The Federal Trade Commission is mailing approximately 75,000 refund checks to individuals who were deceived by an online marketing operation that sold work-at-home opportunities.
The FTC alleged that Abili-Staff Ltd., Equitron LLC, Pamela Jean Barthuly and Jorg Wilhelm Becker falsely promised consumers that, for a fee of up to $89.99, they would have access to job listings and get a full refund if they did not get a job.
The refunds are a result of a court order. An estimated $729,700 is being returned to consumers; the average payment will be about $9.70. Consumers who receive the checks from the FTC's refund administrator should cash them within 60 days of the date they were issued.
The FTC brought the case as part of its ongoing efforts to protect financially strapped consumers from scams that falsely promise job opportunities.
