Americans Victimized By Epidemic Of Fraud

Americans seeking extra incomes or hoping to become their own bosses are being victimized by an epidemic of fraudulent business offers, state and federal officials warned Tuesday.

Project Telesweep, a coalition of law enforcement and consumer groups, announced that legal action has been taken against 90 operations in the last two weeks.

“There is a vast amount of fraud - we think it’s an epidemic of fraud,” said Federal Trade Commission Chairman Robert Pitofsky.

Many of the offers involve vending machines, amusement games, pay phones and display racks for greeting cards, computer software and other items.

“The victims are middle-class Americans trying to pay the mortgage, send their children to school or just put food on the table,” added Deborah Bortner, administrator of the Washington State Securities Division.