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Tips on Spotting Phony Debt-Collectors Trying to Scam You

11/25/2019

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New Resource for Traditional and Non-Trad Funeral Planning in Oregon

11/25/2019

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Worthwhile information in here -- worth checking out.
Click on photo above or point your browser to https://www.oregonfuneral.org/
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Cool -- Guide to Finding All Veterans Benefits in Every State

11/13/2019

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Graphic of website search engine for veterans benefits
Click on the photo above to be taken to a cool search engine that compiles state-specific and federal benefits in one place for any state.  Here's today's printout for Oregon (subject to updates of course):


  • "I Am Not Invisible Exhibit"Oregon | Commemoration/Acknowledgement
    N/A or not disclosed
    Female
  • Anti-Discrimination Law (Military Status and Spouses of Deploying Veterans)Oregon | Anti-Discrimination Law/Policy (Vet Status)
    N/A or not disclosed
    State National Guard/Reserve, Active Duty, Dependents
  • College Credit for Military TrainingOregon | Educational Credit/Diploma
    N/A or not disclosed
    All Veterans, State National Guard/Reserve, Active Duty
  • Direct Professional Licensing for Military ExperienceOregon | License/Certification
    N/A or not disclosed
    All Veterans, State National Guard/Reserve, Active Duty
  • Employment ProtectionOregon | (Re-)Employment Protection
    N/A or not disclosed
    State National Guard/Reserve
  • Federal Pension Income Tax Subtraction for Military RetireesOregon | Income Tax
    N/A or not disclosed
    Retired
  • Free Camping at State Parks for Disabled Veterans and Active DutyOregon | Park/Camping/Lodging Admissions
    No fee
    Disabled (Service-Connected), State National Guard/Reserve, Active Duty
  • Free Fishing and Hunting Licenses for Disabled War VeteransOregon | Fishing/Hunting License
    No fee
    Disabled (Service-Connected), Served in Combat
  • Free Parking at State Parks for Disabled Veterans and Active DutyOregon | Toll/Travel Fare/Parking Discount
    No fee
    Disabled (Service-Connected), State National Guard/Reserve, Active Duty
  • In-State Tuition for VeteransOregon | Tuition-Rate
    Discount Equivalent to In-State/Resident Rate
    All Veterans, Killed/Died (Service-Connected), Survivors
  • Income Tax Deduction for Active Duty Pay Earned Inside of StateOregon | Income Tax
    Up to $6,000 deduction
    State National Guard/Reserve, Active Duty
  • Income Tax Exemption for Active Duty Pay Earned Outside of StateOregon | Income Tax
    No income tax
    Active Duty
  • Military and Veteran License PlatesOregon | Vehicle License Plates
    N/A or not disclosed
    All Veterans, 100% Disabled, Purple Heart, Killed/Died (Service-Connected), Served in Combat
  • ODVA Home Loan ProgramOregon | Loan/Financing
    N/A or not disclosed
    Other than Dishonorable Discharge
  • Oregon DVA Conservatorship ProgramOregon | Guardianship/Custodianship
    N/A or not disclosed
    Indigent/Unable to Care for Self
  • Oregon DVA Conservatorship ProgramOregon | Legal Assistance
    N/A or not disclosed
    Indigent/Unable to Care for Self
  • Oregon Service-Disabled Veteran CertificationOregon | Preferred Status (Business)
    N/A or not disclosed
    Disabled (Service-Connected)
  • Oregon Veterans' Emergency AssistanceOregon | Emergency Relief
    N/A or not disclosed
    All Veterans, Low Income/Homeless vet/Hardship, Dependents
  • Oregon Veterans' HomesOregon | Residential Housing
    N/A or not disclosed
    Honorable Discharge, Dependents
  • Oregon Veterans' HomesOregon | Residential Housing
    N/A or not disclosed
    Honorable Discharge, Dependents
  • Oregon Wounded Warrior Parking PlacardOregon | Toll/Travel Fare/Parking Discount
    No fee
    Disabled (Service-Connected)
  • Property Tax Exemption for Disabled VeteransOregon | Property
    No property tax
    Disabled (Service-Connected), Other than Dishonorable Discharge, Survivors
  • Resident Rate Hunting and Fishing Licenses for Active DutyOregon | Fishing/Hunting License
    Discount Equivalent to In-State/Resident Rate
    Active Duty
  • State Council - Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military ChildrenOregon | Primary/Secondary School Assistance
    N/A or not disclosed
    State National Guard/Reserve, Active Duty, Dependents
  • State Tuition Assistance for Oregon National GuardOregon | Scholarship/Tuition-Assistance
    100% covered
    State National Guard/Reserve
  • Statewide Apprenticeships (BOLI)Oregon | Training/Apprenticeship
    N/A or not disclosed
    All Veterans
  • Veteran Volunteer ProgramOregon | Benefits Counseling/Determinations
    N/A or not disclosed
    All Veterans
  • Veteran's Day Off for All VeteransOregon | Commemoration/Acknowledgement
    N/A or not disclosed
    All Veterans
  • Veterans Designation on Driver's LicenseOregon | Driver's License/ID - Designation
    N/A or not disclosed
    Other than Dishonorable Discharge
  • Veterans PreferenceOregon | Preferred Status (Employment/Training)
    N/A or not disclosed
    Other than Dishonorable Discharge
  • Voyager Tuition Assistance ProgramOregon | Scholarship/Tuition-Assistance
    To the "Last Dollar," or the difference between what federal aid programs cover and the actual cost of tuition
    State National Guard/Reserve
  • Women Veterans CoordinatorOregon | Claims Assistance/Benefits Advocacy
    N/A or not disclosed
    Female
  • WorkSource Oregon Priority for Veterans and SpousesOregon | Preferred Status (Employment/Training)
    N/A or not disclosed
    All Veterans, Dependents
  • Troops to Teachers Grant Coordination OfficesOregon | Hiring Facilitation
    N/A or not disclosed
    Honorable Discharge, Active Duty

