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Kentucky Slams Book On Yellow Pages Scam

March 23, 2005

• Whose Fingers Are Doing the Walking? • Texas Sues Yellow Pages Directories • Kentucky Slams Book on Yellow Pages • Oregon Files Racketeering Lawsuit Against Internet Yellow Pages Company • Marketing Firm Prohibited From Baiting Consumers With "Live Checks"

When you receive an unexpected check in the mail for a small amount of money, think twice before you cash it. It could be a scam.

Kentucky Attorney General Greg Stumbo says he has filed suit against four defendants in California who send small checks to hundreds of Kentucky consumers as part of what he says was an illegal solicitation.

The lawsuit alleges that when the checks for $3.47 were cashed, the defendants claimed the consumers were obligated to pay $177 for Internet directory services. The checks were sent from Yellow Pages, Inc. When consumers did not pay the bill, it was turned over to a collection agency, Continental Recovery and Filing Solutions.

The defendants are Yellow Pages, Inc., which is a Nevada Corporation but operates from Anaheim CA, and its President, John Wurth, and Continental Recovery and Filing Solutions, of Simi Valley CA and Marwan Kashou, its President.

Stumbo says that under Kentucky law, checks being mailed as a solicitation must contain certain mandatory disclosures. The lawsuit alleges all defendants failed to follow the terms of the statute and also violated the Kentucky Consumer Protection Act.

"Kentucky consumers were cheated in this scam. This lawsuit will help deter others who are seeking to profit through deceptive and misleading practices," Attorney General Stumbo said.

To date, Texas and Washington have also sued Yellow Pages, Inc and its President. Illinois has sued Yellow Pages, Inc, its President, as well as Continental Recovery and Filing and its President.

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