WASHINGTON—The operators of a scheme that conned consumers into paying non-existent debts will be permanently banned from the debt collection business and from misleading consumers about debt, following a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission.
The FTC filed a complaint against Global Asset Financial Services Group, LLC in February, alleging the operators of the company falsely claimed to be attorneys or affiliated with attorneys to pressure consumers into making payments on debts they did not owe, and threatened to take legal action against consumers if they did not pay.
In May, four of the defendants—Global Asset Financial Services Group, LLC, Ankh Ali, Aziza Ali, and Kenneth Moody—agreed to settle the charges against them. This week, the remaining defendants, Omar Hussain, David Carr, Jeremy Scinta, and nine companies controlled by the three men, also agreed to settle the charges against them, the FTC said.
In addition to being banned from debt collection, debt brokering activities, and misleading consumers, the defendants also will be banned from misrepresenting to consumers whether they are attorneys.
Monetary Judgements
The settlements also include monetary judgments totaling approximately $25.5 million. Most of the judgments are suspended due to the defendants’ inability to pay, except for a $3.1 million judgment against one of the defendants’ companies, Regional Asset Maintenance, LLC. In addition, several of the defendants will have to surrender the contents of their bank accounts, the FTC said.