LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Leslie Rutledge in partnership with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), filed a lawsuit against BINT Operations, LLC and its officers LaShonda Moore and Marlon Deandre Moore, for promoting and operating an illegal pyramid scheme in Arkansas and nationwide since June 2020. Rutledge and the FTC allege that BINT solicited money from consumers, specifically targeted African-American communities, and promised an 800% return on investment. While $1,400 was the minimum required to participate in BINT, some members paid as much as $67,700. No products or services were offered in exchange for the payment, only the opportunity to earn money. The complaint alleges that the Defendants violated the FTC Act, the Consumer Review Fairness Act of 2016, and the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (ADTPA).
“This lawsuit is a continuation of my office’s law enforcement sweep against illegal pyramid schemes organized or operating in Arkansas,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “My office will not stand by and allow scammers to exploit Arkansas’s tight-knit communities or financial fears to deceive consumers into falling for get-rich-quick schemes.”
The Moores claimed that participating in BINT, or “Blessings in No Time,” would permit members to achieve financial freedom and generational wealth and promoted BINT as a community-oriented program that was a safe, lucrative investment. When new participants stopped joining and the Defendants started using consumers’ money as their own, consumers lost every dollar contributed and unwittingly participated in illegal pyramid schemes. The Moores prohibited participants from posting anything concerning the BINT scheme online or on social media, which prevented injured consumers from alerting other would-be participants.
The lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction to prevent Defendants from violating the FTC Act, the CRFA, and the ADTPA; preliminary injunctive and ancillary relief; monetary relief within the Court’s power to grant; and civil penalties for each violation of the ADTPA. Each Defendant faces a $10,000 fine for each violation of the ADTPA.
For more tips to help avoid falling victim to schemes similar to this, or to file a consumer-related claim with the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office, call (800) 482-8982, email consumer@arkansasag.gov or visit ArkansasAG.gov.
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