FTC Issues Over $5 Million in Refunds to Victims of Fraudulent Debt Relief Scheme

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is refunding over $5 million to people who were scammed by a fake credit card debt relief program called ACRO Services. This company falsely promised to reduce or even erase consumers’ credit card debt within 12 to 18 months, charging them high upfront fees and monthly charges for services they never truly delivered.

ACRO Services went by several names, including American Consumer Rights Organization, Consumer Protection Resources, Reliance Solutions, Thacker & Associates, and Tri Star Consumer Group. These companies ran a deceptive telemarketing operation, luring customers with false promises.

Consumers were told they would see their credit card debt greatly reduced, but instead, they ended up paying thousands in illegal enrollment fees. Additionally, the company charged monthly fees ranging from $20 to $35 for so-called “credit monitoring” services.

Legal Action and Refund Process

In November 2022, the FTC filed a lawsuit against ACRO Services and its owners. As part of the legal settlement, the defendants were banned from operating in the debt relief and telemarketing industries. They also had to give up their assets to refund victims of the scam.

Some of the refund money came from the FTC’s case against BlueSnap, a payment processing company that provided services to ACRO Services and profited from their fraudulent operations.

Now, the FTC is sending refund checks to 7,687 consumers. These consumers should cash their checks within 90 days. Anyone with questions about their payment can contact JND Legal Administration at 877-753-2846 or visit the FTC website for more information. Importantly, the FTC does not ask for money or personal account details to process these refunds.

Consumer Awareness and Protection

The FTC emphasizes its mission to protect consumers from fraud and scams. The agency provides resources to educate the public about identifying scams, reporting fraud, and staying informed about consumer rights.

In 2023, FTC actions resulted in $330 million in refunds to consumers nationwide. The Commission also offers interactive dashboards showing refund data broken down by state, making it easier for people to track these efforts.

For more details about consumer protection or to report a scam, visit consumer.ftc.gov or ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC is also active on social media and sends regular alerts about ongoing scams and consumer news.

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