The following examples of telemarketing fraud investigations are written from public record documents on file in the court records in the judicial district in which the cases were prosecuted.

Father and Son Sentenced for Their Roles in a Fraudulent Credit Card Debt Elimination Scheme

On February 27, 2009, in Columbus, Ohio, Dan Wickline and his son, Chad Wickline, were sentenced for their roles in operating a Canal Winchester-based company that fraudulently advertised it could eliminate people’s credit card debt.  Dan Wickline was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Chad Wickline was sentenced to 30 months in prison. The defendants were also ordered to pay restitution to victims and to pay all federal income taxes owed, plus interest and penalties.  According to court documents, the Wicklines sold customers a product through their company, Liberty Resources, that they guaranteed would eliminate customers’ credit card debt if they paid a fee ranging from a few hundred to several thousand dollars.  If the product was purchased, the customers received a document claiming that they were relieved from their credit card debt. The debt elimination product was based on what they claimed was a “loophole” in the banking laws.  Liberty Resources defrauded 450 victims out of more than $2 million between 2002 and 2006.

Fiscal Year 2008 - Examples of Telemarketing Fraud Investigations

Fiscal Year 2007 - Examples of Telemarketing Fraud Investigations

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