I guess this is where I have to say why I’m writing today… but I won’t. I know most people who land here through a search engine is looking for something they can do at home, that is part time, and will supplement their income.
I am not one to toot my own horn. But I think I’ve found a solution to the numerous scams out there, that claim that they have a job opportunity and then ask you to send spam emails and get paid about $.01 per email sent. No wonder people flood strangers email boxes… that’s a good way to make new friends. Right. (And I’m being sarcastic.)
I was looking online for a simple way to make a little extra cash with little experience needed and not too much time wasted. I found a posting on a job message board where it advertised that a home-based opportunity and so I applied, already thinking that it was a scam. But you never know, right? RIGHT!
I wound up talking to a very nice person and all he did was send me to his website about this company that has been in business for over 15 years! If I was interested, I would have to fill out the form on the website for an interview… and then he’d contact me. Well, I did… and here I am.
This work-at-home opportunity makes great sense. I really believe in it… and I hope to get support from everyone about my choice! I also wanted to share the opportunity with you! So, here is my website with the company:
http://www.freedomathometeam.com/yurikohayashi
If you happen to also need a discount dental or health plan, go here:
http://www.mybenefitsplus.com/yurikohayashi
I hope you will find the information useful!
Hiya, Yuriko – how’s married life treating you?
Of course I am completely supportive of your desire to catch up on debts and get ahead. Nicely written “about” page on that site, by the way.
However, I’m sorry to tell you that, according to the Montana State Auditor (news releases below), AmeriPlan is a fraud as well as an illegal pyramid scheme. You can research this further for yourself on their website at http://sao.mt.gov
If you have paid them any money to join their sales force, you should demand an immediate refund on the basis that they failed to disclose this information to you. If they don’t give you a refund, contact your state Attorney General to make a complaint.
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July 19, 2006
MORRISON SHUTS DOWN ALLEGED FAKE DISCOUNT CARD OPERATION IN MONTANA
New law provides tools required to charge violators; Fines of up to $25,000 per violation could be imposed
State Auditor John Morrison issued a cease and desist and charged AmeriPlan USA, its founding officers, Dennis and Daniel Bloom, and Shirl Shelley, a Montana resident with numerous violations of both the Montana Insurance Code and the Montana Securities Act. The Notice of Proposed Agency Disciplinary Action is the first of its kind in Montana and possibly the first in the nation, relying on a new law governing medical care discount cards. Morrison promised last year to ensure that medical care discount card providers were legitimate before they were allowed to sell these products in Montana and he is now making good on that promise. Morrison is initiating a statewide investigation into other similar providers.
“I have zero tolerance for illegal schemes that prey on Montanans,” said Morrison. “We designed this new law to help us weed out the swindlers from the legitimate players so Montanans are protected.”
The company and its agents and officers are accused of failing to contract with the medical care providers (including doctors, nurse practitioners, physician’s assistants and hospitals) they advertise as participants in AmeriPlan’s medical care discount program. The Auditor alleges that over 700 Montana AmeriPlan members living all across the state are unable to use the discount cards because there are few, if any, providers in Montana. Additionally, AmeriPlan is charged with conducting an illegal pyramid promotional scheme because it sold “broker packages” for the purpose of recruiting memberships. Because the memberships were for discounts that did not exist, Morrison alleges there is no actual product being sold. AmeriPlan’s largest source of income in Montana is from the sales of these “broker packages,” which are nothing but a pyramid scheme, according to the Auditor’s charging document.
AmeriPlan’s website and other advertising, including oral assertions from some of its agents, claim to have a substantial number of medical care providers, dentists, and chiropractors contracted to provide a significant discount through the purchase of its card. When the Auditor’s office investigated these claims they were unable to find a single medical care provider or chiropractor who honored the discount cards, and the only dentist who had contracted with AmeriPlan is located in Forsyth. The new law requires the discount card companies to have contracts for services with providers located within a 60 mile radius of the card holder.
“This law gives us the tools to crack down on phony discount card plans,” said Morrison. “And my office will also be able to help Montanans make smart choices about medical discount cards – but people need to pick up the phone and call us to check out an offer before moving forward.”
The company was told to stop its activity in November of 2005 but AmeriPlan continued to market its discount cards until the matter was referred to Morrison’s legal staff in late April. Additional charges include securities fraud, using deceptive or fraudulent practices in the marketing of their discount cards, selling unregistered securities by unregistered salespersons and failure to stop marketing the cards when they were not properly registered.
