FTC Charges Work-at-Home Marketer

The Federal Trade Commission has charged the marketer of a work-at-home opportunity with violating federal law by falsely promising Spanish-speaking consumers substantial income for stuffing envelopes. <br><br>

/>The Commission seeks to prevent further violations and to obtain redress for affected consumers.

Named as defendants are Zoilo Cruz, also known as Zoilo Cruz Carrion, located in Puerto Rico and doing business as International Marketing, according to the FTC.

They are charged with violating the FTC Act by:
·
Falsely stating that consumers are likely to earn a substantial amount of money and that International Marketing will pay consumers for each envelope stuffed and provide all materials needed, and that there would be no additional charges beyond the initial $37 fee.
·
Furnishing victims with an instructions pamphlet that contains misleading representations that, in turn, provided other consumers with the means to commit deceptive acts or practices.

According to the FTC, the defendant marketed the envelope-stuffing scheme to consumers throughout the nation via classified ads in Spanish-language newspapers and on a Web site available in Spanish and English.

A typical print ad promised that consumers could earn up to $1,500 and directed them to the Web site, the FTC continued.

The site included this copy: “Would you stuff 80 envelopes to earn $1,400 per week?” and “Your pay IS GUARANTEED in advance for the envelopes you stuff.”

The Web site also claimed that consumers would be paid from $17.50 to $28 for each envelope, depending upon the number they stuffed and how long they participated.

But victims who paid the $37 fee did not receive the promised stamped and addressed envelopes, the commission charged. Instead, they revealed an English-language sales pamphlet titled, “Incredible Home Mailing Program,” the FTC continued.

This pamphlet revealed for the first time that the defendant would not pay consumers for stuffing envelopes as he had claimed, the FTC alleged.

Instead, the pamphlet instructed consumers to publish their own ads, at their own expense, to deceptively sell the same pamphlet to other consumers, according to the FTC.