Announced Action for February 13, 2004

Commission authorization of the staff to file amended complaint: The Commission has authorized the staff to file an amended complaint in the matter currently pending against Assail, Inc., et al. The original complaint alleged that the defendants perpetrated widespread telemarketing fraud, including a massive scam involving advance-fee credit card packages, under the names Advantage Capital, Capital First, and Premier One. Through the action announced today, the FTC has added Lawrence Silverman as a defendant and Lamar Holdings, Inc. as a relief defendant in this matter. The Commission vote authorizing the staff to file the amended complaint was 5-0. (FTC File No. X030021; staff contact is Robert S. Kaye, Bureau of Consumer Protection, 202-326-2215; see press release dated September 25, 2003).

Copies of the documents mentioned in this release are available from the FTC’s Web site at http://www.ftc.gov and also from the FTC’s Consumer Response Center, Room 130, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20580. Call toll-free: 1-877-FTC-HELP.