On 09/12/02 I was contacted via an unsolisited e-mail, by a Mr David Martinelli who represented an internet advertizing company named Axtionnetwork.com. Through a link in that e-mail to a "Live Chat" window, Mr Martinelli smoothly answered my questions about this CPC advertizing system. It seemed legitimate so I told him I'ld give it a try. Amazingly an online check appeared on my screen!
As I began asking other questions about this system he would give a vague brief answer but always kept asking if I had filled out his online check yet. Finally I had authorized an online check to be deducted from our business checking account. The payment was for a test of their internet advertizing system. Mr Martinelli stated that the check did not process and that I should try sending the transaction through again only using a different check number. So I sent a second check being reassured that the first one did not process and that if it came through he would void it. I typed on the next check "Void Check #*".
About a week afterward I had discovered that he had gone ahead and cashed both checks! I immediately contacted him on his "live" chat line (his phone number is not in service). He said he would have to verify it and get back to me. I didn't like being put off. I insisted that he verify it that day. Then he began to clam up. He would make long delays in his replys to my questions. He even at one point left the chat session and went to lunch without even letting me know or logging off. When he came back I demanded that he disconnect his system from our web-site and issue me a full refund because of his rude and unprofessional conduct.
He refused and closed the session. After several contact attempts he had still failed to turn off his "counter" system and refund the money for the first check. I was then afraid that he might attempt to use our account number to withdraw additional unauthorized funds (he has done this to at least one other person). I alerted my bank.
Since then I have found out that Mr Martinelli has had a judgment against him by the FTC for over $70,000 for ripping-off scores of other people with an MLM employment scam. But in spite of this he is now using this current CPC advertizing system to rip-off even more people despite the judgement against him by the FTC which prohibits him from misleading anyone else again in any sort of a sales scam!
I finally warned Mr Martinelli in his "live chat" window, that if he did not disconnect his system from my website and send me a complete refund I would file a formal complaint with the FTC. He replied "go for it".
I filed the formal complaint yesterday and hope that anyone else that has had the misfortune of being ripped-off by Mr Martinelli will do the same.
Greg
Lincoln City, Oregon
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