ERSP Refers Advertising for Mobile Money Code to FTC

The Electronic Retailing Self-Regulation Program (ERSP) will refer direct response advertising for Mobile Money Code to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) after the marketer failed to respond to an ERSP inquiry.

ERSP is an investigative unit of the advertising industry’s system of self-regulation and is administered by the Council of Better Business Bureaus. The marketer’s advertising came to ERSP’s attention pursuant to its ongoing monitoring program.

Claims at issue in the initial inquiry included:

• “Free Training: 100% Make Money With Your Cellphone!”
• “I’m going to help make you a millionaire”
• “The $45,422 Dollar a Day System – Mobile Money Code”
• [screen shot of statement: Available Balance] $2,577,839.10”
• “In the past two years I’ve made my money using a very powerful and unique custom made, cash-generating cell phone technology.”
• "I’m really hoping that this ‘automatic money system’ works…Am I really done? I can’t believe I’m done… $448.10! Wow! I was a believer, but now…wow! I mean, this is incredible!”

Pursuant to the ERSP Policy and Procedures, after failing to provide a substantive response to ERSP’s original inquiry within fifteen calendar days, the marketer was afforded a second ten-day period in which to submit a substantive response. The marketer did not do so. Pursuant to ERSP Policies and Procedures, this matter has been referred to the FTC.