Dynamic Accident Lawyers: FTC Returning $444K to Victims of Online Yellow Pages Scam

Money Roll The Federal Trade Commission is reimbursing more than 750 businesses and churches who were tricked by an online directory listing scam brought on by a Canadian-based operation.

According to the FTC, the Montreal company Online Public Yellow Pages called various small businesses and churches throughout the United States claiming to have a previous relationship with them and were therefore informed to be owed money.

The agency reports that if business and churches ignored the bills, they then received collection calls and harassing notices. These notices tacked on various other “fees” including interest charges, legal fees, and late fees. The FTC claims that in addition, small businesses and churches who refused to pay received threats of collection agency referral, legal action and credit rating damage.

On average, the online directory scam swindled $499.99 per business, according to the FTC. Those affected by the online Yellow Pages scam claim they received bills with images including “walking fingers,” which led them to believe the bill was legitimate. Victims of the directory scam say they paid the fake bill thinking that someone else in the company ordered the preexisting online listings.

The FTC states that in order to ensure businesses paid for the Online Public Yellow Pages scam, the Canadian business created two debt collection companies, CC Recovery and M&A Recovery, which they used to make threats.

According to court documents, the company involved in the online listing scam hid their actual location by using mail drops in the United States as well as corporate shells. The FTC states that often times the company would make phone calls to small businesses and churches claiming that they were just verifying contact information, confirming existing directory listings, verifying cancellation requests and other actions that tricked consumers into believing they had a prior relationship with the company.

After the FTC charged the Online Public Yellow Pages with the small business scam in 2013, the court froze their assets. In 2014, the court made the judgment to end the operation. In total, the FTC claims that the Montreal company conned more than $14 million from U.S. small businesses and churches through this directory scam.

The FTC reports that they are determined to make the defendants return all the money owed to U.S. victims of this scam that generated more than 13,000 complaints. For now, the FTC is mailing 774 checks totaling more than $444,000 to victims of this scheme.

Those receiving a check, will get the full amount they paid to the online directory company. The average amount these consumers will receive is $574. Those receiving checks have until Feb. 2, 2016 to cash it. Just a reminder to all consumers who get a check from the FTC, the agency never asks consumers to pay money or provide information before a refund check can be cashed.

More information about the Yellow Pages scam is available on the FTC website. Those consumers who have questions about the case or questions regarding the refund check can call the federal agency’s hotline at 1-844-828-4439.

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