More than 172,000 consumers scammed with the promise of “Wal-Mart Shopping Spree” are going to be issued checks totaling more than $3 million, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission said.
The victims were told they’d qualify for the shopping spree, passes to movies, vouchers for has and other inducements if they joined discount shopping and travel clubs.
The FTC announces check payments like these to let victims know that they are real and should be cashed. The checks will average about $18 apiece, the FTC said, and will expire 60 days after they are received.
Payment will come from an administrator hired by the FTC to disburse funds recovered by the agency for the purpose of restitution.
The FTC said it won a court order in 2008 banning Universal Premium Services, Inc. and Brian K. McGregor from telemarketing and selling memberships. an, the architect of the scheme, from telemarketing and selling program memberships. McGregor and Membership Services Direct, Inc. (aka Continuity Partners) were ordered to pay $28.2 million.
For more information, call 866-783-5589 or read the FTC’s information page on refunds.