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The Only Easy Money in Real Estate

11/5/2019

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I've had to help several people clients get money back from shady "training" companies that supposedly offer to teach you how to flip real estate for big profits.

These slimy people are truly the snake-oil salespeople of the 21st Century. Whether they call themselves "[big name] University" or some sort "seminar" offering "inside information," the only thing you really need to know is this:

The only easy money made in real estate is made off people who think there's easy money to be made in real estate.

Don't be one of them.
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Graphic of slick promotional piece trying to lure people to a "real estate flipping" course
A mailer sent by defendants enticing consumers to attend a Nudge “preview event.

“These defendants presided over a sales process that started with empty promises of future wealth and ended with many consumers left in financial ruin,” said Andrew Smith, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “The lure of easy income is strong, but consumers should stop and evaluate the facts behind any money-making promise.”

Nudge began selling real estate training packages at least as early as 2012. In its complaint, the FTC alleges that Nudge’s revenues from late 2014 to late 2017 alone were more than $400 million.
According to the complaint, the scheme starts with advertisements featuring real estate television celebrities, including Scott Yancey from A&E’s “Flipping Vegas,” Doug Clark from Spike TV’s “Flip Men,” Drew Levin and Danny Perkins from HGTV’s “Renovate to Rent,” and Josh Altman from Bravo’s “Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles.” These advertisements, which promise celebrities’ insider tips on how to make money in real estate, allegedly have enticed thousands of consumers to attend free 90-minute seminars.
The FTC’s complaint charges that the free seminars are predominantly a sales pitch to spend more than $1,100 to attend a three-day workshop, where consumers will supposedly get access to a “system” for finding “lucrative” deals. Those promises also prove empty, as the three-day workshops largely consist of general information about real estate investing, misrepresentations about services offered by Nudge, and a sales pitch for “advanced training” that costs as much as $40,000, according to the complaint.
Until at least 2016, according to the complaint, the advanced training pitched by Nudge included access to so-called “Buying Summits” or “Investor Expos.” At these events, consumers were promised special access to properties at discounted prices for purchase. However, as alleged in the complaint, defendants typically sold or brokered the properties to consumers at inflated prices.
The complaint was filed by the FTC and Utah Division of Consumer Protection against Nudge, LLC and two of its affiliates, Response Marketing Group, LLC and BuyPD, LLC. The defendants also include five individuals who are principals or executives of one or more of those companies: Brandon B. Lewis; Ryan C. Poelman; Phillip W. Smith; Shawn L. Finnegan; and Clint R. Sanderson. The real estate celebrities featured in Nudge’s marketing are not named as defendants.
The complaint alleges the defendants violated the FTC Act and the FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule, as well as three Utah statutes: the Utah Consumer Sales Practices Act; the Business Opportunity Disclosure Act; and the Telephone Fraud Prevention Act.
The Commission vote authorizing the staff to file the complaint was 5-0. The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah.
NOTE: The Commission files a complaint when it has “reason to believe” that the named defendants are violating or are about to violate the law and it appears to the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest. The case will be decided by the court.
The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition, and protect and educate consumers. You can learn more about consumer topics and file a consumer complaint online or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357).

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LAWYERLY FINE PRINT:

John Gear Law Office LLC and Salem Consumer Law.  John Gear Law Office is in Suite 208B of the Security Building in downtown Salem at 161 High St. SE, across from the Elsinore Theater, a half-block south of Marion County Courthouse, just south of State Street. There is abundant, free 3-hour on-street parking throughout downtown Salem, and three multi-story parking ramps that offer free customer parking in downtown Salem too.

Our attorneys are only licensed to practice law in Oregon. This site may be considered advertising under Oregon State Bar rules. There is no legal advice on this site so you should not interpret anything you read here as intended for your particular situation. Besides, we are not representing you and we are not your attorneys unless you have hired us by entering into a representation agreement with me. While we do want you to consider us when you seek an attorney, you should not hire any attorney based on brochures, websites, advertising, or other promotional materials.  All original content on this site is Copyright John Gear, 2010-2022.

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