Michael A. Giannulis
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.
Resolved. Refunded, settled, ceased operating, or the claim did not hold up. Kept for the record.
Identity
Published so you can confirm this entry refers to the party you are checking, and not to somebody who shares a name.
- Registrations
- Michael A. Giannulis (FTC case 192-3089, 2020)
- Jurisdictions
- United States (federal)
Affiliate marketing claims resulted in a coaching ban and payment
The Federal Trade Commission named Michael Giannulis among affiliate marketers accused of promoting My Online Business Education, known as MOBE, through false earnings claims and misleading testimonials. The FTC said consumers paid as much as $60,000 for MOBE mentoring services and that most buyers could not recoup their costs.
The release identifies Giannulis and Michael Williams as leaders of one set of defendants. The FTC further alleged that they started another coaching operation called My Ecom Club after MOBE was shut down. According to the complaint, they also asked friends and family members to serve as straw owners and signers for shell companies used to open merchant accounts.
The settlement order permanently bans the defendants from selling or marketing business coaching programs or money-making methods. For Giannulis, Williams, and their companies, the order imposed a $31.6 million monetary judgment. The judgment was to be suspended after the defendants paid $760,000 and turned over personal items obtained through their participation in MOBE. The full judgment would become due if the defendants were found to have misrepresented their financial condition.
The FTC filed the complaints and stipulated final orders in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
What is not established
The supplied documents do not state that Giannulis admitted the allegations or give an exact amount of losses attributable to him.
Sources
Every claim above rests on one of these. Open them and check.
- Enforcement action March 5, 2020
- Enforcement action March 5, 2020
Right of reply
If you are named here and something is wrong, dispute this entry. There is no charge, the route never expires, and your response is published unedited.
Other coaching & business opportunity entries
See all coaching & business opportunity entries, or browse the full record.
First recorded March 5, 2020 · Last updated March 5, 2020