Skip to main content

The people behind online business coaching outfit Lurn promised that consumers could become “Stay-At-Home Millionaires.” But according to the FTC, Lurn, Inc., CEO Anik Singal, Tyrone Cohen, and David Kettner are now Stay-At-Home Defendants in an FTC law enforcement action challenging their deceptive money-making representations. What’s more, the complaint alleges even after receiving FTC Notices of Penalty Offenses concerning Money-Making Opportunities and Endorsements, Lurn and Singal continued to use deceptive advertising claims to bilk consumers out of millions.

The FTC says Rockville, Maryland-based Lurn lured consumers in with a variety of purported money-making opportunities. For example, promotions for its Email Startup Incubator Program claimed that consumers could “Make More Than $13,700 Per Day” by using the “exact steps” that CEO Singal used “to generate millions of dollars online by using just an email and other people’s products.” Ads featured testimonials from supposedly satisfied customers who were raking in big bucks, leaving their 9-to-5 jobs, traveling the world, helping those in need, and “living in a very, very nice house with his Jaguar and Aston Martin . . . working about three hours a day.” According to the complaint, ads invited consumers to a “FREE training workshop,” but it wasn’t long before the defendants wanted $1,995 for their “Time-Tested & Proven Step-By-Step System.”

 

 

Image
Lurn complaint illustrations

Another one of Lurn’s promotions – the $947 Kindle Cashflow University course – featured defendant Tyrone Cohen, who claimed to teach consumers a “tried, tested and proven step by step system that’s backed by ten plus years of teaching thousands of successful students of all backgrounds and ages across the planet how to make life changing money.” So how did the “system” work? The defendants directed consumers to find a successful book on Amazon, emulate its contents in a 10-35 page document, and then sell it on Amazon for an “evergreen” and “passive” source of income.

 

Then there was the $1,588 Printable Profits course, advertised in a video in which defendant Singal interviewed defendant David Kettner about an opportunity that would give consumers a “very good chance at a six-figure income.” According to Kettner, Printable Profits’ “simple easy and proven system” involved looking for mugs that have sold well on Amazon and using an app to create and sell similar designs. Kettner further claimed that even if 98% of the designs weren’t successful, 2% success meant that consumers can still make $11,453 per month based on the amount of overall mug sales made online.

 

And the company didn’t stop there. Once Lurn and Singal had people on the hook, the defendants often followed up by having telemarketers contact consumers to pitch pricey “consulting programs” that went by names like “Digital Business Accelerator,” “Digital Empire,” and “Marketplace Mastery,” and cost consumers as much as $10,000. Following a Lurn script, telemarketers asked consumers how much money they would like to make. Regardless of their answer, the telemarketer responded that “I’m 100% confident we can help you” get the results the person wanted.

 

The complaint outlines the allegations in detail, but the big-picture point is that the defendants’ money-making claims were false or misleading. The complaint also describes just how the FTC says Lurn and Singal violated established legal principles both before and after receiving the FTC Notices of Penalty Offenses.

 

The lawsuit charges that the defendants’ earnings claims violated the FTC Act, and that Lurn and Singal violated the Telemarketing Sales Rule by mispresenting material aspects of investment opportunities. Furthermore, based on the Notice of Penalty Offenses Concerning Money-Making Opportunities, the FTC charged that Lurn and Singal knew it was “is an unfair or deceptive trade practice to make false, misleading or deceptive representations concerning the profits or earnings that may be anticipated by a participant in a money-making opportunity” and yet continued to make illegal earnings claims.

 

The proposed settlements with Lurn, Singal, Cohen, and Kettner include broad injunctive provision to protect consumers in the future. The proposed order against Lurn and Singal also requires them to be turn over $2.5 million to be used for consumer refunds and to notify consumers who bought a course from them since May 1, 2019, of the FTC’s law enforcement action.

 

Even if you don’t sell money-making opportunities, the case conveys two important messages to advertisers.

 

An FTC Notice of Penalty Offenses gives rise to potential civil penalty liability, so law violations could have serious financial consequences. Under Section 5(m)(1)(B) of the FTC Act, the FTC can seek civil penalties if it establishes that: 1) the company knew the conduct was unfair or deceptive, in violation of the FTC Act; and 2) the FTC had already issued a written decision that the conduct in question is unfair or deceptive. Of course, the FTC still has to prove its case, but for companies that knowingly engage in conduct an FTC decision has declared to be illegal, the cost of non-compliance could be high.

