Coaching & Business Opportunity

The FTC and Illinois alleged that Grubhub advertised driver pay of up to $40 an hour where the median was around $10, hid delivery costs in fees a former executive called a pricing shell game, and listed up to 325,000 restaurants without permission.

The FTC sued this business-opportunity scheme in September 2024 under Operation AI Comply, alleging its "cutting edge" AI tools would earn buyers thousands a month in passive income from online storefronts. The complaint puts losses at at least $25 million. The operators were permanently banned in June 2025.

The FTC sued this AI-powered storefront scheme in June 2024, alleging it took more than $15.9 million on guaranteed-income claims that rarely materialised. It ran as Passive Scaling from 2021, then rebranded to FBA Machine in 2023 after refund demands and lawsuits. Its principal was permanently banned in July 2025.

The FTC sued Click Profit in March 2025, alleging four operators and their eight corporations promised guaranteed passive income from Amazon storefronts run by an "AI supercomputer". The complaint puts consumer losses at at least $14 million. All defendants were permanently banned from the industry in August 2025.

The FTC and Nevada sued this financial-training MLM in May 2025, alleging false earnings claims took more than $1.2 billion from consumers since 2018. In May 2026 its owners Chris and Isis Terry surrendered assets worth nearly $90 million against a $795.8 million judgment and were banned from the industry.

The FTC sued Ecommerce Empire Builders and its owner Peter Prusinowski, alleging they sold "AI-powered Ecommerce Empire" training for around $2,000 and done-for-you storefronts for tens of thousands. The complaint says they took at least $14.3 million since 2021. Both were permanently banned in May 2025.

Publishing.com and its two principals agreed in April 2026 to pay $1.5 million to settle FTC charges that they misled buyers about how much they were likely to earn using the company's products. The order also covers refund handling and undisclosed paid endorsements.

The FTC alleged this Michigan credit repair operation scammed consumers out of more than $213 million since 2015, luring people with low credit scores then recruiting them into a pyramid selling the same services onward. Its operators were permanently banned in August 2024.

The FTC sued this Florida ecommerce and real estate coaching operation, which marketed heavily to Spanish-speaking consumers under the Ganadores name. Its owners and a key marketer face lifetime bans from selling ecommerce or real estate coaching and must turn over assets for refunds.

The FTC alleged Growth Cave took approximately $50 million from consumers since 2020 using false promises of huge income, running both a business opportunity and a credit repair scheme. A federal court temporarily halted operations, and all defendants settled in January 2026.

The FTC and the State of Florida sued this "trucking automation" operation in August 2024, alleging it used guaranteed-income claims to get consumers to pay $75,000 or more for trucks they often never received. A federal court ordered it to cease operations.

Career Step paid more than $15.5 million and cancelled nearly $28 million in student debt to settle FTC allegations that it targeted servicemembers and their spouses with false claims about job placement, externships, and hiring partnerships, promoted using deceptive incentivized reviews.

The FTC alleged that Amare Global Holdings made unsupported health claims for dietary supplements and misleading earnings claims to seller recruits, and asked a federal court to hold the company and three individuals in contempt.

The FTC alleged that Steven and Gina Merritt used false or baseless earnings claims to recruit participants to LifeWave and sell its health and wellness products. A stipulated order restricts their future earnings representations.

The FTC alleged that Forever Living recruited participants with earnings claims its own data contradicted: in each of the last five years at least 77 percent of active participants received no compensation at all. It is permanently barred from such claims.

The FTC alleged that Stormy Wellington recruited for two multilevel marketing companies with claims of six and seven figure incomes, while the companies own disclosures showed 76.8 percent of active participants earned nothing in 2023.

The FTC alleged that Xponential told franchisees studios typically open within six months when they typically took more than a year, and failed to disclose that its former CEO had repeatedly been sued for fraud. It paid $17 million.

The FTC and 11 states alleged that Walmart showed Spark Driver gig workers inflated base pay and tip amounts, and told customers 100 percent of tips went to drivers when on multiple occasions they did not. Walmart agreed to a $100 million judgment.

The FTC alleged that the Sanctuary Belize Enterprise misled U.S. consumers about the funding, risks, amenities, completion schedule, and resale prospects of lots in a Belize development. A court ruled for the FTC and entered final orders.

