FTC sends refunds to people who lost money in pyramid scheme
The FTC is mailing a third round of checks to people who lost money to Fortune Hi-Tech Marketing (FHTM). The FTC and the states of Illinois, Kentucky and North Carolina charged FHTM with making deceptive claims about how much people could earn by selling various products and services as FHTM representatives. The company agreed to settle the lawsuit and paid money to provide partial refunds.
The first round of checks was mailed in November of 2016, and the second round was mailed in September 2018. These previous distributions resulted in more than $3.2 million in refunds. Because the FTC recovered additional money from the defendants, the agency is mailing an additional 102,178 checks totaling more than $1.4 million. Each check is worth $14.52, bringing each person's total recovery to $41.23.
If you get a check, please cash it within 90 days.
You can find answers to common questions about refund payments on our FAQ page. If you have any other questions, please call the refund administrator at 1-800-964-0978.