Small Business Owners Receiving Refund Checks

FTC Sending Refund Checks Totaling More Than $700,000 To Small Business Owners Defrauded By Deceptive Robocalls

Kehoe Law Firm, P.C. is making consumers and small business owners aware that on August 18, 2020, the Federal Trade Commission announced that it is mailing refunds totaling more than $700,000 to small business owners who were deceived by a robocall scheme.

According to the FTC, the defendants, operating as Pointbreak Media, Modern Spotlight, National Business Listings, and Modern Source Media, called small business owners, claimed to be acting on Google’s behalf, and threatened that Google would label their businesses “permanently closed” unless they spoke with a “Google specialist.”

The defendants’ telemarketers, according to the FTC, then told the small business owners that the defendants could “claim and verify” the business owners’ Google listing and ensure it would appear prominently on the search engine, for a one-time fee ranging from $300 to $700. The Court found that these claims were false.

The FTC is sending refunds to 4,467 small business owners with an average refund amount of $158.32. According to the FTC, those who receive checks should deposit or cash their checks within 60 days. If you were charged by Pointbreak Media or related defendants but did not file for a refund, the FTC recommends contacting  the refund administrator, JND Legal Administration, (833) 928-2553.  The FTC never requires consumers to pay money or provide information to cash refund checks. Recipients who have questions about this refund program should contact JND Legal Administration at the aforementioned number.

Source: Federal Trade Commission – FTC.gov

Kehoe Law Firm, P.C.