Real Wealth, Inc.
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.
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
- FTC v. Real Wealth, Inc. (FTC case 092-3207, 2010)
- Jurisdictions
- United States (federal)
Court found work-at-home and grant claims unsupported
The FTC alleged that Real Wealth, Inc. and owner Lance Murkin used a direct mail campaign to sell booklets that supposedly explained how consumers could earn money from home or obtain government grants. The release says the campaign reached thousands of consumers nationwide and sometimes targeted elderly and disabled people.
The sales pitches included claims that consumers could collect up to $9,250 using a short form, make an extra $350 a week by mailing postcards, or earn more than $1,500 per week by learning secrets about the banking industry bailout. The court agreed with the FTC that the claims were false or unsubstantiated and granted the agency’s motion for summary judgment. The release says few, if any, consumers earned substantial income from the products.
The court banned Real Wealth and Murkin from marketing or selling work-at-home or grant related products and from helping others do so. It ordered them to pay $10.4 million, which the release describes as the full amount of harm caused to consumers. The judgment was issued on May 17, 2011.
In February 2013, the FTC reported mailing 50,365 refund checks totaling more than $685,000. Each check was for $13.63, described as 68 percent of the average loss of $20.
Sources
Every claim above rests on one of these. Open them and check.
- Enforcement action June 16, 2011
- Enforcement action February 27, 2013
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 June 16, 2011 · Last updated February 27, 2013