 

Don’t play fast and loose with earnings “disclaimers” – or any other form of disclaimer. Despite the attention-grabbing headlines and express big-money representations, the defendants’ websites and presentations sneaked in statements like this: “Many of our products and promotions provide information about potential income you may earn. These representations are not intended to describe a certain outcome or even a typical outcome, but rather actual results from those who have had exceptional success. . . . Lurn offers no guarantee or warranty that you will realize the amount of income or revenue referenced in the promotions or the courses themselves.” Ineffective, says the FTC: “Defendants’ disclaimers directly contradict the messages conveyed repeatedly in their marketing – that purchasers are likely to earn substantial income utilizing Defendants’ program.” The key take-away is that what matters is the net impression conveyed to consumers. An advertiser can’t negate its primary marketing message with a pro forma “disclaimer.”

 

Tammie Burley
October 05, 2023

I'm a victim

Michelle Howard
October 16, 2023

In reply to by Tammie Burley

I'm a victim

Elliott
October 06, 2023

Making money is complicated legally.

Marcela
October 31, 2023

I was a victim of his scam as well. How do we get our money back?

Hal
October 31, 2023

I followed all they wanted me to do their Coffee Mug course gained me one sale and it was a custom and yea lost a lot of money I didn’t have. It was work and I put the time in and nothing.

Sean
October 31, 2023

Yes i agree I paid for this as well and they gave false statements

Hugh McGonigle
October 31, 2023

Never even knew about lawsuit I bought a course after 2019. Being overseas maybe I have no recourse.

Nida Desmarais
November 21, 2023

In reply to by Hugh McGonigle

I am one of customers/victim and was not aware of this lawsuit until I got an email from the Lurn Company apologizing. Are we getting back the money. I’m still paying my credit card that I used to buy. Emailed the FTC lawyers but never got a response.

Shireen
December 20, 2023

I purchased shamefully to say 19 of the programs, and am now loosing access to them. The programs are setup in a way that you can't download them for future use, even though we paid a lot of money for them. I was ok with having to work the programs but now I loose access to them and clearly have not been able to use all the programs. Please help to get my money back. When I first started with learn and going through one program which leads you to buying another program to assist with your business etc etc etc. And of course limited time offers.

Sara Morgan
January 02, 2024

How do we sign up to be notified how we can be apart of the settlement since I bought the course in 2021

Terrick Bland
January 17, 2024

I'm a victim of Lurn Inc. How do I get a refund? Lurn isn't responding to the phone or online.

Jim Rausch
January 19, 2024

I too am a victim of this scamming company buying into the coffee mug business that I spent a ton of money buying into all that was needed, and I never made one dime, nor one sale.

How do I sign up for this lawsuit a/o get on the list of victims? I would like my money back as well and the course I bought was over $1600 at the time time of purchase little over one year ago. Please reach out to me with any and all details how who I need to contact legally to get on the list of victims wanting restitution.

james William …
January 22, 2024

I was skeptical especially after reading so many failures of hopeful subscribers to Lurn on the Facebook channel. Singhal seemed very fishy
Didn't trust him but Ketteri seemed reasonable. I too am a victim of this scam

Jamon Q
January 22, 2024

I bought this course in
2021 through the Rich Dad company. They were signing people up the same day they shut down the Facebook group. Hopefully whoever is still apart of the Facebook page can warn others that it is a scam.

Henry O
February 05, 2024

In reply to by Jamon Q

I bought into it, they said lifetime access. Now, I can't even access those course any more!

Bernadette Dobeli
February 05, 2024

I was wondering what has happened. I bought a program but the training was too rambling to ever get to the point and I have earnt nil due to not getting started.

Henry Oliver
February 05, 2024

I am a victim....I lost 10,000

Jayshree Virk
March 04, 2024

In reply to by Henry Oliver

I spent over $10,000.
I’ve emailed and I have got zero response.

Gary Yoak
February 06, 2024

I signed up for Lurn.com from the start. As a legally blind person withlimited work history, the idea of making money online apeallled to me.

I bought a number of courses costing at least a few hundred dollars, and paid for internet hosting service recommended by one course author for too long. The process of setup and operation were far more involved than I was lead to believe.

How do I get my part of the refund?

Guest
February 20, 2024

Just contacted Lurn. They are STILL refusing to accept that they have done anything wrong and are refusing to refund. Also, a notification about there rulings was required for ALL customers - has anyone seen one ?

Liam
February 29, 2024

I purchase the ESI and printable profits courses. Both sold under false claims. How I get my money back? I'm UK based

More from the Business Blog

Get Business Blog updates