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“Get started selling on Amazon and make $5,000 - $10,000 in the next 30 days… even if you’ve never sold anything online before.” That’s one of the pitches the promoters of a large get-rich scheme used to lure people into a bogus business opportunity.

In ads and live seminars in English and in Spanish, Amazing Wealth Systems — also known at different points as AWS, FBA Stores, and Online Auction Learning Center — claimed that people who used the company’s “system” would generate thousands of dollars in sales on Amazon.com. Not so, says the FTC in a lawsuit against the company, announced today. In fact, the defendants didn’t have anything to do with Amazon.

The FTC says it was really Amazing Wealth Systems that made money — by enrolling people. Those who followed the system did not make anywhere close to the advertised income, or any income at all, according to the FTC’s complaint. On top of that, the FTC says many people received warnings from Amazon.com or got their Amazon seller accounts suspended because what the system instructed them to do was against Amazon’s policies.

Amazing Wealth Systems also failed to comply with the FTC’s Business Opportunity Rule. The Rule, among other things, includes these requirements:

  1. A company that promotes a business opportunity making specific earning claims like …Make $5,000 - $10,000 in the next 30 days…, must have proof that people can actually make that kind of money, and
  2. The company has to give prospective buyers a disclosure document that includes certain information about the business. If a business opportunity is promoted in Spanish, the disclosure document has to be in Spanish, too.

Companies that promote bogus business opportunities often fail to follow the rules. That’s why, if you’re interested in a business opportunity, the first thing you should do is ask for the earnings claim statement and the disclosure documents required by law. If they hesitate, walk away. Read this FTC article to learn more.

Note: The author of this blog post is Rosario Méndez.

It is your choice whether to submit a comment. If you do, you must create a user name, or we will not post your comment. The Federal Trade Commission Act authorizes this information collection for purposes of managing online comments. Comments and user names are part of the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) public records system, and user names also are part of the FTC’s computer user records system. We may routinely use these records as described in the FTC’s Privacy Act system notices. For more information on how the FTC handles information that we collect, please read our privacy policy.

The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. We review all comments before they are posted, and we won’t post comments that don’t comply with our commenting policy. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect.

  • We won’t post off-topic comments, repeated identical comments, or comments that include sales pitches or promotions.
  • We won’t post comments that include vulgar messages, personal attacks by name, or offensive terms that target specific people or groups.
  • We won’t post threats, defamatory statements, or suggestions or encouragement of illegal activity.
  • We won’t post comments that include personal information, like Social Security numbers, account numbers, home addresses, and email addresses. To file a detailed report about a scam, go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

We don't edit comments to remove objectionable content, so please ensure that your comment contains none of the above. The comments posted on this blog become part of the public domain. To protect your privacy and the privacy of other people, please do not include personal information. Opinions in comments that appear in this blog belong to the individuals who expressed them. They do not belong to or represent views of the Federal Trade Commission.

Amie
April 30, 2018

This is the account that Amazon account is hooked to I’m assuming that’s what you need

FTC Staff
April 30, 2018

In reply to by Amie

If you lost money to Amazing Wealth Systems, report it to the FTC at FTC.gov/Complaint. The information you give will go into a secure database that law enforcement uses for investigations.

The comments you put here on the blog don’t go into the law enforcement database.

Amie
April 30, 2018

Also been getting strange emails to so I don’t know if you want to look into that as well as whatever you’re doing with the $5,000-$10,000 thank you

LG
March 23, 2018
Thanks for this information. I cannot believe that folks still fall for these type of scams. Google and someone with another pair of eyes might be of some help.
DALLASTXUSA
March 23, 2018
We need to create an outreach about these scams, so no one gets snatched into the criminals' deceptive tactics, targeting vulnerable populations. Not everyone knows about FCC information.
nfar
March 23, 2018
I went to an FBA Stores seminar and paid them the $995. When I went home and read the small print I realized that you had three days to change your mind and not 6 months as the instructor told us. I immediately called them and emailed them that I wanted out. They said the payment had not gone through. A lie. I called my credit card company and had them put a stop to it. Thank God you put a stop to these charlatans
rusty
March 23, 2018
Thank you for this info. I believe many times I get e mails saying I have won Amazon gift or a gift is waiting for me from Amazon I am those are also scams
marina52
April 02, 2018

Thanks for the message and I would like to report a fraud it is an alleged business man allegedly from Canada (Montreal) who is currently in Ghana on business just without asking 3 phones on my name under the contract and I want them to continue send to Spain. Of course I do not do that, I send back to the provider back. This is again such a scam for me new mesh

tinman55
March 24, 2018
I am one of those that got scam
$ list in KY
March 24, 2018
This has effected a family member in Kentucky who sent AWS money the week before it was shut down. What resource is there for those looking to recover what they sent?
Deb in Kentucky
March 28, 2018

In reply to by $ list in KY

I sent AWS 26k from my retirement the week before it was shut down. I'm 63 and will have a really hard time recovering. I filed a complaint with the FTC.
George
April 03, 2018