The FTC alleged that Blueprint to Wealth charged $3,000 to $21,000 for turnkey online businesses that existed only to sell more memberships, using robocalls claiming a member made $50,000 a month.

The FTC alleged that Arise Virtual Solutions advertised remote customer service work at up to $18 per hour while nearly all workers earned less in base pay and incurred expenses. A settlement required $7 million for affected consumers.

The FTC alleged that one operation, renamed three times, sold Amazon and Walmart storefronts on promises of $100K per month. A court shut it down in 2024 after it took more than $12 million, and its operators were permanently banned in 2025.

The FTC alleged that Michael and Valerie Rando and their companies charged for credit-repair services with little or no value and pitched a related business opportunity. An order banned them from credit repair, and the FTC later sent more than $3.5 million in refunds.

The FTC alleged that Care.com inflated the number of jobs on its platform and made unsubstantiated earnings claims to draw caregivers into paid subscriptions, while making cancellation difficult. It turned over $8.5 million for refunds.

A federal court found that marketers of John Beck's Free & Clear Real Estate System used deceptive easy-money claims and undisclosed recurring charges. It ordered the defendants to pay $478 million, and the FTC later sent refunds.

The FTC alleged that The Sales Mentor sold telemarketing training for $97 to more than $9,000 on claims of $10,000 to $20,000 a month, and kept making earnings claims after receiving the FTC Notices of Penalty Offenses.

The FTC alleged that Lyft used misleading hourly earnings and incentive claims to recruit drivers. The Justice Department filed a lawsuit and proposed settlement that included a $2.1 million civil penalty.

The FTC alleged that Qargo Coffee and its founders withheld required franchise information and misrepresented executive history, startup timing, and bankruptcy disclosures. They agreed to a proposed order requiring a $30,000 payment.

A federal court found that James D. Noland, Jr. operated Success By Health and VOZ Travel as pyramid schemes using false income promises, and violated a prior order. The court imposed permanent multilevel marketing bans and a $7.3 million judgment.

The FTC and Utah alleged that Zurixx used television flipping celebrities to fill free events that sold $1,997 workshops and upsells to $41,297, and told attendees to open credit cards citing income they expected to earn later.

The FTC alleged that Lurn sold online business coaching with unsupported earnings claims and costly additional coaching. Court orders required Lurn and its CEO to turn over $2.5 million, and the FTC later sent refunds.

The FTC alleged that Neora, formerly Nerium International, operated an illegal pyramid scheme and made unsubstantiated earnings and health claims. In 2023, the district court ruled against the FTC on its claims.

The FTC alleged that WealthPress sold trading advice on claims of up to $24,840 a week from trades requiring zero experience, where the experts trades were often not real. It paid $1.2 million in refunds and a $500,000 civil penalty.

The FTC alleged that DK Automation sold Amazon business packages and a crypto trading bot on promises of passive income on autopilot, suppressed negative reviews, and skipped Business Opportunity Rule disclosures. It turned over $2.6 million.

The FTC and Utah Division of Consumer Protection alleged that Nudge and affiliates used false earnings claims to sell real estate investment training and coaching. A settlement banned the companies from selling wealth creation products and required $15 million for consumer redress.

The FTC alleged that Burgerim sold more than 1,500 franchises as "a business in a box" needing little experience, targeted veterans with discounts, and withheld disclosures the Franchise Rule requires. Most buyers never opened a restaurant.

The FTC alleged that the University of Phoenix used deceptive advertisements falsely touting relationships and job opportunities with companies including AT&T, Yahoo, Microsoft, Twitter and the American Red Cross. It agreed to a record $191 million.

The FTC alleged that RagingBull.com used deceptive earnings claims to sell stock-trading subscriptions and made cancellation difficult. The company and its owners settled for $2.425 million, and a later order resolved claims against a remaining defendant.

The FTC and the State of Arkansas alleged that Blessings in No Time ran an illegal pyramid scheme marketed as a "blessing loom", promising returns as high as 800 percent. Its operators were banned from multi-level marketing and paid at least $450,000.

The FTC alleged that Success By Health operated an instant-coffee pyramid scheme using false wealth and income promises. An amended complaint alleged an additional VOZ Travel scheme based on paid memberships and recruitment rewards.

The FTC alleged that Warrior Trading sold day-trading programs on claims built around its founder results, when the vast majority of customer accounts lost money, often thousands, on top of what they paid for the training.

