A June 2022 FTC data spotlight showed that in one 15-month period, consumers reported losing $575 million to cryptocurrency investment scams. In addition to the Amazon business packages, the defendants also pitched supposed cryptocurrency investment services that included their “#1 secret passive income crypto trading bot,” which they claimed could “generate profits for you even while you sleep.” The complaint alleges that they charged consumers thousands of dollars for the supposed service. Their marketing and sales pitches were filled with fake consumer reviews touting huge profits. According to the complaint, they promised consumers a “100% turnkey” business selling products on Amazon and charged consumers as much as $100,000 for the program. The defendants sold their Amazon programs under a number of different names, including AMZDFY, Amazon Done For You, and Amazon Done With You. The FTC’s complaint notes that the defendants continued to use deceptive earnings claims even after they received Notices of Penalty Offenses regarding money-making opportunities and endorsements from the agency. "They ignored warnings that these practices were illegal, and now they are paying the price.”Ī proposed court order would require the defendants to turn over $2.6 million to be used to refund consumers harmed by their deception, as well as requiring them to stop their deceptive earnings pitches and follow the law. “DK Automation ripped off consumers by manipulating reviews and making empty promises of big returns on cryptocurrency investment schemes and bogus business programs," said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. The FTC’s complaint alleges that the defendants promised consumers that they could “generate passive income on autopilot” when the truth was that few consumers ever made money from these schemes. The Federal Trade Commission is taking action against DK Automation and its owners, Kevin David Hulse and David Shawn Arnett for using unfounded claims of big returns to entice consumers into moneymaking schemes involving Amazon business packages, business coaching, and cryptocurrency. ![]() ![]() ![]() About the FTC Show/hide About the FTC menu items.News and Events Show/hide News and Events menu items.Advice and Guidance Show/hide Advice and Guidance menu items.Competition and Consumer Protection Guidance Documents.Enforcement Show/hide Enforcement menu items.
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