A collection of articles defining our times. The pages contain clickable links, don't let the titles fool you, some of the best articles have very non-descript titles and there are usually more articles on the matters in the days and week pages the links land on so it's a sort of treasure hunt through history, Enjoy!
Saturday, November 10, 2018
Scam' Company Advised by Matthew Whitaker Threatened Victims, But Hundreds Filed Complaints Anyway
forbes.com
'
Diana Hembree
7-9 minutes
Matthew Whitaker (Photo By Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call) Photo Credit: CQ-Roll Call,Inc.Getty
The Iowa attorney Trump has named as the acting Attorney General has only been on the job a day or so, but he’s already enveloped in scandal.
Matthew Whitaker, who replaced Jeff Sessions after he was forced out by Trump, served on the advisory board of World Patent Marketing, a Florida-based “scam that has bilked thousands of consumers out of millions of dollars,” according to a complaint filed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
As part of a settlement with the FTC this May, the company was banned from the invention promotion business. Documents in the FTC’s docket show that Whitaker, who served on the World Patent Marketing board from 2014 to 2017, was not just a paid advisory board member — he threatened at least one victim who complained.
Whitaker and the Justice Department did not respond to a request for comment.
The settlement resolved charges that the agency brought against it in 2017, which alleged that “consumers paid the defendants thousands of dollars to patent and market their inventions based on bogus ‘success stories’ and testimonials,” according to an FTC press release.
“After stringing consumers along for months or even years, the defendants did not deliver what they promised,” the agency charged, “and many people ended up in debt or lost their life savings with nothing to show for it.”
In addition, the FTC alleged that owner Scott Cooper and his companies — World Patent Marketing and Desa Industries — “deceived consumers and suppressed complaints about them using threats, intimidation, and gag clauses.” In August 2017 a federal court subsequently shut down the Miami Beach-based patent scheme and froze its assets pending litigation.
In addition, the FBI is involved in a criminal investigation of World Patent Marketing during the period in which Whitaker worked there, according to the Wall Street Journal. The FTC settlement was a civil action, but the ongoing FBI investigation signals that criminal charges may be forthcoming.
Angry WPM customer to Whitaker: “You will be exposed”
In emails uncovered by the FTC investigation, Whitaker personally threatened a customer who complained, according to a story in the Miami New Times that was picked up by other news outlets.
The emails the FTC obtained, in fact, suggests Whitaker used his background as a U.S. attorney to try to silence customers who claimed they were defrauded by the company and sought to take their complaints public.
In this case, Whitaker sent an intimidating email to a customer on August 25, 2015, who had contacted World Patent Marketing with his grievances and and filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau.
The FTC docket reviewed by New Times contains an email exchange on page 362 of 400 that described what happened next.
Rather than expressing concern about the customer’s charge of being cheated, Whitaker wrote him to let him know that he, Whitaker, was “a former United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois…Your emails and message from today seem to be an apparent attempt at possible blackmail or extortion.”
“You also mentioned filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and to smear WPM’s reputation online. I am assuming you know that there could be serious civil and criminal consequences for you if that is in fact what you and your ‘group’ is doing. Understand we take threats like this quite seriously…Please conduct yourself accordingly.”
Apparently, though, he picked on the wrong customer.
“Do not email me with your scare tactics,” the customer known as “A. Rudsky” wrote back. Claiming that he, too, was an attorney, he added: “Stop with your bullshit emails…You are party to a scam…You will be exposed. I hope I make myself clear, Mr. Whitaker.”
Other victims threatened with prison, martial arts security team
In a preliminary injunction against the company in August 2017, United States District Judge Darrin P. Gayles of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida noted that Cooper, WPM’s head of security, and WPM’s lawyers had sought to intimidate customers who tried to exercise their right to complain of unfair treatment and force them to retract their statements. One female customer, the judge wrote, was threatened with criminal prosecution and prison:
“After months of trying to receive a refund or services, she filed a complaint with the BBB. She received a letter from a second lawyer who told her that seeking a refund constitutes extortion under Florida law and, “since you used email to make your threats, you would be subject to a federal extortion charge, which carries a term of imprisonment of up to two years and potential criminal fines. See 18 U.S.C. § 875(d).”
A 2017 FTC complaint that alleged WPM cheated 1,504 would-be inventors of more than $25 million cited another another way World Patent Marketing attempted to frighten its customers: “Defendants also cultivate a threatening atmosphere” by sending its customers emails describing a company security team of ‘all ex-Israeli Special Ops and trained in Krav Maga, one of the most deadly of the martial arts’…The World Patent Marketing Security Team are the kind of guys who are trained to knockout first and ask questions later.”
