IPIU fraud alert
Jimbo
have been several complaints filed about the organization with
ripoffreport.com. You should be able to see the complaints here:
If that doesn't get you there, try just
http://www.ripoffreport.com/search.asp and enter "ipiu" into the
search field.
Some of these reports could be sour grapes, but as I said in my
original post, the IPIU promise is a little unrealistic and their
methods - including the restrictive nature of the forum monitoring -
have always made me suspicious.
One thing that I was suspicious of was also noted in the ripoffreport
files, that it appears one or two people are creating multiple
postings on the forums. For the amount of money involved in this deal
- at least $59 per membership with four or five people joining a day,
plus other knick knacks like "badges," identification cards and books
- I could see someone spending half the day falsifying posts to keep
up interest.
There are specific charges that the organizer of IPIU, Jeremy
Lancaster, was accused of fraud for setting up a similar program in
Idaho for limo drivers. It is interesting that there's no physical
address for IPIU anywhere, that they use relay phone service through
Nevada to a home location in Ontario, etc.
As I've said in my other posts, IPIU offers a unique forum opportunity
for real private investigators. We rarely have an opportunity to
discuss items of interest in a well-moderated zone. I enjoy using the
forums.
Would I send them any money, though? Not on your life.
Any other input on this stuff?
privateye
Business Bureau (http://www.bbbvan.org/):
As of JAN 20/99: On AUG 25/95 the State of Idaho Attorney General Alan G.
Lance announced the settlement of deceptive trade practices claims against
Sandpoint businessman, Jeremy Lancaster, doing business as CWN World News
and the International Private Investigators Union (IPIU). The agreement
comes after an investigation of lancaster's businesses by the Consumer
Protection Unit (CPU).
"With regard to CWN World News, Lancaster is alleged to have placed
employment advertisements in various newspapers nationwide seeking
limousine driver trainees. Relative to ICIU, Lancaster is alleged to have
placed newspaper ads nationwide promoting both employment and training
opportunities to become private investigators, as members of the
International Private Investigators Union.
"When consumers called the local numbers listed in the CWN World News ads,
they were instructed to dial a 900 telephone number in order to apply for a
position. Upon calling that number, consumers merely received a
solicitation to subscribe
to `Limousine and Chauffer Magazine'. "CPU investigators believe that
Lancaster's telemarketers told people interested
in becoming private investigators that the IPIU was headquartered in
Washington, D.C. and that the processing center, which purportedly
conducted criminal background checks on each candidate, was located in
British Columbia, Canada. In reality, the Washington, D.C. telephone
number provided to consumers was a `call forwarding' number answered by
telemarketers in Sandpoint. The British Columbia address used by Lancaster
led consumers to believe that the organization had an international
presence. Rather, the B.C. address was merely a mail drop across the
Idaho-Canadian border north of Sandpoint. State investigators were told by
ex-employees that Lancaster made the short drive to the mail drop
periodically to collect memberships and `union' dues sent from all over
the country.
"Attorney General Lance also alleged, in connection with the private
investigators operation, that Lancaster prepared promotional literature
advertising a rags-to-riches story of a man who became wealthy and
successful after joining the IPIU. The story was printed on the back of a
legitimate newspaper article about a successful private investigator in
Sandpoint. The flyer deceptively suggested that the rags-to-riches tale
was a testimonial provided by the subject of the newspaper article, when,
in fact, the individual highlighted in the article had no connection with
IPIU.
"Finally, Lance alleged that IPIU promotional materials and practices were
designed to lead consumers to believe that IPIU has some official
connection with law enforcement agencies and that it has some manner of
licensing authority when, in fact, it does not.
"While not admitting to any violations of law, Lancaster agreed, according
to terms of the Assurance of Voluntary Compliance filed in Bonner County,
to cease the allegedly deceptive and misleading activities listed above,
make refunds to consumers requesting them, and pay the State $5,000 for
its investigative costs, attorney fees and civil penalties. Of that amount
$4,000.00 has been waived so long as Lancaster complies with the terms of
the Assurance. After the settlement of the State's claims the Attorney
General was informed that Lancaster intends to cease conducting any
further business in Idaho.
"Consumers are entitled to, and the market place works best when, the
truth is communicated. That did not occur here, and I am pleased we were
able to put a stop to the practices at issue," Lance said.
Lance also stated that consumers who believe they have been defrauded by
CWN World News of the International Private Investigators Union may
contact the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Unit at 1-800-432-3545,
in-state
toll-free, to request a refund.
For further information, please contact Deputy Attorney General Brett T.
DeLange in the Consumer Protection Unit, Statehouse, Room 119, P.O. Box
83720, Boise, Idaho 83720-0010, (208)334-2424 or, in-state toll-free,
1-800-432-3545.
Customer Experience
The Bureau has processed no customer complaints on this company in the
last three years.
Additional Information
Additional Doing-Business-As Names:
International Private Investigators Union
North American Agent Registration Bureau
I P I U
C W N World News Inc
North American Agent Registration
Bureau Of Business Ethics
I S I Internal Affairs
B B E Bureau Of Business Ethics
International Private Investigators Union
North American Agent Registration Bureau
I P I U
C W N World News Inc
North American Agent Registration
Bureau Of Business Ethics
I S I Internal Affairs
B B E Bureau Of Business Ethics
Additional Phone Numbers:
900-344-7373
604-299-8767
604-290-0632
208-265-5818
208-265-0738
Additional File Information
The address given for this company is a mail drop.
Szilard
I am a licensed PI. They mailed out an application form. It contained nothing but paperwork I needed to fill out to obtain the PI badge + wallet + ID + Lifetime membership. I mailed in the application form CERTIFIED with tracking. The tracking number for that is: **** **** **** **** **** ** by USPS.
I sent out emails on:
May 19, June 6, June 17, July 2, August 2. NO RESPONSE.
I filled out their contact us form on their website on:
June 18, July 30. NO RESPONSE.
I called them on the phone:
July 25, July 26, August 2. It goes to voicemail and on 2 occasions I left voicemails. NO RESPONSE.
I left a message on their official forum on:
July 27, August 2. NO RESPONSE by any company representative.
Over 2.5 months in .... ZERO replies! At this point I consider myself scammed. Not sure how they can still operate.