American Tax Relief has apparently helped to prove that online scams based right here in America can be financially disastrous to victims. They have been accused of bilking people who are desperate and in need of tax debt relief. It’s bad enough that sleazy people overseas are constantly trying to steal our money via Internet means, but it is really pathetic when it’s being done by companies right here in the USA.
American Tax Relief: Are they the Company from the TV and Radio Ads?
Yup, that’s them. Along with trying to lure people in through the Internet, American Tax Relief had a high profile in advertising in other mediums. The issues with this company highlight the fact that – particularly when talking about financial issues – it is not necessarily better to deal with someone who has a high profile presence over the local person. Had each of the alleged victims of this company gone to a local lawyer or law firm, they likely would not be in the tough situation they currently find themselves.
If you find yourself having difficulties paying your tax debt, don’t automatically go to the person or company you have heard about the most. Having a big budget for advertising doesn’t mean anything as to the effectiveness or legitimacy of a company.
American Tax Relief: What did they do that I Should Watch Out For?
In a Los Angeles Times article titled, “Court shuts down Beverly Hills firm in alleged tax-relief scam,” from October 7, 2010, Tiffany Hsu writes that “The FTC (Federal Trade Commission) said Wednesday that the company, American Tax Relief, used TV, radio and Internet advertising to lure consumers by falsely claiming that it could settle their delinquent federal and state taxes for far less than they owed.”
The article goes on to detail that the husband and wife owners of the company, Alexander Seung Hahn and Joo Hyun Park would charge people as much as $25,000 in upfront fees. David C. Vladek, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection is quoted, saying that American Tax Relief’s services were “essentially useless.”
American Tax Relief would charge people fees to “remove tax liens and also stop wage garnishments, bank and tax levies, property seizures and ‘unbearable monthly payments.’" – All things that, for the large part, they were completely unable to do.
American Tax Relief: What is the Lesson to be Learned?
Particularly with the proliferation of the Internet as Americans’ main source of information, scams in every aspect of life, particularly business, are commonplace and ever-evolving. Anyone dealt with over the Internet should be carefully researched before even thinking of sending them any of your money.
This may seem like a no-brainer, but when people are in desperate times, they will sometimes make poor, snap decisions, hoping for some relief.
American Tax Relief apparently counted on that fact.
Want a little something lighter to read now? How about this interesting take on Nostradamus?
Curtis Candy - I'm an ex-professional wrestler and stand-up comic, who, after suffering impressive amounts of cranial trauma (most of it from wrestling; ...
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