In reply to by Deb in Kentucky

If you paid w/ a credit card you can set up a DISPUTE with the card. in most cases they refund the amount to you but you have to backup everything with very good documentation.
srbgal
March 25, 2018
Is this the same as AWOL from Keala Kanae? He promised the same things, then when you pay $99 for it, he sets up a phone appointment and asks you to pay him something like $17,000 (can't remember the exact number any longer, but it was insane!) to teach you how to do it. I hope this is him!
BridgetMoxy
March 26, 2018
We fell into something like this when I attended a seminar that I initially paid $49 for and by the time we left we had spent $199 to attend a special training and then spent another $4,000+ on software and a camera lens. No money even close to what this guy said you could make and later attended another even only to find out that they guy had also fallen into the same scam!
lflowers
March 26, 2018
My husband and I bought in to this scam. Is it too late to join this lawsuit? We have all of our receipts and documents. Or do we need to hire an attorney of our own? We spent a big chunk of our retirement on this scam and would like to be reimbursed if at all possible.
Lock up the Sc…
March 28, 2018

In reply to by lflowers

I think the money is gone. They have fine print that wrote up to protect them since they knew people would want a refund. Which course did you sign up for? Several friends signed up the Kevin David course and never got a single product launched and ended up losing several thousands of dollars on products he stated would sell but didn't.
marketingco
April 04, 2018

In reply to by lflowers

Is there a class action out there ? I am in the same boat at you and your husband. Thousands and thousands gone.
GWG
March 28, 2018
We bought in a few months ago. I have a long list of "bonus" items I was supposed to receive on top of the "program" that was being sold. I never even received the initial program items, let alone all the great bonus things I was supposed to receive. The latest issue is a reimbursement check for a flight to their Summit meeting. I received the check at the meeting, deposited it as soon as I returned home. The check came back indicating the account had been frozen. Stay as far away from these people as you possibly can.
FTC Staff
March 28, 2018

In reply to by GWG

You can report this to the FTC at FTC.gov/Complaint. The information you give will go into a secure database that law enforcement uses for investigations. You can choose how much personal information to provide.

The comments you put here on the blog don’t go into the law enforcement database.

Lock up the Sc…
March 28, 2018
At least 3 people I know have paid over a $1,000 on an "Amazon FBA" course and never made a dime and the so-called guru couldn't care less. They said they couldn't refund them because they'd already watched 51% of the video content of the course. Mind you, the content was information you could find for free on Youtube. These Amazon "guru" crooks are all over the place and more popping up by the day. Many are 22-year-old kids showing a Lamborghini and a strangers house behind them implying that they became millionaires in less than a year from selling on Amazon
FTC Staff
March 28, 2018

In reply to by Lock up the Sc…

You can report this to the FTC at FTC.gov/Complaint. The information you give will go into a secure database that law enforcement uses for investigations. You can choose how much personal information to provide.

The comments you put here on the blog don’t go into the law enforcement database.

GB09
April 08, 2020

In reply to by Lock up the Sc…

This same course is now 1999. and read in small print, no refunds if took 49% of video training——it’s a shame and the 10 million made supposedly came from course sales
sue s
April 02, 2018

I lost 3000,00 to fake Amazon. They told me they were checking it out. I still have the cards I bought. When I called Amazon they told me I'd been scamed from a fake Amazon and I was not the first to call. I asked them to give back the money from their Amazon gift career and they refused to give back the money. Told me to call FBI. I did. Nobody ever called me. I just lost my money. I never saw anything on tv nor did I know that they had problems with a fake website setup exactly like their . You could not tell any difference. I still have the print out showing Amazon and the gift cards I purched.

FTC Staff
April 02, 2018

In reply to by sue s

You can report your experience to the FTC at FTC.gov/Complaint. The information you give will go into a secure database that law enforcement uses for investigations. You can choose how much personal information to provide.

The comments you put here on the blog don’t go into the law enforcement database.

