Federal Trade Commission made bogus Google affiliates pay +30M in settlement

On Monday Federal Trade Commission has announced a settlement made with a number of online marketers who allegedly had ties with Google. The firms with such big names "Google Money Tree," "Google Pro," and "Google Treasure Chest," were attracting people offering to make money online and to earn $100,000 in six months.

People were to provide their payment details by paying a small shipping fee for a work-at-home kit which supposedly allowed them to work at home. By purchasing this kit users were automatically charged $72.21 for another product the consumer took steps to cancel.

According to Federal Trade Commission the defendants violated the FTC Act by charging people without a preliminary notice, by making people believe that they could earn up to $100,000, and by deceiving people that they were affiliated with Google Inc. 

To settle the case the defendants Jonathan Eborn, Michael McLain Miller and Tony Norton are to pay $29.5 million and the fourth defendant, Stephanie Burnside is to pay $741,900 fine. Also they will have to pay $3.5 million in cash and other assets including two cars, a boat and a gun collection.