Unfortunately, the fraudsters do not stop with the one-time fee. As a matter of fact, consumers who pay receive a follow-up call from the defendants’ telemarketers. During the second call, the con artists pitch a second program promising top Google search result placements. The cost for the placements are exorbitant, benchmarked at a one-time payment of $949.99. Additionally, there is a recurring monthly payment of $169.99 or $99.99.
Per the FTC complaint, “the defendants temporarily lost the ability to accept payments by credit card due to high chargeback rates (when consumers dispute credit card transactions). As a result, they took money, usually $100, from at least 250 of their customers’ checking accounts without the customers’ advance knowledge, consent, or authorization, and with no apparent reason or justification.”
Robocall Dragnet
The defendants, who are charged with violating the FTC Act, are extensive. The corporate entities and individuals involved include: Pointbreak Media, LLC, also d/b/a Point Break Media, Point Break Solutions and Kivanni Marketing; DCP Marketing, LLC, also d/b/a Point Break; Modern Spotlight LLC; Modern Spotlight Group LLC, also d/b/a Modern Spotlight; Modern Internet Marketing LLC; Modern Source Media, LLC, also d/b/a Modern Source; Perfect Image Online LLC; Dustin Pillonato; Justin Ramsey; Aaron Michael Jones, also known as Michael Aaron Jones and Mike Jones; Ricardo Diaz; Michael Pocker; and Steffan Molina.
