AG Says Oregon Man Ripped Off Consumers with Internet Scams

Possible victims should call the Attorney General’s consumer hotline by August 15th, 2007.

Salem-News.com

(SALEM, Ore.) - Attorney General Hardy Myers today announced the filing of an agreement in Clackamas County Circuit Court with a Milwaukie Internet retailer who, despite accepting payment for advertised goods and services, failed to deliver the promised products. In addition, customers’ requests for refunds were ignored.

Named in an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance (AVC) is Todd Grange, doing business as The USSSportsClub.com, AmericanPokerChampion.com, ToddSoft.com and Bluetooz. The AVC admits no law violation. “Although shopping online can be convenient and offer a large variety of items, it also can be devastating to your wallet if you pick the wrong retailer,” Myers said. Department of Justice (DOJ) investigators reviewed 13 consumer complaints against Grange beginning in 2005 when he took money for iPods through the Internet and buyers never received the merchandise. Efforts by investigators to contact Grange through repeated phone calls and emails were unsuccessful; he continued to accept payment for products, including tickets to the 2006 Super Bowl and entry into a poker game featured on a reality television show with no intention of providing what he offered. In 2007, the DOJ investigated additional complaints including failure to provide computer tech services and laptop computers after receiving payments. The Department of Justice Financial Fraud/Consumer Protection staff also worked with a securities investigator from the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Division of Finance and Corporate Securities, in response to a complaint about a bogus business investment. Under the agreement, Grange must pay back victims from Oregon, Washington, Pennsylvania, New York, California and Texas. He must fill all orders placed by other consumers or issue refunds in the next 13 days. In future sales, he cannot advertise goods or services on the Internet that he cannot provide. He also must refund money to consumers within 10 days of their refund requests. Grange is prohibited from making misrepresentations of any kind about the goods or services being sold. In addition, the AVC restricts him from advertising that a business entity is incorporated when it is not or that he has a trademark for an item when he does not. The Department of Justice Financial Fraud/Consumer Protection section suggests the following while shopping on the Internet:

• Never place an Internet order before checking with the Attorney General’s consumer hotline for complaints about the particular retailer.

• Shop in stores for the same item at a comparable price.

• If an Internet company cannot fill your order in the period of time advertised, they must send you a written notice of the delay and allow you to cancel and receive a refund or agree to wait another designated period of time. Consumers with additional complaints against Grange should call the Attorney General’s consumer hotline at (503) 378-4320 (Salem area only), (503) 229-5576 (Portland area only) or toll-free at 1-877-877-9392. The Department of Justice is online at www.doj.state.or.us.