International Law

Canadian House of Cards Continues to Fall

According to the the FTC,

Canadian House of Cards Continues to Fall, as Bogus Biller Settles FTC Charges: "Ex-wife of Ringleader Was One of Only Two Remaining Defendants in Case"

"The Federal Trade Commission today announced the issuance of a stipulated final court order against Emma G. Wanjiku, a Kenyan citizen and Canadian resident who participated in a wide-ranging scheme to trick U.S. consumers into paying for bogus business and travel directory advertisements and listings, office supplies, and consulting services they never authorized, ordered, or received.

Under the terms of the order, Wanjiku, the ex-wife of the now-jailed ringleader of the Canadian defendants, has been barred from making the claims alleged in the Commission's complaint and is subject to a $4 million judgment that will become due if she is found to have misrepresented her financial condition.

The Commission previously settled similar charges against another individual and corporate defendant in the case, with the court imposing similarly strong injunctive and monetary relief.

(Via Federal Trade Commission (FTC) - Consumer Protection Press Releases.)

Hmm, one more case in which the FTC will chalk up a win for consumers, but there is actually no money recovered.

" The order also requires her to cooperate with the FTC in its ongoing case against her ex-husband and contains standard monitoring and record keeping provisions to ensure her compliance with its terms.

Finally, while Wanjiku lacks the funds to provide for consumer redress, the order contains a $4 million judgment against her that would become due if she is found to have misrepresented her financial condition.

The order settles the FTC's case against Wanjiku, one of the final defendants in this matter.

The last defendant, Wanjiku's ex-husband, Michael Robert Petreikis, was arrested by the Toronto Police Service in August 2006 and pleaded guilty to Canadian criminal charges.

Petreikis was recently released from jail in Canada and is currently incarcerated in the United States for violation of an earlier probation order.

The FTC's litigation against him continues."

Full post as published by Misleading Advertising Law on April 24, 2008 (boomark / email).