Complain about a product or service

Feds Shut Down Business Card 'Opportunity'

Promoters settle charges they swindled consumers

October 11, 2007

• Read More Scam Alerts ...

Two persons who operated a business opportunity scam have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that they tricked more than 1,300 consumers into paying between $5,000 and $25,000 for a bogus business opportunity.

In November 2006, the FTC charged Business Card Experts, Inc. d/b/a BCE Media, BCE, Inc., Scott R. Boardman, and Stewart P. Grandpre with using false and deceptive earnings claims and phony references to lure consumers into buying dealerships to sell business cards and other materials produced by BCE.

Using Internet and classified advertisements, telemarketers, and income projection spreadsheets, BCE claimed that consumers could earn $150,000 in their first year and recoup their initial investments within three to five months.

In May 2007, the FTC named Boardman’s wife, Kelley P. Boardman, as a relief defendant to ensure the recovery of assets stemming from the business that were held individually by her or jointly with her husband.

Under the proposed settlement orders, judgments of more than $16 million against the original defendants, and an order of disgorgement of more than $3.5 million against the relief defendant, will be suspended once they have relinquished assets subject to an asset freeze, including Scott Boardman’s accounts in financial institutions totaling approximately $5 million, the Boardmans’ condominium in Florida, and the balance of Grandpre’s accounts in financial institutions totaling more than $35,000, as well as Grandpre’s two snowmobiles, a snowmobile trailer, and a motorcycle trailer.

Under the proposed settlements, Scott Boardman and Stewart Grandpre are permanently prohibited from making material misrepresentations to any potential purchaser of any goods or services.

Boardman is permanently banned from engaging in or benefitting from any aspect of commerce involving business ventures or investment opportunities, and from telemarketing or assisting others engaged in telemarketing.

In connection with the sale of business ventures or investment opportunities, Grandpre is permanently prohibited from making misrepresentations, including the potential earnings, the number of investors, the fact that anyone has invested or can report about their investment experience, or failing to disclose any personal relationship with an investor or consideration he has promised or paid them. Grandpre also is prohibited from violating the Telemarketing Sales Rule, and, in any telemarketing business he controls or has a majority interest in, from failing to take steps to ensure that all telemarketing personnel comply with the order.

Both Boardman and Granpdre also are permanently prohibited from using the name, address, account numbers, or other identifying information of any consumer who purchased business ventures or investment opportunities from them.

More Scam Alerts ...

Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.

Back to the top |