The FTC alleged that Saint James School of Medicine and its Illinois-based operators deceptively marketed the school medical licence exam pass rate and residency matches to attract students. A $1.2 million judgment funds refunds and debt cancellation.

The FTC alleged that Digital Income System charged $1,000 to $25,000 for memberships while falsely promising commissions of $500 to $12,500 per sale. Final orders banned the operators from business and investment opportunities, and the FTC later sent more than $542,000 in refunds.

The FTC alleged that AdvoCare operated an illegal pyramid scheme and used deceptive income claims to recruit distributors of health and wellness products. AdvoCare and its former CEO settled for $150 million and accepted a multi-level marketing ban.

The FTC alleged that MOBE Ltd. sold a business education program with false income and refund claims, taking more than $125 million from consumers. Defendants agreed to pay more than $17 million, and the FTC later distributed more than $23 million in refunds.

The FTC alleged that DeVry University misled prospective students about graduates' employment rates and income levels. DeVry and its parent company agreed to a $100 million settlement in December 2016.

The FTC alleged that Apply Knowledge and related defendants sold work-from-home kits and business coaching with false earnings claims. Settlement orders restricted the defendants, and the FTC made refund distributions in 2019 and 2021.

The FTC alleged that Agora Financial sold publications using false or unsupported claims about curing type 2 diabetes and obtaining government-affiliated checks. Agora and related defendants agreed to a proposed settlement exceeding $2 million.

The FTC alleged that Amazon withheld $61,710,583 in customer tips from Amazon Flex drivers after changing its pay model. A final administrative consent order required Amazon to pay that amount for driver compensation.

The FTC alleged that 8 Figure Dream Lifestyle used robocalls and other channels to sell money-making opportunities with false or unsubstantiated earnings claims. The defendants settled, surrendered assets, and the FTC later issued refunds.

The FTC alleged that Online Trading Academy sold investment training costing up to $50,000 on unfounded earnings claims, and required customers who got refunds to sign contracts barring them from reporting wrongdoing to law enforcement.

The FTC alleged that Position Gurus and its co-defendants used deceptive sales claims to sell marketing services to people starting online retail businesses. Settlements barred business coaching sales and required the defendants to surrender at least $1.2 million.

The FTC alleged that Randon Morris and four companies used millions of robocalls to sell work-from-home business opportunities with false income and Amazon affiliation claims. A stipulated order banned business opportunity sales and involvement with robocalls.

The FTC alleged that Moda Latina BZ Inc. targeted Latina consumers with false earnings claims for a work-at-home luxury-product resale opportunity and took more than $7 million. A settlement barred money-making opportunity sales and required two owners to pay $20,000 each.

The FTC alleged that Digital Altitude sold tiered memberships on a promise of "six figures in 90 days or less", with coaching from people who were in fact salespeople selling higher tiers. Most buyers earned nothing and some paid over $50,000.

The FTC alleged that promoters of Bitcoin Funding Team told people a payment of just over $100 in cryptocurrency could become $80,000 in monthly income, when the structure ensured most participants would not recoup their initial payment.

The FTC alleged that AWS LLC and related defendants sold the Amazing Wealth System using unsupported income claims about Amazon businesses. Stipulated orders banned business opportunity sales, required asset surrender, and led to more than $9.1 million in refunds.

The FTC alleged that Effen Ads used spam with forged news-organization sender lines and fake Warren Buffett and Suze Orman endorsements to sell a $97 work-from-home program, generating more than 50,000 sales, then sold buyers contact details to telemarketers.

The FTC and Minnesota alleged that Sellers Playbook used unsupported earnings claims to sell an Amazon business opportunity costing up to more than $30,000. A court settlement banned business opportunities and coaching and required assets for redress.

The FTC alleged that Michael Giannulis and other affiliate marketers used false earnings claims and misleading testimonials to promote MOBE. His settlement group had to pay $760,000 and turn over personal items before a $31.6 million judgment was suspended.

The FTC alleged that Steven J. Bransfield and other affiliates used false earnings claims and misleading testimonials to recruit consumers into MOBE. A settlement order banned Bransfield from marketing business coaching programs or money-making methods.

The FTC alleged that this operation messaged people on LinkedIn claiming exclusive relationships with private equity firms and charged $1,200 to $2,500 for interviews, while in many instances knowing the job opportunities were fake.

The FTC alleged that Vemma recruited college students and young adults with images of luxury cars and yachts and claims of up to $50,000 per week, while its structure rewarded recruiting over retail sales and most participants lost money.

The FTC alleged that Commerce Planet pitched a free kit on starting an online auction business, then enrolled buyers in a program called Online Supplier and billed them up to $59.95 a month without consent. Refunds followed court orders.

The FTC alleged this operation bought contact details of people who had paid for cheap work-at-home programs, then sold them coaching for up to $13,995 that delivered information freely available online, leaving most heavily in debt.

The FTC alleged that Bob Robinson, LLC and related defendants sold an online work-at-home system under six brand names, promising hundreds of dollars an hour without special skills. The operators were banned from selling business opportunities.

The FTC alleged that Ronnie Montano and related defendants sold Mobile Money Code software with false earnings claims, deceptive emails, and refund problems. Settlements required $698,500 in payments, and consumer refunds followed.

The FTC alleged that Advertising Strategies and related companies sold bogus e-commerce investment opportunities by telemarketing, including calls to numbers on the Do Not Call Registry. The defendants settled, surrendered assets, and funded refunds.

The FTC alleged that Fat Giraffe charged a $97 fee for a program supposedly paying people to post advertising links, which supplied no links and no work, using fake review sites it ran itself and testimonials from people who were not customers.

The FTC alleged that Internet Teaching and Training Specialists used deceptive sales tactics and false income promises to sell business coaching. The defendants settled, accepted bans, and were required to pay $660,000 and surrender assets.

The FTC alleged that Lift International and related defendants sold business coaching through deceptive income and qualification claims. A settlement banned business coaching sales and required a $200,000 payment under a suspended judgment.

The FTC alleged that Max Results Marketing, Blue Saguaro Marketing, and related defendants sold money-making websites and grant services using false affiliation and income claims.

The FTC alleged that I Works enrolled consumers in deceptive trial memberships for government-grant and money-making products and charged recurring fees without consent. Courts later entered settlements and a final judgment in the case.

The FTC alleged that American Business Builders sold a home-based payment processing opportunity using false income and lead-generation claims. Settlements banned the defendants from business opportunities, and the FTC later mailed more than $372,000 in refunds.

The FTC alleged that Thrive Learning sold business coaching to people trying to start home-based internet businesses, who were left with no functioning business, little or no earnings, and heavily in debt.

The FTC alleged that Mason Grace Enterprises and related defendants sold work-at-home programs using false earnings claims and failed to provide required business-opportunity information.

The FTC alleged that Money Now Funding sold a work-at-home opportunity based on referrals to a nonexistent lending service, made false earnings claims, and sold worthless leads. Court orders ended the operation, and the FTC later mailed refunds.

The FTC alleged that Uber advertised uberX median driver income of over $90,000 in New York when the real median was $61,000, and promoted vehicle financing as the best available when its drivers got worse rates than comparable borrowers.

The FTC alleged that Herbalife told participants they could quit their jobs and earn a career-level income while most earned little or nothing, and that its compensation structure rewarded recruiting over retail demand. It paid $200 million.

The FTC and the New York and Florida Attorneys General alleged that The Tax Club sold home-based business services through deceptive telemarketing, failed to provide promised services, and impeded refunds. Settlement orders followed.

The FTC and three states alleged that Fortune Hi-Tech Marketing was an illegal pyramid scheme enrolling more than 350,000 people. A court-appointed receiver found more than 98 percent lost more than they made. Its operators were banned from multi-level marketing.

The FTC alleged that BF Labs, trading as Butterfly Labs, took thousands of dollars up front for Bitcoin mining machines and then delivered them late enough to be useless, or not at all. The operators settled in 2016 under partially suspended judgments.

The FTC alleged that BurnLounge sold online digital music store opportunities that were in fact an illegal pyramid scheme, luring more than 56,000 consumers. A court ordered redress, and the Ninth Circuit upheld the ruling in 2014.

The FTC alleged that Professional Career Development Institute, doing business as Ashworth College, misrepresented whether its online programs met career requirements and whether credits would transfer. The school agreed to settle.

The FTC alleged that National Business Consultants made false claims about consulting assignments, earnings, deposit refunds, and successful references. A federal court ruled for the FTC, and later collections funded consumer refunds.

A court found that more than 99.8 percent of the 110,000 people who bought Zaken QuickSell program earned no money, after being told they would make at least $4,000 in the first 30 days. It entered a $25.4 million judgment.

