I am one of the members who invested monies into Gary Shawkey's programs over the past four years, and recently joined this organized group that is trying to either get him to follow through with his promises, give us refunds dues us... Or just plain get him put out of business before he finds a whole new group of victims.
He only owes me about $3900 total... And I still have money in the bank, even though I am 60 yrs old, on medical disability since last winter from my RN career and could certainly benefit by having this amount in my checkbook right now instead of his coffers! I am not angry so much for myself... As I am after learning just how many... And how MUCH money. He has bilked of others.
The largest amount invested with him is around $500,000 and that resulted in the wife committing suicide last spring, when that couple lost their house! When I learned that this lady's death was directly due to their financial issues related to what they invested with Gary, I knew he had to be stopped!
You see, this woman, was so loyal and devoted to him, and they have paperwork showing that they have 25% ownership in his business... And she was so upset at their financial state that she begged him to help them back... By getting some of the commissions he owed them paid back so they wouldn't lose their house... And he never did a thing to help.
Now I haven't actually seen these papers with my own eyes... But the husband, who is an MD IS in our group and is close to those in our group... That some HAVE seen the paperwork. To me, it means this man is a slimebag... To do NOTHING to help someone.
I KNOW we are all responsible for what decisions we make regarding our money... But they honestly thought they were making a legit investment into this man's business and would get a ROI! They were close to him. The wife worked unendingly for Gary's causes and his business... On a daily basis!
Then, there is learning about all the overseas members who paid in large amounts of monies too... And they sit quietly by because they do not believe that they can be helped because they do not live in the USA. One man in Australia put in around $200,000 all from his church's savings, because he believed he would make enough back to do some good missionary work.
There are many other stories... And sad to say, so many of them involve those of us over 60, on disability or limited incomes... Who were only hoping to generate some additional money to help ourselves out. We are honest, ethical and moral people... Who got taken in by a fast talker with a lot of empty promises.
One of our biggest concerns is that one of these programs is called PowerEKids... And it is supposed to be a program to provide for special needs kids. People paid in membership fees monthly of up to $20 and bought 'Paving Bricks' at $100 ea. For the Deer Valley Camp (Formerly called Shalom Lake Camp, but at the same address in Windsor, Ohio) with this money supposedly going to provide camp and other experiences for needy kids.
Now, we think we have found paperwork showing that the property is registered as a Non Profit organization... BUT the Shawkey's live on the property themselves.
There have been no camp sessions or any other activities for kids. We have heard that the camp is not even handicapped approved in it's design. So, we then took the tactic of assuming that perhaps the camp WAS an asset of the GSI business as a whole... And it might be used to pay us back our money. When we asked questions about this, we were told by Gary that the camp was his 'private residence' and that HE paid the $5000 mortgage monthly on the place and we had NO right to be asking questions of him about it.
So, we wonder, how can it be registered as a non profit for tax purposes... And have it be his private residence? Can it continue to be a non profit and not be used to benefit handicapped kids? Can he have a non profit business and be running "for profit" training weekends (for adults about internet marketing at a charge of $1450 each individual) on the facility? What is the law or regulation about this stuff?
Can a business owner tell you that you will be paid 50% of the company profits, but then edit that down to apparently meaning 50% of the NET profits of the company... And then legally just be sure there are NEVER any NET profits... So no need to pay anyone back on their investments?
Our group has filed complaints in many places, but we keep getting the run around and no action. We have been trying to do our own investigations around things we are concerned about, but we don't have access to databases that would give us the answers.
So now we are filing complaints where ever we can find on the internet, hoping to at least help others avoid getting taken in my this man. We have closed out checkbooks to him, and he is already thinking up new schemes with dollars attached to lure others into.
Currently he is trying to lure other internet business people into a weekend training at his camp, which is costing $1450.. To learn and get some dubious marketing techniques which may involved harvested email lists that these new victims will have paid for, and may get charged with spamming on line if they use the plan he has in place. We need the public to beward of this man, and keep their checkbooks closed!!
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