Some customers braved threats to file complaints
Although World Patent Marketing allegedly tried to strike fear into the customers it cheated, many complained anyway An online search reveals 5 complaints on Ripoff Report, 108 complaints to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and 233 reviews and complaints on ConsumerAffairs.com.
The complaints make for depressing reading, since many trace the joyous excitement of would-be inventors whose patent had been “chosen” for promotion, the rush to scrape together the money to pay for its success, and their panicked disillusionment when they realize they’ve lost their life savings to a scam.
Perhaps most poignant are the complaints that retain a flicker of the pride and awe the inventors felt before they realized their betrayal, when they still believed their life would soon take an incredible turn for the better.
In a 5/24/17 complaint to the BBB about a $15,000 investment that yielded nothing, one customer wrote, “I felt these people were really knowledgeable and really ‘knew their stuff’! I finally went ahead and depleted my savings account and invested in my future…They even had a ‘ninja’ team that you could email with any questions…These people really knew how to make everything look authentic!!”
Under “Desired Outcome,” the complainant wrote hopefully: “I would like all of my investment money returned to me.”
I’ve spent years covering consumer finance, science, health and the workplace as a journalist and editor based in the San Francisco Bay Area. I am a former senior…MORE
Diana Hembree has covered business, health and science issues for Time Inc., MoneyGeek.com and other media and is working on an M.S. in Sustainable Food Systems from Green Mountain College.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/dianahembree/2018/11/09/scam-company-advised-by-matthew-whitaker-threatened-victims-but-many-filed-complaints-anyway/#23f388591afa#23f388591afa
'
Diana Hembree
7-9 minutes
Matthew Whitaker (Photo By Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call) Photo Credit: CQ-Roll Call,Inc.Getty
The Iowa attorney Trump has named as the acting Attorney General has only been on the job a day or so, but he’s already enveloped in scandal.
Matthew Whitaker, who replaced Jeff Sessions after he was forced out by Trump, served on the advisory board of World Patent Marketing, a Florida-based “scam that has bilked thousands of consumers out of millions of dollars,” according to a complaint filed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
As part of a settlement with the FTC this May, the company was banned from the invention promotion business. Documents in the FTC’s docket show that Whitaker, who served on the World Patent Marketing board from 2014 to 2017, was not just a paid advisory board member — he threatened at least one victim who complained.
Whitaker and the Justice Department did not respond to a request for comment.
The settlement resolved charges that the agency brought against it in 2017, which alleged that “consumers paid the defendants thousands of dollars to patent and market their inventions based on bogus ‘success stories’ and testimonials,” according to an FTC press release.
“After stringing consumers along for months or even years, the defendants did not deliver what they promised,” the agency charged, “and many people ended up in debt or lost their life savings with nothing to show for it.”
In addition, the FTC alleged that owner Scott Cooper and his companies — World Patent Marketing and Desa Industries — “deceived consumers and suppressed complaints about them using threats, intimidation, and gag clauses.” In August 2017 a federal court subsequently shut down the Miami Beach-based patent scheme and froze its assets pending litigation.
In addition, the FBI is involved in a criminal investigation of World Patent Marketing during the period in which Whitaker worked there, according to the Wall Street Journal. The FTC settlement was a civil action, but the ongoing FBI investigation signals that criminal charges may be forthcoming.
Angry WPM customer to Whitaker: “You will be exposed”
In emails uncovered by the FTC investigation, Whitaker personally threatened a customer who complained, according to a story in the Miami New Times that was picked up by other news outlets.
The emails the FTC obtained, in fact, suggests Whitaker used his background as a U.S. attorney to try to silence customers who claimed they were defrauded by the company and sought to take their complaints public.
In this case, Whitaker sent an intimidating email to a customer on August 25, 2015, who had contacted World Patent Marketing with his grievances and and filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau.
The FTC docket reviewed by New Times contains an email exchange on page 362 of 400 that described what happened next.
Rather than expressing concern about the customer’s charge of being cheated, Whitaker wrote him to let him know that he, Whitaker, was “a former United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois…Your emails and message from today seem to be an apparent attempt at possible blackmail or extortion.”
