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LINDON — The Federal Trade Commission and the Utah Division of Consumer Protection on Monday announced a $16.7 million settlement with Lindon-based Response Marketing LLC, which was alleged to have "used false promises" to sell real estate investment training programs.
Investigators say the agreement marks the biggest consumer settlement in the history of the Beehive State.
"This is the largest consumer protection division settlement in Utah's history and holds Response Marketing Group and its affiliates accountable for the serious financial harm to consumers across the country," Margaret Busse, executive director of the Utah Department of Commerce, said in a statement. "Utah businesses that seek to take advantage of consumers should be put on notice."
Additionally, real estate celebrities Scott Yancey from A&E's "Flipping Vegas," and Dean Graziosi, host of the popular podcast "Own Your Future," who endorsed the training, have agreed to pay a combined $1.7 million.
Under their settlements — the FTC's first monetary settlement involving celebrity endorsers — Graziosi will pay $1.25 million, and Yancey will pay $450,000.
"Yancey and Graziosi promoted the training programs and were involved in efforts to bury online customer complaints that said Response Marketing failed to deliver on its promises or was a scam," the FTC said in a press release.
A statement from the Utah Division of Consumer Protection said Response Marketing drew...
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