The Federal Trade Commission announced a complaint yesterday against a Florida marketing operation it accused of selling fraudulent work-at-home plans.
Vinyard Enterprises and Sunshine Advertising & Marketing, both of which operated under several business names, and three individuals involved with the companies received complaints.
According to the FTC, the businesses delivered fliers to consumer homes promising that they could earn up to $5,000 a week at home by mailing other fliers, which the companies termed “catalogs,” and by recruiting others into the scheme and marketing a book on how to make money at home.
Consumers had to pay fees of $20 to $149 plus shipping and handling to participate on the promise of receiving $10 per “catalog” they mailed, the FTC said. Consumers who participated received little money from the companies and were asked to engage mainly in recruiting other consumers from whom they could receive money, according to the FTC.