“You also mentioned filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and to smear WPM’s reputation online. I am assuming you know that there could be serious civil and criminal consequences for you if that is in fact what you and your ‘group’ is doing. Understand we take threats like this quite seriously…Please conduct yourself accordingly.”
Apparently, though, he picked on the wrong customer.
“Do not email me with your scare tactics,” the customer known as “A. Rudsky” wrote back. Claiming that he, too, was an attorney, he added: “Stop with your bullshit emails…You are party to a scam…You will be exposed. I hope I make myself clear, Mr. Whitaker.”
Other victims threatened with prison, martial arts security team
In a preliminary injunction against the company in August 2017, United States District Judge Darrin P. Gayles of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida noted that Cooper, WPM’s head of security, and WPM’s lawyers had sought to intimidate customers who tried to exercise their right to complain of unfair treatment and force them to retract their statements. One female customer, the judge wrote, was threatened with criminal prosecution and prison:
“After months of trying to receive a refund or services, she filed a complaint with the BBB. She received a letter from a second lawyer who told her that seeking a refund constitutes extortion under Florida law and, “since you used email to make your threats, you would be subject to a federal extortion charge, which carries a term of imprisonment of up to two years and potential criminal fines. See 18 U.S.C. § 875(d).”
A 2017 FTC complaint that alleged WPM cheated 1,504 would-be inventors of more than $25 million cited another another way World Patent Marketing attempted to frighten its customers: “Defendants also cultivate a threatening atmosphere” by sending its customers emails describing a company security team of ‘all ex-Israeli Special Ops and trained in Krav Maga, one of the most deadly of the martial arts’…The World Patent Marketing Security Team are the kind of guys who are trained to knockout first and ask questions later.”
Some customers braved threats to file complaints
Although World Patent Marketing allegedly tried to strike fear into the customers it cheated, many complained anyway An online search reveals 5 complaints on Ripoff Report, 108 complaints to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and 233 reviews and complaints on ConsumerAffairs.com.
The complaints make for depressing reading, since many trace the joyous excitement of would-be inventors whose patent had been “chosen” for promotion, the rush to scrape together the money to pay for its success, and their panicked disillusionment when they realize they’ve lost their life savings to a scam.
Perhaps most poignant are the complaints that retain a flicker of the pride and awe the inventors felt before they realized their betrayal, when they still believed their life would soon take an incredible turn for the better.
In a 5/24/17 complaint to the BBB about a $15,000 investment that yielded nothing, one customer wrote, “I felt these people were really knowledgeable and really ‘knew their stuff’! I finally went ahead and depleted my savings account and invested in my future…They even had a ‘ninja’ team that you could email with any questions…These people really knew how to make everything look authentic!!”
Under “Desired Outcome,” the complainant wrote hopefully: “I would like all of my investment money returned to me.”
I’ve spent years covering consumer finance, science, health and the workplace as a journalist and editor based in the San Francisco Bay Area. I am a former senior…MORE
Diana Hembree has covered business, health and science issues for Time Inc., MoneyGeek.com and other media and is working on an M.S. in Sustainable Food Systems from Green Mountain College.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/dianahembree/2018/11/09/scam-company-advised-by-matthew-whitaker-threatened-victims-but-many-filed-complaints-anyway/#23f388591afa#23f388591afa
The Rachel Maddow Show 9PM 11/9/18 [FULL] | Rachel Maddow MSNBC BREAKING...
Sorry the video vanished but I found the article and I have posted it here with the link to Forbes which published it.
Crooked Witaker story link:
https://tinyurl.com/y7wv33vg
Crooked Witaker story link:
https://tinyurl.com/y7wv33vg
Reason Ivanka Trump Doesn't Understand Words - Last Week Tonight with Jo...
Yes the language is salty but the content is so simply amazing the redeeming value is off the scales!
Friday, November 9, 2018
‘That’s how Gangsters Act’: Tapper SLAMS Trump for ‘Dancing on the Grave...
You really don't want "the embrace".
BUSTED! Trump had a White-hot Emotional MELTDOWN on National TV — here a...
He's UNHINGED. He clearly can't handle the loss of the House. Now he's making no sense at all.
Donald Trump Hand-Picked Acting-AG Raises New Obstruction Questions | Ra...
Trump trying to fix the investigation has got to be obstruction of justice, which is a crime!