Josephine P
April 02, 2018
I called and spoke to a rep by the name of Amanda on 3/19/2018 to file a fraud alert. I'm not sure if the case umber she gave me was 54xx or 1310xx??? I filed a complaint under the names A2Zand Global InfoTech LTD. I have received more calls from them and have two voice messages - one from the original caller and one from someone calling himself Mike from the computer company saying he was going to return my money. As soon as I said something like you're calling again, he hung up. The numbers used to call me today are 1-535-659-1921 and 1-311-658-3096- the one I had a "conversation" with "Mike" They both/all had accents!!!!!!!
Ark
April 04, 2018
I got a phone call from a man saying they tried to deliver a package to my home but it appeared I was not home and would I call 866-682-5963. He said it was for Capwell and Samuels. I didnt call it as it sounded like lawyers and I know for sure I dont have anything going on good or bad that they would get anything from lawyers. I googled the number and it took me to what looked like a facebook profile and it was really weird with the guy writing talked about making huge amounts of money but also very derogatory about women. Do I have to take a package I didnt ask for? The man who called me asked for me by name. Kind of scary.
Jonno
April 06, 2018
I have made complaints to the FTC the complaints, as far as I know, are just filed and no action is taken. The person I have complained about has made $350,000,000 with his scam (not a small amount of money).
John
April 10, 2018
I was also scammed by The Amazing Wealth Systems used car sales act and pressure sales. I am an unemployed Disable Veteran and used a large part of savings in the hope to create some kind of income. All of the Bowser brothers should be locked up for the next 20 years.
MJD
May 13, 2018
Once a complaint is filed with the FTC do we hear anything from them? If so, how long does it take? What are the next steps once filed?
Tabachuy
May 18, 2018
Shut them down permanently and banned them to have any kind of business here in US. I got scammed. I filled complaint To FTC. lets all hope we can get some refund as a injured consumer.
Ms barb J
June 25, 2018
I was also scammed by a group in Arizona. They chaeged me $300 for a home business as an Amazon agent claiming this included the cost of my own website and coaching. When I called back to cancel, they assured me that in a few weeks I would be making more than enough to cover the cost! I ended up filing a complaint with the FTC.
Amazon FBA Scam
September 01, 2018
Yes, I bought into Kevin Davids course for $997 and the same thing happened. He drives a Lamborghini to get you to buy into this and it is not as described.
extraboard
October 25, 2018
Watch out for CMS,DLP and kingtech. All scams I have reported.
Tracy
November 26, 2018
I received a call but y machine picked it up .She addressed herself as Sarah with Amazonrichess. that I can earn 27.50 an HR working from home.Shr says go-to the website amazonrichess.org to apply.
GorillaROIdev
December 07, 2018
Rule of thumb should always be, "If it's too good to be true. I's probably not." But these hucksters are quite great at pretending to people that you actually need to work on this fake FBA scheme. So it's harder to smell the rotten cheese festering in the back of the fridge.
Not gone get me
December 26, 2018
Watch this number 517-583-4661 out of Grand Rapids web site shopper web.org call leave voice mail.
Iamnotella.12
December 31, 2018
I keep getting calls on my cell that say I can make 27 dollars a hour with Amazon Rich.org. I always knew it was a scam and I keep putting myself on the don't call list but they keep calling. The calls last exactly 11 seconds, I know because I always let the calls go to voice mail. Just thought I would chime in. Thanks for the info.
annoyed
January 05, 2019
How do I stop them from calling? I am receiving 7 to 10 calls daily, all from different numbers.
FTC Staff
February 08, 2019

In reply to by annoyed

If you're using a cell phone, you could try using a mobile app that will block numbers. Call blocking apps let you create lists of numbers to block from calling your cell phone. Or, many mobile phones come with built-in features  that can block calls from specific numbers. You must manage these lists yourself, and your phone might limit the number of calls you can block.

You could get a call-blocking devices and install it on your home phone.

You could ask the carrier that provides your service if it has call-blocking services.  Some carriers provide blocking services for free; some carriers charge for the services. You can check the carrier's website or call customer service. 

Theresa
January 11, 2019
+1 (919) 822-5366 This is the number they called me from just a few minutes ago
tom
January 20, 2019
where can we report this. kevin david still scamming ppl all over the place, pretending he made his money on amazon when in fact he just scammed ppl for amazon courses and now shopify and other topics...
Sarah K
March 10, 2019
They call me, it’s only a voicemail, that’s all!!! A person, this time it was a person named Sarah that left just a VOICEMAIL!!! just a few minutes ago and she said that I could start out at 18.00 per hour, I’ve tried to block these people from, “Amazon “ but they keep finding a way to just send me a voicemail and no phone call!!! It’s in raging me and I’m so tired of it!!! How do we stop it??? They use different phone numbers every time!!! If they were a TRUE company, they’d call and speak to me, this is BS !!!! I really hope that no one buys into this BS!!!!
Adam R
April 07, 2019
Yes their are many scammers, most notably: Tanner J Fox, Kevin David, Jungle Scout, Viral Launch, "The Millionaire Millennial", Etc. FTC needs to sue them into the ground before more people fall into the scam!
Llm
June 04, 2019
NEVER ever ever give them your cell number! Put a fake number. If they want to reach you, they have your email. Remember, if it's too good to be true, it is.
Guy in GA
September 27, 2019
Just saw an ad on YouTube, these guys are still up and doing business? Shut them down before they scam more people!
Starrchine
February 19, 2020
Was wondering why this company is still advertising on YouTube for this exact same thing...
Anon
March 03, 2020
Just curious if the advertisements from Brock Johnson fit the FBA fraud/scam category. Supposedly he made 6 million selling solar eclipse glasses through Amazon and now sells his book The Last Amazon Course book for $1. Appreciate any information.
Won’t Be Foole…
March 07, 2020
If this statement was issued by FTC 2 years ago, why did I see an ad for this scheme on YouTube today? Can they not be stopped??
RunEveryDay
March 09, 2020
I was supposed to invest one hour of my time to learn how to make money with Amazon. After 1 hour and 52 minutes, I learned that they wanted $1,997 for this great multi-part course! What a joke! To get 60 minutes of "training," what amounted to a nearly two hour sales pitch. I'm embarrassed that I spent this amount of time wasted. Unbelievable. Glad I didn't spend a penny.