WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Trade Commission has reached final settlements with the remaining defendants in a deceptive business opportunity scheme that promised consumers large profits from online stores on Amazon and Walmart. The defendants have agreed to surrender cash, real estate, and personal property valued in the millions, following allegations that they misled investors with false claims of guaranteed financial success.
The settlement resolves claims against Steven J. Mayer and several affiliated companies, including Ecom Genie Consulting. In addition to cash payments, the defendants will forfeit interests in Canadian commercial real estate, over $300,000 in personal assets, and approximately $1.7 million in cash.
“These defendants took advantage of people looking to provide for their families and obtain financial security,” said Christopher Mufarrige, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “The FTC will take action against those who promise big returns that they can’t back up.”
According to the FTC’s October 2024 lawsuit, the companies falsely claimed that consumers could earn “$100K+ per month” or build “million-dollar” e-commerce businesses. In reality, most customers saw little to no return, often losing tens of thousands of dollars and, in some cases, falling deep into debt.
The court orders ban Mayer, Ecom Genie Consulting, Profitable Automation, and Lunar Capital Ventures from participating in any future business opportunity ventures. They are also barred from making unsubstantiated claims about potential earnings.
Although the total monetary judgment against Mayer and his associates amounts to nearly $14 million, the FTC agreed to suspend a portion based on financial disclosures—unless the defendants are found to have misrepresented their assets, in which case the full judgment will be reinstated.
The Commission voted 3-0 to approve the final orders, which were filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
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