Warning about National Advisory Network !!!!!
February 28, 2017
We understand that, recently, many of our clients have been receiving additional calls by some individuals with claims that are false, misleading and fraudulent.
Last year, 2016, a California group by the name of "National Advisory Network" was using the name of "American Advocate Services" in 2015. This outfit operates from the same address and has the same contact numbers as the previous company name. It is important to know that all the firms are part of a larger network of firms under the Chambliss Corporation, headed by James "Jim" Chambliss. Now, as in the past, we would advise all to be wary and aware of the unscrupulous tactics used by this and other groups. Typically, these companies prey on unsuspecting investors with hardball, intimidating tactics to extract money from the unwary. While they may promise a return of investment, we have never sent them a penny! These companies are not recognized as having any legal authority to pursue any actions against the firms they target. Usually clients will be required to pay an upfront payment and simply be supplied with form letters. We have never and will never send an investors money back using extortion tactics. According to the information learned on a web search last year, the National Advisory Network retained a convicted felon as their legal representative, Peter Bumerts. Mr. Bumerts (look up The State Bar of California and noethics.net) was suspended for 4 years and barred from practicing law, was convicted of three felonies, all involving attempting to obtain drugs through fictitious prescriptions. Since our last writing about NAN in May of 2016, Peter Bumerts has been removed from their website.
Another group in Florida has been written about in the Palm Beach Post. "State moves against S. Fla. firm claiming to help scam victims" Quoted from this article;
The victims of this scam were promised help in getting their money back but instead they were scammed by the very people who promised to help," Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. "What is worse, the defendants misrepresented their relationship with the state in an effort to gain the victims' trust."
State officials filed a complaint against Advocacy and Collections Group Inc. of Hollywood and principals Denis Chira, Nancy Allen and Roderick Darang."
The challenge the States have going after these companies is when the group gets wind the State is on their tail they change the name of the company. In 2016, "Advocacy and Collections Group, Inc.' (mentioned in this article) closed the company and the same people were then using the company name of "Florida Capital Recovery".
Other groups we are familiar with are Colt Ledger & Assc., Consumer Advocacy Group, Consumer Rights Legal Services, Consumer Advocate Services Enterprises (CASE) and National Consumer Advocates. These are just a few of the names our clients have informed us of that are using these unscrupulous tactics.
From the Federal Trade Commission's website www.ftc.org
Seeing Through a Recovery Scam
Here are some tips to help you avoid losing money to a recovery scam:
Don't giver money or your bank or credit card account number to anyone who calls offering to recover money, merchandise, or prizes you never received if the caller says you have to pay a fee in advance. Under the Telemarketing Sales Rule, it's against the law for someone to request or receive payment from you until seven business days after you have the money or other item in hand.
If someone claims to represent a government agency that will recover your lost money, merchandise, or prizes for a fee or a donation to a charity, report them immediately to the FTC. National, state, and local consumer protection agencies and nonprofit organizations do not charge for their services.
Before you use any company to recover either money or a prize, ask what specific services the company provides and the cost of each service. Check out the company with local government law enforcement and consumer agencies; ask whether other people have registered complaints about the business. You also can enter the company name into an online search engine to look for complaints.
You may remember, someone stole our contact database and sold it to these scam companies like the ones above. Most of our clients realized quickly that these companies have no legal standing. Regrettably, some of our clients have fallen prey to these scams. Remember, we have always drilled and completed the project wells and have done everything we said we would do and more.
If you have any questions about any of your projects with us then contact us directly. At least, do yourself a favor and heed the warnings from the FTC above; "it's against the law for someone to request or receive payment from you until seven business days after you have the money or other item in hand."
Your Cunningham Energy Team