The Federal Trade Commission has accused a man and his employment-opportunity companies of marketing a fraudulent U.S. Postal Service employment program.
The FTC's complaint named as defendants Jeffrey Wayne Simmons (aka Wayne Simmons, aka Wayne Stevens) and his companies, Information Resources of Nashville LLC and Career Services LLC. The complaint was filed Jan. 20 in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee.
According to the FTC, the defendants used nationwide ads and telephone pitches last year to misrepresent that they were connected with or endorsed by the postal service; that postal jobs were available; that customers would receive study materials to help them pass the postal entrance exam; and that customers who passed the exam were assured jobs with the USPS.
When consumers called the number in the classified ads, telemarketers told them they were affiliated with the USPS and that positions were available, the FTC said. Consumers then were told that they must pay a registration fee to take the exam and to receive study materials. Prices ranged from $128.80 to $168.20.
Though applicants for many entry-level postal jobs are required to take a postal examination, the tests are not offered regularly and there are no job placement guarantees based on score. Information on postal jobs is available at the consumer's local post office, and information about required exams is provided free of charge.
Melissa Campanelli covers postal news, CRM and database marketing for DM News and DMNews.com. To keep up with the latest developments in these areas, subscribe to our daily and weekly e-mail newsletters by visiting www.dmnews.com/newsletters
