On 6/24/09 I was surfing the internet looking for information about franchise fraud. I checked out the website at www:usacomplaints.com and read the article posted under Report #1602. This was about the franchise business Speedy Sign-A-Rama, USA. When I read the details of the alleged rip-off I noticed a great similarity to the experiences Ive endured after buying into a Lyons & Wolivar Investigations franchise, also known as L&W Investigations (L&W).in fact, both bogus franchise businesses appear to be modeled after the same basic scam. This leads me to believe many franchises are probably set-up to rip people off this way and they essentially do so with criminal immunity.
I wont go into the details other than to say the tactics used by Sign-A-Rama are the same ones used by L&W. These are clearly fraudulent enterprises set-up with criminal intent from the very beginning. However, Ive learned the hard way that law enforcement agencies wont touch these cases with a 10-foot police baton. These are some of the agencies Ive reported this crime to so far: the FBI, Orange County CA Sheriffs Office, Orange County District Attorneys Office, Orange County Grand Jury, U.S. Postal Inspector, the Redding CA Police Department, the Shasta County District Attorneys Office, the FTC, and my congressman.
In each case I was either ignored and received no reply from the agencies or was told it wasnt a criminal matter. The Redding P.D. And Shasta DAs Office told me they didnt have jurisdiction although I reside here. Thus, Ive been denied my civil right to be a crime reporter or whistle blower. One of the most frustrating aspects for me is that I began reporting this crime in September and franchisees are still being ripped-off.
In fact, I was recently contacted by a retired RCMP officer who bought a territory in Canada for $200,000. He suspected hed been defrauded, but didnt realize the extent until I sent him all my documentation. He said L&W never disclosed any information about the group of 11 ex-franchisees whove been engaged in a legal battle with them since around March.
Our attorneys took this case on contingency and have reportedly spent over $1,000, 000 of their own money to keep it alive. L&W has applied the same tactics used by Sign-A-Rama to delay and outspend us. The retired officer was dumbfounded to learn that U.S. Law enforcement allowed this crime to continue and claim him as a victim even after I reported it fully to every proper authority I could think of a long time ago. He plans to report this crime in Canada, but meanwhile, franchises are still being sold.
I noticed that one of our ex-franchisees has posted a consumer complaints on this website and Id like to add this one as well. However, my main question is why wont law enforcement agencies investigate and stop these criminal enterprises? Surely they all understand the elements of fraud. Why do these white collar criminals keep getting away with defrauding honest citizens who, like me, didnt think this could happen in America?
I also reported this crime to several news agencies, but no one helped us. If this website has contact with legitimate investigative reporters Id be willing to cooperate with them to get the story out and warn others.
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