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Would you be tempted by an online business training program that promises you could earn thousands of dollars a month working from home? I wouldn’t blame you if you were. But don’t believe the hype. Promises like these are signs of an online business scam.

The FTC recently took steps to stop MOBE, a company that was promoting a bogus online business opportunity to retirees and veterans, among others. The company claimed that you could start your own business working from home and make a LOT of money by following its 21-step system. How much is a lot? One of their websites said you could “make $5,000, $10,000, $20,000 or more every single month.”business opportunity clipping

Despite the promises, most people who paid for the online business program made little or no money. But you know who did make a lot of money? The people running the bogus business opportunity. The FTC alleges they collected more than $125 million from the customers they ripped off.

Recognize the Signs of an Online Business Scam

Marketers of these fake business opportunities often make similar claims that are a sign of a scam. They:

  • Guarantee that you can make a lot of money.
  • Promise that you can make money quickly and easily.
  • Use high pressure sales tactics, like saying you’ll miss out if you don’t buy in now.

Report Scams

If you come across someone selling a business opportunity that you think could be a scam, report it to the FTC. Why bother? Because your report matters.

Learn More about Starting a Business

Learn more about your rights if you’re thinking about buying a business or business opportunity. You can also visit the Small Business Administration site for tips on starting a business.

 

Note: This blog was edited on June 25, 2018 by adding the word MOBE.

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Rear Ended-Dawn
June 19, 2018
How do I proceed. I feel MOBE owes me over $40,000.I have been totally scammed. I still owe $33,000 on my home equity line because of their false claims.
FTC Staff
June 19, 2018

In reply to by Rear Ended-Dawn

Please report your experience to the FTC at FTC.gov/Complaint. That is a secure website that the FTC and other law enforcement agencies use for investigations. You can give your name and contact information, how much you paid, and other details about your experience.

Donna E
June 19, 2018
I filed my complaint with FTC about Mobe ripping me off and cant get my 20k I invested back. All they did was send me an email with a link to their site about how to avoid scams, really? This did not answer my question of how to get my money back!
Socrates Mormon
June 20, 2018
Everyday for the thief, but one day for the owner. Thank goodness there is a Federal Trade Commission to protect all and sundry. I never thought for a moment that a scientific fraud could thrive in the United States. Now Nemesis has arrived to share its dividends.
dave
June 27, 2018
MOBE is toast by this complaint by FTC. Hope I get a refund from MOBE. ftc.gov/ system/ files/ documents/ cases/ mobe_complaint. pdf
Mia
June 27, 2018
Will there be refunds for this?
Joy
July 14, 2018
I would like to ask the FTC to order MOBE to repay all monies back to the people who purchased their education and who also paid big money to purchase the levels of silver, gold, titanium, platinum and gold. As an Australian citizen I paid huge amounts of money for these levels and these levels are worth thousands of Australian dollars to which I went into debt to purchase. Monies should be repaid to all consultants / entrepreneurs / affiliates - these are the names which MOBE would refer to me as. An outcome for MOBE to repay me would be greatly appreciated so I can repay the loan that I got to pay for the DIAMOND level. MOBE are responsible and can ensure that I become debt free to my banker due to the unfair deal that was advertised by MOBE... Where can I claim for my monies to be refunded
MOBE REFUND GROUP
July 15, 2018
I was informed by someone in my group .... to Send All REFUND REQUEST for the MOBE case to FTC ett refund administrator 6045 PO Box 63 Minneapolis, Minnesota 55440.... kindly confirm is the PO box used by the "Refund Administrator".
FTC Staff
July 19, 2018

In reply to by MOBE REFUND GROUP

No, that PO Box is not a legitimate address related to the FTC’s action against MOBE. Do not send any personal or financial information to that address. Please report your experience with MOBE to the FTC at FTC.gov/Complaint. The information you give to the FTC goes into a secure database that the FTC will use for investigations.

If you already sent information to that address, please tell the FTC about that too.

anonymous
August 13, 2018
One question to FTC, When we want to file a complaint against a scam like MOBE for reimbursement would you disclose our name to the merchant(MOBE in this case) or would be confidential? Because anyways we will fill up the FTC complaint form to get the reimbursement. Else how the merchant know whom to refund.
FTC Staff
July 19, 2018

In reply to by anonymous

 The information you report to the FTC at FTC.gov/Complaint is entered into a secure database that is accessible only to the FTC and other law enforcement agencies. The law enforcement agencies use the information in the database for investigations.

