Neologisms

• The Federal Trade Commission has permanently bannedan alleged work-from-home scammer from selling or promoting business opportunities and from using robocalls under the terms of a settlement.
• The defendants lured consumers into purchasing these programs with false promises that consumers could earn hundreds of dollars a day.
• The FTC filed the order in the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah, and the court entered the order on March 12, 2021.
• NOTE: Stipulated final orders have the force of law when approved and signed by the District Court judge.

• VALENCIA, Calif., March 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cunard will offer a series of UK voyages on Queen Elizabeth, providing a unique and luxurious staycation opportunity this summer for British guests.
• Queen Elizabeth to sail a series of summer UK voyages offering a luxurious staycation opportunity for British residents.
• Sailings will be from Cunard's home port of Southampton and will be in UK coastal waters, seeking out the very best of the summer sunshine.
• These new UK staycation voyages will replace a number of international sailings that unfortunately will be cancelled due to the current environment.

• Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation (NYSE: ANH) announced today that the closing date of the Merger (defined below) is expected to be March 19, 2021 (the Expected Closing Date).
• On the Expected Closing Date, among other things, each share of Anworths 6.25% Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share (the Series B Preferred Stock), will be converted into the right to receive one share of a newly designated series of Ready Capital preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share, which Ready Capital expects will be classified and designated as Ready Capitals Series C Preferred Stock.
• Anworth is providing this notice of the Expected Closing Date of the Merger to holders of its Series B Preferred Stock pursuant to Article II, Section 10 of the Articles Supplementary establishing the rights and preferences of the Series B Preferred Stock.
• Anworth cannot provide any assurance that the proposed Merger will close in a timely manner or at all.

FTC, 38 States, and D.C. Act to Shut Down Massive Charity Fraud Telefunding Operation

Defendants placed more than 1.3 billion deceptive fundraising calls—mostly illegal robocalls— claiming to support veterans, children, firefighters

• Each of these defendants will be permanently prohibited from conducting or consulting on any fundraising activities and from conducting telemarketing of any kind to sell goods or services. In addition, they will be prohibited from using any existing donor lists and from further violations of state charitable giving laws, as well as from making any misrepresentation about a product or service. The defendants will be also be subject to the following monetary judgments:
  • Associated Community Services, Inc.; Community Services, Inc.; Central Processing Services, Inc.; and Richard “Dick” Cole are subject to a monetary judgment of $110,063,843, which is suspended due to an inability to pay. 
  • Community Services Appeal, Inc. and Barbara Cole are subject to a monetary judgment of $110,063,843, which is partially suspended due to an inability to pay. Barbara Cole also will be required to turn over the proceeds of the sale of a vacation home in Michigan. 
  • Robert W. “Bill” Burland and Amy J. Burland are subject to a monetary judgment of $110,063,843, which is partially suspended due to an inability to pay. Amy Burland will be required to turn over $450,000.
• The defendants will also be subject to the following monetary judgments:
  • Scot Stepek will be subject to a monetary judgment of $110,063,843, which is partially suspended due to an inability to pay. Stepek will be required to sell a ski boat in his possession and turn over the net proceeds from the sale. 
  • Directele Inc., The Dale Corporation, Nikole Gilstorf, and Antonio Lia will be subject to a monetary judgment of $1.6 million. Gilstorf and Lia also will be subject to a judgment of $110,063,843. The judgments are partially suspended due to an inability to pay. Gilstorf and Lia will each be required to turn over $10,000. 
  • John Lucidi will be subject to a judgment of $110,063,843, which is partially suspended due to an inability to pay. He will be required to turn over $25,000.
  • In addition, the complaint names two fundraising companies allegedly operated by Gilstorf and Lia as spin-offs of ACS, Directele, and The Dale Corporation.
  • Deceptive fundraising can be big business for scammers, especially when they use illegal robocalls," said Daniel Kaufman, Acting Director of the FTCs Bureau of Consumer Protection.
  • The FTC and our state partners are prepared to hold fraudsters accountable when they target generous consumers with lies."
  • The number of deceptive robocalls made by this operation is truly shocking, said Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody.
  • The defendants kept as much as 90 cents of every dollar they solicited from generous donors on behalf of the charities.
  • The ACS defendants were the subject of 20 prior law enforcement actions for their fundraising practices.
  • Gilstorf purchased Directele and The Dale Corporation in October 2019 and, with Lia, the Directele defendants allegedly continued the deceptive fundraising and illegal telemarketing practices.
  • The FTC has more information for consumers about charitable giving, including tips on how to spot sham charities at https://ftc.gov/charity.
  • In addition, consumers are encouraged to let the FTC know about charity fraud, robocalls, and other consumer issues at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov.