Jamaal Sanford from Springfield, Missouri, received a threatening email from an alleged “Russian shadow team” demanding the removal of a negative online review he left for an e-commerce company called Ascend Ecom. Sanford had invested $35,000 in Ascend and never recouped the money, leading him to be in debt. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has filed a lawsuit against Ascend for false claims related to earnings and business performance, as well as threatening and penalizing customers for honest reviews.
FTC has been cracking down on e-commerce money-making schemes, including automation companies like Ascend. These companies promise easy money opportunities on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube but often fail to deliver on their promises. Ascend co-founders Will Basta and Jeremy Leung are accused of defrauding consumers of at least $25 million through their scheme.
Sanford’s sales with Ascend’s dropshipping model on Amazon led to his store being suspended for policy violations. Ascend offered Sanford a $20,000 refund to remove his negative review, but he declined, seeking accountability instead. Ascend denies threatening customers and claims that a competitor may be behind the allegations.
Ascend falsely claimed to have been featured in various media outlets and promoted its business through social media platforms. The company faces multiple lawsuits and arbitration actions from customers who lost money after paying for its automation services.
The FTC alleges that Ascend’s promises of quick earnings on platforms like Amazon and Walmart were not fulfilled, leaving consumers with depleted bank accounts and credit card bills. The agency is seeking monetary relief for Ascend customers and aims to prevent the company from doing business permanently.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com