instill a safe feeling to their future clients? A reminder – anyone can get on the BBB. Just because a business is there does not mean it is automatically safe. The FTC informed me that any agencies they are working with get listed on their website – and phone numbers would have been available in the database.
As I finish my bowl of Raisin Bran and scold myself for not doing “work” I should be doing right now I ponder the significance of meeting my friend Jim just a week ago, him telling me his scam story, and the call coming just a couple of days after that from CRS while I was in the room sitting next to him. Could there be some mysterious forces at work? Am I just highly alert to this type of thing having been though much of it myself? Just coincidence?
I can only report my findings here – and as always I hope them to be helpful to others.
To those who may get calls from this company, please ask questions and don’t be too quick to pull out that charge card. I encourage you to seek out others who may have experienced the same scam that you did (I’m referring to the scam that got you that call from CRS in the first place) and create a task force of your own. A mastermind group can accomplish many great things in a much shorter period and a cause that brings a group of people together can be not only a rewarding experience, but a great way to heal personally as well.
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Consumer Retrieval Services – Scam or Savior?
I have a new friend Jim. Jim was taken by an internet scam from a company called New Age Marketing. I am still unclear on which website is/was responsible – but I need to say up front that there are many listings for New Age Marketing – so this may not be one you do business with. I am also unclear if that company is still running at this point.
Anyway, I had just heard about Jim’s 10g story where he was given an internet business and promised some return, only to not see a single penny profit from his investment. No more than a couple days later (today) Jim got a call from a company called Consumer Retrieval Services – and lucky for him I was in the room to hear the call. CRS seemed to be privy to some information, and knew that Jim had been taken by this company New Age Marketing – which was an event that happened well over a year ago. I am still unclear on how they got his name or information and knew that he had been taken, but they knew about it and they had his phone number.
Consumer Retrieval Services at the time of this writing is about 9 weeks old. In a simple google search to find out if the company has any publicity I came across some free press releases, as well as an early warning on the rip off report that was not a testimony or direct complaint, but merely someone else who had been approached by the company. CRS offered to assist this lady in retrieving her money back from a different scam – for a fee of $485.00. My friend Jim’s offer was for a packet to assist him in getting his money back for only $149.00.
Now you can imagine, if someone said give me $150 and I will get you back your 10g how this might be exciting – especially if you had kissed the money goodbye. I cautioned Jim from ripping out his credit card – even though it was only $150 bucks. I began to ask some questions to the representative on the phone. There was no guarantee Jim would get his refund.
I decided to do a little whois search on the domain http://consumerretrievalservices.com. Here’s a picture of what I found – which I’m including as you never know when a company may decide to change their information to private:
I was a bit relieved to see a 5 year registration as a longer registration does give me hope that the business intends to be around for a while.
I called back the company and confirmed that Frankie was indeed the owner of the company. I talked to a gentleman (not Frankie) on the second call who claimed to have 19 years of online marketing experience. Why someone with that much experience would think a web presence would hurt his company or was unnecessary is way beyond me. He tried to tell me how easy it is to fake things online – even testimonials, etc. LOL, like he had to tell me about it.
Anyway, I asked if I could get the package for free, and if we got my friends money back that we would pay for the package and give him a great testimonial. You know – something to really help him out. He told me he already had stacks of testimonials and they would be added to the website.
I asked him how many clients per day the company was taking on and I was told between 25-35. Hmm. 25 * 150 = 3,750. Not bad for a day of calling up scammed folks, offering some relief, and mailing out a packet over night – which the cost for that is well under $10 I’m sure. So, lets deduct that – Still pulling in roughly $3,500 on a bad day. Not bad for a few people in an office making calls and mailing out some packet.
I do realize there is some work involved in getting their packet together – none the less it is work done once that can be sold over and over again. Once they find a way to one company, it is only a matter of finding the list of customers that company had.
I desperately wondered what the success rate was for this company in helping consumers get their money back, but was given no definitive answer, while I could have sworn Jane (the lady I initially talked to) quoted something over 90 percent. Her manager was hesitant to release any of that information.
So here I sit wondering if this $150 is worth my friend Jim’s time, or just a way for someone else to get something more from him.
Here’s some other stuff I checked out. That email address above goes to a site – http://aristocratsllc.com/ which appears to promote – guess what – Internet marketing. Backlinks from that site stem from a blog that looks like it was built on the same template – http://web30technology.com. That has some wordpress blogging and internet marketing/seo stuff as well.
I’m on the fence, intrigued, and skeptical at the same time.
I like to see companies that offer a money back guarantee. At least in the beginning while they build a reputation. Or an even better thought would be for this company to offer only taking a commission off those cases where they are really able to get the money back for the person.
If they have even a 75 percent or better in getting funds back, they will do well. Unfortunately, it will take some time for this company to build a reputation and they will need to prove themselves.
If you have been approached by this company and have taken them up on their services, I would love to hear from you. Results will be greatly appreciated.
Share this Post[?] Should You Partner With Paul? Paul Myers is NOT Paul Myers
I just came across this program today while surfing around Craigslist. It was an opportunity to “Partner with Paul.”
Paul’s full name on the web site is Paul Myers. The first and most important factor that needs to be addressed here is that this is not the same Paul Myers from the Warrior Forum.
Ok, with that out of the way, what is this Partner with Paul Program?
Basically, you sign up and pay 10 bucks to get a kit delivered to you that will help you make money online using the company Herbalife. Now, the company you are being instructed to promote is not made clear to you from Pauls original sales letter, but that is the route you will be taken into. I understand if you are a marketer for Herbal life, you are not allowed to use their name in your marketing campaign – and looks like this worked to Pauls advantage with this product so I do applaud his ingenuity in finding a way to build his downline.
So here’s the deal. You should first decide if Herbalife is a product you’d like to promote. The good news is the company appears to be thriving. The bad news is there are old scam reports around the company and issues with their MLM model and product they carry. That is multi level marketing. If you are familiar with MLM then you know the last man on the bottom of the totem pole carries the weight and gets squashed, and the guy at the top gets all the glory. Some claim to have lost weight using the product itself – I don’t know if this works or not.
The marketing kit that is mailed to you is apparently some additional “how to build your own website and make money” stuff. Really, there is no reason to order this stuff as it could have all been provided by simply giving a link to the digital content.
What is Paul getting out of this deal? Well, I have to wonder. When you sign up to his site there is no “please confirm your subscription.” When you get the first email there is no unsubscribe option. Paul is getting a big old list of people who are looking for opportunities to make money, and he is getting your address as well.
What do Pauls affiliates get? Affiliates are getting a generous $2.50 for everyone they refer to Pauls offer.
I was personally led through the chain of command by a domain that had been forwarded and did not initially read partnerwithpaul.com. The ad read “get paid every Friday” which is when Paul offers to pay his personal affiliates – but not necessarily when herbalife pays their affiliates. I have no idea how that works.
I can’t tell you who pays, when they pay, if they pay, or if Herbal life is something you should promote. Those are things you should do your own investigating on.
Is Partner with Paul a scam in general? Hmm, there is a petition for those who feel they were scammed, and some there are claiming they didn’t get their kit, or never got their money back. If this is the case and it is “regular business” for these folks then chances are Paul may be walking a fine line.
You should be fore warned, there will be additional investment requested should you decide to Partner with Paul.
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