The Federal Trade Commission is sending 188 refund checks to small businesses and non-profits that were defrauded by two telemarketing operations.
The telemarketers allegedly tricked the businesses into paying for directory listings they did not order.
The FTC alleged that Stephane LaChapelle and Integration Media Inc., doing business as GoAm Media; and Karl Garon, Claude Berthiaume, and 6253547 Canada Inc., doing business as The Official Yellow Pages and other entities, violated the FTC Act.
The defendants, according to the complaints in the two cases, led the businesses and non-profits to believe they had a pre-existing relationship with the defendants, and falsely claimed that the organizations had agreed to buy, and owed money for, directory listing services.
Nearly $19,000 will be returned to small businesses and non-profits; the amount of payment will vary from $1.55 to $154.99, depending upon how much was paid.