The FTC alleged that Ivy Capital and co-defendants took more than $130 million while misrepresenting an internet business coaching program and its earning potential. Ivy Capital and most defendants settled, and the FTC later issued refunds.

The FTC alleged that The Online Entrepreneur sold a $27 work-at-home website program using false income and money-back claims. Settlement orders banned the defendants from business opportunities and required one defendant to pay $259,394.

The FTC alleged that marketers behind Google Money Tree used misleading income claims and inadequate disclosures to obtain financial information and impose recurring charges. The supplied releases do not name Infusion Media, Inc.

The FTC alleged that Shopper Systems used false earnings claims to sell mystery shopping and webstore business opportunities, enrolled consumers in recurring charges, and continued billing some consumers after cancellation. Settlement orders imposed sales bans and required asset surrender.

The FTC alleged that American Entertainment Distributors and related defendants sold DVD vending machine business opportunities using unsupported earnings claims. Court orders resolved the action, and the FTC returned more than $5.7 million.

The FTC alleged that Smart Tools LLC deceptively sold a home-based government insurance refund processing opportunity with unsupported earnings claims and recurring charges. A settlement restricted its sales practices and required $234,847.

The FTC and Colorado alleged that Russell Dalbey sold a program called Winning in the Cash Flow Business on claims that buyers could quickly earn substantial income brokering promissory notes. Very few did. The Dalbeys settled in 2013.

The FTC alleged that Christopher Andrew Sterling's websites promised earnings of up to $1,000 per day from online data-entry work but did not deliver the claimed earnings or business. A proposed federal settlement banned him from work-at-home opportunities.

The FTC alleged that Career Exams advertised nonexistent U.S. Postal Service jobs and charged consumers $120 for a booklet of general federal hiring information. Settlement orders banned the defendants from selling employment products or services and required about $45,000 in surrendered assets.

The FTC alleged that this operation sold websites for $100 to $400 on a promise of commissions from Fortune 500 retailers, then upsold advertising packages costing $5,000 to $20,000 that generated no significant sales.

The FTC alleged that the Grant Connect operation used images of the President and the American flag to suggest a government affiliation it did not have, while enrolling buyers in continuity plans and debiting accounts without permission.

The FTC alleged that Real Wealth sold booklets using false or unsubstantiated claims about work-at-home income and government grants. A federal court granted summary judgment, banned the sales, and ordered $10.4 million, described as the full amount of consumer harm.

The FTC and Arizona alleged that Government Careers charged $119 for study materials to pass federal job exams that in many cases did not exist, for jobs that in many cases did not exist, plus $965 for career counseling demanded in advance.

The FTC alleged that John Stefanchik and Beringer Corporation falsely claimed their program could teach consumers to earn substantial income by trading privately held mortgages. A settlement modified a prior judgment, and the FTC later issued refunds.

The FTC alleged that Abili-Staff falsely promised fee-paying consumers access to job listings and a full refund if they did not get a job. The FTC later mailed refunds resulting from a court order.

The FTC alleged that Frontier Publishing charged $69 for federal job listings it said were not available to the public, when the same information is free at usajobs.gov. Its operators are banned from selling employment products or services.

The FTC alleged that a government-grant operation falsely promised consumers guaranteed $25,000 grants and upsold grant services with a claimed 70 percent success rate. A court entered a default judgment against Affiliate Strategies.

The FTC alleged that Independent Marketing Exchange falsely represented that consumers were likely to earn substantial income from work-at-home opportunities. A consent judgment required asset surrender and barred specified marketing practices.

A federal court twice held Richard C. Neiswonger in contempt in connection with an earlier order governing business opportunity promotions and a later $3.2 million judgment. A final settlement required asset transfers and dismissal of appeals.

The FTC alleged that In Deep Services deceptively promoted government grants for personal expenses or debt, charged unauthorized recurring fees, and provided inaccurate or obsolete information. Settlement orders shut the operation down.

The FTC alleged that Global U.S. Resources and Louis Salatto charged upfront fees for an envelope-stuffing work-at-home offer but failed to provide the promised materials, income, or refunds. A court halted the operation pending the case.

The FTC alleged that marketers in the EDI Healthclaims matter sold a medical-billing work-at-home opportunity with misleading client-assistance and earnings claims.