Three more people have been convicted of bilking elderly homeowners out of $1 million for supposedly septic-friendly toilet paper in Florida. We reported here last November that three people were convicted in the case involving a company called FBK Products LLC and a product called Septic Remedy. This week, browardpalmbeach.com said that three more people were convicted in the scam.
See the details here: http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/pulp/2012/06/fbk_products_managers_guilty.php
The scam artists targeted elderly homeowners, calling and telling them the company was affiliated with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. They sold the victims a $199 septic treatment product, including specially formulated toilet paper, to prevent damage to their systems. According to federal prosecutors, some victims purchased 70 years worth of the toilet paper.
Pleading guilty this month were Scott Weiss, 54, Mitchell Friedman, 52 and Richard Chiat, 46. Pleading guilty last fall were Mary Moore, 54, Joseph Nouerand, 52, and Christopher Lincoln, 46.
As an industry, we need to remain ever vigilant and shine a light on those who would take advantage of consumers who need and use septic services. As professionals, you can help customers avoid becoming victims of this type of scheme. Have you seen this type of swindle perpetrated on your customers? If so, I’d like to hear from you.
Drop me a line at editor@pumper.com or respond directly to this blog post below.