Brian
July 22, 2018
I’m so happy they got shut down. When I realized this was a company couldn’t produce the results the promised, I tried to get my money back. I went back and forth with them over email because that was their only means of communication to request a refund. I hope the FTC can get our money back. I’ve filed a complaint already!
kabooza
August 13, 2018
I paid a company 516 dollars and now I’m trying to get my money back. They said I didn’t work out. The company is “Desktoplighting so u can help me I’ll appreciated
FTC Staff
August 13, 2018

In reply to by kabooza

You can report a scam to the FTC at FTC.gov/Complaint. The information you give will go into a secure database that the FTC and other law enforcement agencies use for investigations. The FTC does not help individual people get refunds. The FTC collects information and uses the information for investigations and to bring legal actions.

CMSilvoy
August 13, 2018
I was enticed into MOBE and their scam in 2015. I could never ever get it going, and have felt terrible about my lack of ability, and drive to succeed, because they made it sound so possible. Of course, now I realize something like this was too good to be true, but it was presented as such legitimate program. And I really wanted to reclaim my life financially. Instead, we are even further in debt for what I paid to these shysters. Oddly, I feel better about not having succeeded with nope. It was never possible in the first place. Let’s get these creeps, and those who make money off of people “working the program“ Including Aweber Inc. who host the email response system For which I was paying $19.99 a month.
Von Cartier
September 06, 2018
Coming from a marketing background and an affiliate at a low level. I don’t believe this to be accurate. Is there a way to get more information on this investigation?
nate
September 10, 2018
I lost my whole 401K which I had to quit my job to get all of ditto pay debt from Mobe which was $63,000. I spent between $70,000 and $80,000 trying to get it going made 52 sales which I only got $3,300 from the ebook im revelution Matt has says his team of sales people closes 1 In 3 sales more like .01 in 50 and not even that he talks like they close a lot of sales but not true if that were the case I would have made over $100,000. Instead I'm in debt still $30,000 because Mobe did not do what they said they can do false statements I'm glad he's shut down he needs to be in debt. They tell you that you will miss out on commissions if you don't upgrade but did not make any commissions to recoup my investment. I hope the fetch makes him pay out his u know what
SueC
September 14, 2018
I also purchase a $2,500 product from Mobe. I have just found out about this FTC page. I was here to report another company that is doing something similar. And, I was foolish enough to spend money again. Innovative On Line Design. A company out of Washington & Utah. Their website has gone down since I signed a contract with them. It started with a company ad from Computer-Oasis.com A work from home company looking for people to post links. I would love to hear if anyone else has had any experience with them. Thank you
traciclem
September 24, 2018
Does anyone on here know or have heard of any scams from a Catholic Charities International Inc?
Victoria
October 11, 2018
We are one of the victim who live outside of USA and MOBE owes me around $40000 .We have been scammed under the name Amazon .As a FTC procedure we have registered our complains on the FTC weblink providing them all the information required. What is next ?How would I follow them as I see the automated reply from the website .The updated link does not seem to be useful on knowing the status on the progress of our complaint . What the direct email address of FTC where we can follow up on our complaint to get the feedback or help to get out scammed money back .
FTC Staff
October 22, 2018

In reply to by Victoria

You can get information about the case on the website of the court-appointed receiver, Mark Bernet. Go to www.bernet-receiver.com. At the FTC’s request, the Court appointed the receiver to take over the operations and secure the assets of MOBE.

Bbnye22
October 29, 2018
I'm pretty sure the email I just received with a too-good-to-be-true job offer as an office manager for a venture capitalist company, is nothing but a scam... The company's name is Laduo AB and the dude signed his name as Saga Klein. They didn't ask for anything or want any money upfront, the job description clearly states there is no upfront cost... I'm curious to know what their in-game is with that. His email looks legit AND you can actually find their website combined with Crowd chains.. the other red flag was that there were three different people that had sent vague emails about same job and we're all on the same email thread?? I will admit it got me at first but that old saying if it's too good to be true it probably is.. kept me from getting too excited and to research.. The salary was 4400 a month!! LOL I will also admit that I am 44 years old and I've had the same job for 14 years, obviously things have changed!! I remember the good ol Days when you had your resume in hand, you dressed up, you got in your car and went to the different places and actually talked to people!! I applied for so many online jobs I can't even kept track!! I just really need a job and apparently the old way of doing things doesn't work anymore... Wish me luck with the new way of job searching!! Pay attention people and try not to get scammed... It's such a shame that you have to worry about getting scammed when you're out LOOKING for employment.. SMH
msjay1932
November 13, 2018

