The Federal Trade Commission is sending $2.8 million in refunds to consumers who were harmed by DK Automation and its owners, Kevin David Hulse and David Shawn Arnett, who used unfounded claims of big returns to entice consumers into moneymaking schemes involving Amazon and Walmart business packages, business coaching, and cryptocurrency.
According to the FTC’s November 2022 complaint, the company and its owners promised consumers that they could “generate passive income on autopilot” when the truth was that few consumers ever made money from these schemes. They sold their programs under a number of different names, including AMZDFY, Amazon Done For You, and Amazon Done With You. They also pitched supposed cryptocurrency investment services that included their “#1 secret passive income crypto trading bot,” which they claimed could “generate profits for you even while you sleep.” Their marketing and sales pitches were filled with fake consumer reviews touting huge profits.
The company and its owners agreed to a settlement that required them to turn over the funds to be used to refund consumers harmed by their deception, as well as requiring them to stop their deceptive earnings pitches.
The FTC is sending payments via PayPal to 890 consumers. Recipients should redeem their payments within 30 days. Consumers who have questions about their payment should contact the refund administrator, Rust Consulting, Inc., at 1-833-637-3833 or visit the FTC website to view frequently asked questions about the refund process. The Commission never requires people to pay money or provide account information to get a refund.
The Commission’s interactive dashboards for refund data provide a state-by-state breakdown of refunds in FTC cases. In 2023, FTC actions led to $324 million in refunds to consumers across the country.