Thursday, November 8, 2018
Wednesday, November 7, 2018
Trump congratulates Nancy Pelosi during phone call | CNN midterm elections
How
Trump can now fix the Russia investigation Rachel
https://tinyurl.com/yaqs7j3u
Democratic Gains Require Overcoming Extreme GOP Gerrymandering | Rachel
https://tinyurl.com/ycunysfe
Trump can now fix the Russia investigation Rachel
https://tinyurl.com/yaqs7j3u
Democratic Gains Require Overcoming Extreme GOP Gerrymandering | Rachel
https://tinyurl.com/ycunysfe
Special Report: Jeff Sessions resigns as Attorney General
Trump hhas been busy laying the ground work for how he intends to evade discovery: How Trump can now fix the Russia investigation Rachel
https://tinyurl.com/yaqs7j3u
Special Report: Jeff Sessions resigns as Attorney General
How Trump can now fix the Russia investigation Rachel
https://tinyurl.com/yaqs7j3u
https://tinyurl.com/yaqs7j3u
Ari: Sessions Resignation Prompts Key Mueller Probe Questions | The Beat...
How Trump can now fix the Russia investigation Rachel
https://tinyurl.com/yaqs7j3u
https://tinyurl.com/yaqs7j3u
Tuesday, November 6, 2018
Monday, November 5, 2018
Jake Tapper Opened An TAKEDOWN on TRUMP by Exposesing He Is 'MADMAN In T...
Please copy and spread netwide: "Trumpsters caught trying to fix the Russia investigation" get mad and spread the word. https://tinyurl.com/yajhvpe7
Racism Is 'A Persistent Infection' In White American Culture
https://tinyurl.com/y9zvabyb
Donald Trump Remarks Aid White Supremacists' Political Ambitions
https://tinyurl.com/ydh2c4bx
In 1927, Donald Trump’s father was arrested after a Klan riot in Queens
https://tinyurl.com/ycn7vrmy
Racism Is 'A Persistent Infection' In White American Culture
https://tinyurl.com/y9zvabyb
Donald Trump Remarks Aid White Supremacists' Political Ambitions
https://tinyurl.com/ydh2c4bx
In 1927, Donald Trump’s father was arrested after a Klan riot in Queens
https://tinyurl.com/ycn7vrmy
Sunday, November 4, 2018
NYC MARATHON. POST
The Rosie Ruiz Memorial Marathon Cab ride went off without a hitch. Lol.
The contest article is here
If you watched it you know what an amazing race it was.
But something has changed over the years, I wonder if anyone else noticed it too? Remember how they used to have oxygen at the finished line? Runners, back then used to suffer oxygen depletion from their exertion. Is it some new training method or what that has changed this?
The contest article is here
If you watched it you know what an amazing race it was.
But something has changed over the years, I wonder if anyone else noticed it too? Remember how they used to have oxygen at the finished line? Runners, back then used to suffer oxygen depletion from their exertion. Is it some new training method or what that has changed this?
Michael Moore: Take Trump Seriously And Don't Listen To Pelosi Or The Po...
Please copy and spread netwide: "Trumpsters caught trying to fix the Russia investigation" get mad and spread the word. https://tinyurl.com/yajhvpe7 Racism Is 'A Persistent Infection' In White American Culture
https://tinyurl.com/y9zvabyb
Donald Trump Remarks Aid White Supremacists' Political Ambitions
https://tinyurl.com/ydh2c4bx
In 1927, Donald Trump’s father was arrested after a Klan riot in Queens
https://tinyurl.com/ycn7vrmy
CNN's Chris Cuomo Completely CRUSHES Roger Stone by His Lies About Donal...
Please copy and spread netwide: "Trumpsters caught trying to fix the Russia investigation" get mad and spread the word. https://tinyurl.com/yajhvpe7
Anderson Cooper: I don't understand why you have to lie all the time
Please copy and spread netwide: "Trumpsters caught trying to fix the Russia investigation" get mad and spread the word. https://tinyurl.com/yajhvpe7
Why Aren’t Republicans Focused On The Economy Ahead Of Midterms? | Velsh...
Please copy and spread netwide: "Trumpsters caught trying to fix the Russia investigation" get mad and spread the word. https://tinyurl.com/yajhvpe7
Nov. Surprise: Trump’s Own Lawyer Exposes His 'Racist Language' | The Be...
Racism Is 'A Persistent Infection' In White American Culture
https://tinyurl.com/y9zvabyb
Donald Trump Remarks Aid White Supremacists' Political Ambitions
https://tinyurl.com/ydh2c4bx
In 1927, Donald Trump’s father was arrested after a Klan riot in Queens
https://tinyurl.com/ycn7vrmy
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