June 23, 2000

Court Sanctions 3 Telemarketers

Three federal district court judges in Los Angeles this week ordered a temporary halt to the allegedly deceptive sales practices of three California-based companies that sell informational guides on how to purchase seized and repossessed cars and foreclosed homes. Those charged with violations of the Federal Trade Commission Act include Nationwide Information Service Inc. and Stevan P. Todorovic; Productive Marketing Inc., doing business as Data Information Services, Data Services, National Property Services and Formula Solutions, along with Matthew B. Hyman, Zachary A. Hyman and Joshua Hyman; and The Kohl Group LLC, doing business as Federal Information Services, along with Gregory Stewart Hall, Benjamin Kim, Douglas Lee and Mark Aaron Osborne. The orders follow FTC charges filed earlier this month that said the firms advertised on the Internet and in local newspapers, providing toll-free numbers to call for information about bargain-priced foreclosed homes and seized and repossessed cars.