In reply to by Bbnye22

Laduo AB also contacted me and I did my research and could not find anything until now. Supposedly, I spoke with Saga Klein on the phone and Kurt Petersson , who hired me. I was given access to the Corporate Extranet. Just trying to find out what the end results will be with these people.
tacr1986
November 21, 2018

In reply to by msjay1932

Laduo AB also contacted me.. the same guys you spoke with. Have you got any red flag? I'm about to start my training process, but still not sure if it's a legit employer.. is hard to get details about the company. Are you expecting to go to work to an office after the training period?
msjay1932
November 27, 2018

In reply to by tacr1986

Yes, I was told that I would work at the office location after my training. I have not much training, but just looking for a company office space. There are a lot of red flags about them. I have been working for over 30 days and not gotten paid. I have e-mailed Kurt about it, but he yet to reply.
msjay1932
November 27, 2018

In reply to by tacr1986

Yes, I was told that I would work at the office location after my training. I have not much training, but just looking for a company office space. There are a lot of red flags about them. I have been working for over 30 days and not gotten paid. I have e-mailed Kurt about it, but he yet to reply.
whitjo46
February 11, 2019

In reply to by msjay1932

Fortunately, I have lost out on neither work, nor money thanks to this thread. I was contacted by CrowdChain, a Collectus-AB organization. I, too, did a lot of research only to come up with very little. The web-site looked professional and legitimate, the e-mail were well written and were also professional, email addresses that I responded to all traced back to corporate email, and I was even able to locate the HR manager in a linked profile (who, by the way, removed the profile 2 days later). I was also able to trace the company and its address on yelp. I started the registration process as an employee, but I continued to pray for clarity and direction, and I continued to research. I started to get suspicious when I realized the company's address is also the home address of the person listed as the owner (he signed off on the employee documents), and guess what?? He is also my supervising manager. We are the only two people on the extranet system. Lastly, the company showed a negative in profitability, $1200 in assets, $2000 in equity and liabilities. Now how in the world are they able to pay me $4400 dollars a month. After further investigation, I found this thread! Thank you so much for sharing and I hope this helps someone else. Do not accept a remote offer promising to become an office location from a company posing as Crowd Chain (a Collectus AB organization) or any derivative of those names. It is based in Sweden, and I believe they are using people to do work without paying them and to also use their identities to further their scams.
Blessings4u
November 13, 2018
I got into internet marketing about this time last year I have dumped thousands of dollars in to makeing money from home I believe that I have been scammed by many .after a year the payments start coming in thousands of dollars each day over and over non of which are being deposited I get payment and withdrawal notices all day how can I get them to stop taking my earnings
FTC Staff
November 19, 2018

In reply to by Blessings4u

Did you sign an agreement with an internet marketing business? Did you give someone permission to connect to your bank account?

If someone is taking your money without permission, talk to the people at your bank. If a business is not doing what it advertised, you can tell the FTC at www.FTC.gov/Complaint.

Took to the cleaners
November 19, 2018
I was taken to the cleaners by MOBE, dished out nearly $50,000. A very expensive lesson learned. I just found out about a lawsuit against MOBE. Hopefully by some chance I will be able to get some of my money back.
FTC Staff
November 19, 2018

In reply to by Took to the cleaners

Please report your experience to the FTC at www.FTC.gov/Complaint. That is a secure website that the FTC and other law enforcement agencies use for investigations. You can give your name and contact information, how much you paid, and other details about your experience.

Van
February 04, 2019
I invested a total of $12,600 to MOBE, and another $300 in other companies that was recommended by MOBE. I really hope that there is a way to get my money back or something. I signed up with MOBE in 2017 and they was supposed to give me back my money,
vickylynn
July 01, 2019
Are money making commission apps a scam?
gerald
October 21, 2019
i was working with mobe and really thought i was learning what a sucker i was lost 2500.00 hoping one day the fcc can get my money back they even got me to borrow money from different credit sources in debt bad and had to hire lawyer to work with crediter
Ann 27587
April 29, 2021

In reply to by gerald

I don’t know if this is a scam. But some company on Facebook has a seminar trending. They are not giving there name nor telling about there business. Asking for $149 saying that they will give coaching. Then once you choose your business you have to pay more for Facebook ads like $300 per month. Anyone thinks this is a scam?
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