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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Capital Retrieval – Consumer Retrieval Services – Jennifer Lynn Woods or Mason? And the Press Release
Oh, the plot thickens! I don’t even know where to begin.
I decided to do a bit more digging today. So many underestimate the power of Google and the all mighty Press Release.
Press Releases can assist in backlinks to a site, and promotion of a company or product. I found a talented press release writer named Jennifer Lynn. Appears she has a love for video as well after I visited her blog named “My Social Responsibility.” Jennifer may be some how involved with these 2 companies as she states “I now help people get their money back from fraudulent businesses and plan to build a network owned opportunity” and she did write the press release for both. Again, I am left with more questions than answers – which becomes the norm in this type of investigative work. I hope she can clear up the need for using 2 names – Woods and Mason – and maybe has more information on these companies and what she really understands about them. I also don’t understand the matching PO boxes provided for “more information”. Whether these companies are truly related or not, you have to agree it is puzzling how both seem to emerge at the same time, and how both have a press release written by the same writer. In addition how both stem back to Arizona.
I’m still out to help my friend Jim – who by the way I was quite shocked to find that his website was not found in the wayback machine when I tried to find exactly what site he had purchased. Not sure what that is about – as I would have expected his site to be up for at least a year after a 10g investment – and of course it would have been picked up by the wayback machine.
My findings today were complicated and would result in a 2000 word or more blog post, so I thought I should just video tape them to show what I did and what I found. Hopefully someone can learn some of these same investigative techniques and save themselves from further distress.
What I show in these videos is just some of the first steps I do when beginning research on a product, service or website. The clues are all there, it’s just a matter of knowing how to spot them. A lot of clicking to see where things go. Nothing hard.
Due to the restrictions of youtube and my gift of the word “um” I needed to break this into two pieces as it slightly exceeded the 10 minute limit – so I apologize. 
Hope you enjoy!
Part 2
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Sign by Dealighted - Coupons and Deals
Sign by Dealighted - Coupons and DealsDid you visit while I was away?
From Dec 07' to March 08'
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