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The Federal Trade Commission is mailing 1,897 refund checks to consumers who allegedly were deceived by false promises that they could get federal jobs if they paid for study materials or counseling services to help them pass an exam, even though often there were no exams or jobs.  Under settlements reached in December 2010 and March 2012 as part of the FTC’s ongoing efforts to protect consumers in financial distress, the defendants, Government Careers Inc., Jon Coover, Richard Friedberg, and Rimona Friedberg, are permanently banned from selling employment-related products or services.

More than $50,000 is being returned to consumers; payments will be 22.73 percent of their loss.  Consumers who receive the checks from the FTC’s refund administrator should cash them within 60 days of the date they were issued.  The FTC never requires consumers to pay money or provide information before redress checks can be cashed.  Consumers with questions should call the refund administrator, BMC Group, at 1-888-768-2051, or visit www.FTC.gov/refunds.

The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 2,000 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s website provides free information on a variety of consumer topics.  Like the FTC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.

(Government Careers redress)