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Ameriplan Settles Fraud Allegations for $200,000
November 22, 2006
Montana State Auditor John Morrison announced he has reached a settlement agreement with AmeriPlan to resolve allegations of insurance and securities fraud. In July, Morrison issued a cease and desist order after charging AmeriPlan USA, its founding officers, Dennis and Daniel Bloom, and Shirl Shelley, a Montana resident, with numerous violations of both the Montana Insurance Code and the Montana Securities Act. The action taken against AmeriPlan was the first of its kind in Montana, relying on a new law governing medical care discount cards. Morrison requested the legislation last session to ensure that medical care discount card providers were legitimate before they were allowed to sell their products in Montana.
“This settlement agreement serves to remind medical discount card companies that protecting Montanans is our number one priority,” said Morrison. “If discount card providers refuse to play by our new rules, they will pay the price and won’t be allowed to operate in Montana.”
Under the agreement, AmeriPlan must pay an administrative fine of $200,000 and create a restitution fund for Montana customers who were duped by the company. Montana customers of AmeriPlan can expect to receive a letter informing them that they are eligible to submit a claim to the restitution fund. In addition, AmeriPlan is banned from marketing and selling its products in Montana for two years.
AmeriPlan and its agents and officers were accused of failing to contract with the medical care providers (including doctors, nurse practitioners, physician’s assistants and hospitals) they advertise as participants in AmeriPlan’s medical care discount program. The Auditor alleged that more than 700 Montana AmeriPlan members in the state were unable to use the discount cards because there were few, if any, providers in Montana. Additionally, AmeriPlan is charged with conducting an illegal pyramid promotional scheme because it sold “broker packages” for the purpose of recruiting memberships. Because the memberships were for discounts that did not exist, Morrison alleged there was no actual product being sold. AmeriPlan’s largest source of income in Montana was from the sales of these “broker packages,” according to the Auditor’s charging document.
According to the auditor, AmeriPlan’s website and other advertising, including oral assertions from some of its agents, claimed to have medical care providers, dentists, and chiropractors contracted to provide a significant discount through the purchase of its card. When the Auditor’s office investigated these claims they were unable to find a medical care provider or chiropractor who honored the discount cards. The only dentist who had contracted with AmeriPlan was located in Forsyth and was on probationary status with the Montana Board of Dentistry for his unlawful activities in Colorado. The new law requires the discount card companies to have contracts for services with providers located within a 60 mile radius of the card holder.
The company was told to stop its activity in Nov. 2005 but AmeriPlan continued to market its discount cards until the matter was referred to Morrison’s legal staff in late April. Additional charges included securities fraud, using deceptive or fraudulent practices in the marketing of their discount cards, selling unregistered securities by unregistered salespersons and failure to stop marketing the cards when they were not properly registered.
“With insurance premiums on the rise consumers are searching for ways to obtain medical care coverage at a manageable cost,” said Morrison. “These fake discount card operators are preying on folks who are trying to find alternative solutions to the high cost of heath insurance. Our main goal is protecting Montanans while aggressively pursuing those bad actors in the industry who are exploiting the health care crisis facing consumers.”
The settlement agreement can be found at http://www.mt.gov/sao. Montananswith questions regarding the settlement are being directed to call the State Auditor’s Office at 800-332-6148.
Source: Montana State Auditor’s Office
I left a comment you definitely need to see, but it’s not showing up here. Check your spam filter, it might be there because it has a link in it.
Hiya! Glad you checked out the site. I am aware that there are states where Ameriplan cannot do business… Alaska is another state.
However, I still believe that this is an opportunity that suits me. Especially when I’ve been burned with the internet article writing, online survey-taking, and other scams that just seems to waste your time without trying to help anyone but themselves.
Thanks for the heads up!
Hiya again! There indeed are a LOT of home-based business scams out there, sadly.
As long as you’re aware of AmeriPlan’s previous problems, then I wish you only the very best with your new business venture.
Thank you! I really appreciate the kind words and warnings. I know you’re only looking out for me.
And I’m really glad to have someone who cares like that!
Exposing scams is something I’ve done for years, so I wouldn’t be a very good friend if I didn’t look out for you in something like this.