- with the FTC and Florida Attorney General
Operators of Credit Card Interest Rate Reduction Scam Permanently Banned from Debt Relief Business Under Settlement with the FTC and Florida Attorney General
February 28, 2022
Orlando-based company allegedly targeted financially distressed consumers and older adults
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The operators of an alleged credit card interest rate reduction scam will be permanently banned from the debt relief industry as part of court orders resolving charges by the Federal Trade Commission and the Florida Office of the Attorney General.
The defendants—Gino de Paz, Grace de Paz, and Shabana Khublal—allegedly engaged in deceptive and abusive practices violating the FTC Act, the Telemarketing Sales Rule, and the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act in selling their credit card interest rate reduction services to consumers throughout the United States.
“The defendants in this case were taking advantage of Americans dealing with rising debt by falsely promising to permanently reduce their credit card interest rates,” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “The FTC is proud to partner with the Florida Attorney General to stop these scams.”
“These scammers lured victims—financially distressed consumers, along with seniors—into signing up for their debt-relief scheme. Instead of receiving the promised relief, victims were brought down further into debt while the defendants made millions,” Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said. “Now, working with the FTC, we stopped the defendants from bombarding consumers in Florida with deceptive telemarketing calls promising financial relief, and they will be forced to pay.”
In a complaint filed in July 2020, the FTC and the Florida Office of the Attorney General accused the de Pazes, Khublal, and other defendants of blasting consumers with telemarking calls promising to permanently and substantially reduce their credit card interest rates. After posing as representatives or affiliates of consumers’ credit card companies, the defendants allegedly claimed they could save consumers thousands of dollars in credit card interest, thereby allowing them to pay off their debt much faster.
All these claims were false or unsubstantiated, according to the complaint. At most, the defendants sometimes opened new credit card accounts at lower introductory rates and transferred consumers’ existing debt to the new cards. Instead of producing the savings that customers expected, the defendants’ service allegedly often left people even deeper in debt after they paid upfront fees of between $995 and $4995, as well as substantial fees to transfer their existing debts to new cards.
Under the terms of the settlements, Gino de Paz, Grace de Paz, and Shabana Kubhlal are permanently banned from advertising or selling debt relief products and services. They also are prohibited from misrepresenting material facts in connection with any product or service. The order also prohibits deceptive and abusive telemarketing acts and practices, unsubstantiated claims, and prohibited payment practices.
The orders impose monetary judgments of $5.3 million, which will be partially suspended once the de Pazes pay $225,000 and Kublal pays $200,000. The full judgment would become due immediately if any of the defendants are found to have misrepresented their financial status. In addition to entering the settlements with the individual defendants, the court also entered a default judgment against the remaining defendants in the case: GDP Network LLC; G & G Success LLC, also doing business as YF Solution LLC, QSC Professionals, and G.C.D. Management LLC; and G & N Squared LLC.
The Commission vote approving the stipulated final orders was 5-0. The orders were filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Orlando Division. The FTC appreciates the assistance of the Florida Office of the Attorney General, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Secret Service, and Orange County Sheriff’s Office in bringing this case.
NOTE: Stipulated final orders have the force of law when approved and signed by the District Court judge.
The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition, stop deceptive and unfair business practices and scams, and educate consumers. Report fraud, scams, or bad business practices at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Get consumer advice at consumer.ftc.gov. Also, follow the FTC on social media, subscribe to press releases, and read the FTC’s blogs.PRESS RELEASE REFERENCE: FTC, Florida Attorney General Obtain Court Order Temporarily Halting Bogus Orlando-Based Credit Card Interest Rate Reduction Operation
CONTACT INFORMATION
CONTACT FOR CONSUMERS: Consumer Response Center877-382-4357MEDIA CONTACT: Jay Mayfield(link sends e-mail)Office of Public Affairs202-326-2656STAFF CONTACTS: Samantha DennyFTC Midwest Region312-960-5623William HodorFTC Midwest Region312-960-5592
