Frontier Publishing, Inc.
Also known as: American Data Group.
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.
Resolved. Refunded, settled, ceased operating, or the claim did not hold up. Kept for the record.
Identity
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- Registrations
- FTC v. Frontier Publishing, Inc. (FTC File No. 0923208, C.D. Cal., 2011)
- Jurisdictions
- United States (federal)
Sixty nine dollars for a free government website
Frontier Publishing, trading as American Data Group, placed classified advertisements in local newspapers and on employment websites announcing federal government job openings. Callers to a toll-free number were told that for $69 they would get access to information, applications and listings for every federal job in their area.
The FTC alleged the company falsely claimed federal job listings are not advertised to the general public. They are. The same information is available free at usajobs.gov.
What buyers actually received
A spreadsheet of federal jobs in their area and a 120 page “Federal Employment Resource Workbook” containing only general information. The FTC alleged this was not enough for anyone to work out whether they were suitable for a job or how to apply for one.
Callers were also told not to worry about meeting minimum job qualifications, because most or all of the jobs came with paid training. In fact most federal agencies will not hire applicants who do not meet the minimum qualifications.
The company also said it would supply sample questions and answers for a required “Federal Employment Test.” No standardized employment test is required for most federal jobs.
The order
Frontier Publishing and its owner William J. Clayton are banned from selling employment products or services, permanently barred from misrepresenting any product or service, and from violating the Telemarketing Sales Rule. The order imposes a $7.5 million judgment, suspended once they surrender $100,000 within ten days, becoming due in full if they fail to pay or misrepresented their finances.
What is not established
The consent judgment is for settlement purposes only and is not an admission that the law was violated.
Sources
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- Enforcement action October 19, 2011
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First recorded October 19, 2011 · Last updated October 19, 2011