The Citrus Eagle-Buzz of the Beak
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Booz Allen Agrees to Pay $15.875M to Settle False Claims Act Allegations
Government Contractor Agrees to Pay $1M to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations for Submitting Fraudulent Bids on Prime Vendor Contracts
Justice Department Reaches Agreement with Nevada to Ensure Children with Behavioral Health Disabilities Can Live in Their Homes and Communities
Pennsylvania Man Who Traveled to Lebanon and Syria with Goal of Joining Hizballah Indicted on Terrorism Offense and for Lying to FBI
Do Kwon Extradited to the United States from Montenegro to Face Charges Relating to Fraud Resulting in $40B in Losses
Justice Department’s 10th Distribution Brings Total Provided to Over $4.3B in Nearly Full Recovery to Over 40,000 Victims in Madoff Ponzi Scheme
Justice Department Issues Final Rule Addressing Threat Posed by Foreign Adversaries’ Access to Americans’ Sensitive Personal Data
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, experienced professionals are standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Justice Department hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, can provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available.
More information about the department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Elder fraud complaints can be filed with the Federal Trade Commission at www.reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Justice Department provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov.
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Sanctions List
For a snapshot of Current Citrus County Official Voter Turnout Visit
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Senator Rick Scott said, “I’ve been talking to Pete since his nomination, and I think he’ll do a great job. He’s a decorated combat veteran and a great pick to run the Department of Defense. I am really appreciative of anyone that’s willing to put on the uniform and risk their life to defend our freedoms. Pete understands the mission and what is needed to advance President Trump’s agenda and reform the DoD to make America’s military the world’s most lethal fighting force. He understands the sacrifice our military and their families make because he’s been to war, led his fellow servicemen and women in combat, and knows individuals who have lost their life or been gravely injured defending our nation. Pete knows how to hold people accountable, make sure we promote based on meritocracy, and get rid of the broken, woke policies implemented by the Biden administration. He has my full support and I look forward to voting to confirm him as Secretary of Defense.”
Read more HERE.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 23, 2024
CONTACT:
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CFPB Sues Walmart and Branch Messenger for Illegally Opening Deposit Accounts for More Than One Million Delivery Drivers
Walmart and Branch harvested more than $10 million in junk fees through Walmart’s Spark Driver program
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) sued Walmart and Branch Messenger for forcing delivery drivers to use costly deposit accounts to get paid and for deceiving workers— “last mile” drivers in Walmart’s Spark Driver program—about how they could access their earnings. The CFPB’s lawsuit alleges that Walmart and Branch opened Branch accounts for Spark Drivers, and Walmart then deposited drivers’ pay into these accounts, without the drivers’ consent. Walmart told Spark Drivers that they were required to use Branch to get paid and that they would terminate workers who did not want to use these accounts. Walmart and Branch also misled workers about the availability of same-day access to their earnings. Drivers had to follow a complex process to access their funds, and when they finally did, they faced further delays or fees if they needed to transfer the money they earned into an account of their choice. This resulted in workers paying more than $10 million in fees to transfer their earnings to an account of their choice.
“Walmart made false promises, illegally opened accounts, and took advantage of more than a million delivery drivers,” said CFPB Director Rohit Chopra. “Companies cannot force workers into getting paid through accounts that drain their earnings with junk fees.”
Walmart (NYSE: WMT), the multinational retail corporation headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas, operates the Spark Driver Program, through which gig economy drivers make “last-mile” deliveries from Walmart stores nationwide. Branch is a financial technology company that offers a deposit account at Evolve Bank & Trust that consumers access through a digital app and debit card.
The CFPB also alleges that Branch engaged in a host of illegal activities related to consumer accounts, including failing to investigate alleged errors, failing to honor stop payment requests, failing to maintain necessary records, failing to provide certain disclosures, and illegally requiring consumers to waive their rights under the law.
The CFPB alleges that, for approximately two years starting in 2021, Walmart and Branch violated federal law by:
Illegally opening accounts in order for drivers to receive pay and removing driver choice in how to receive pay: Walmart and Branch opened accounts for new drivers by using drivers’ information, including their Social Security numbers, without obtaining the drivers’ consent. Drivers’ pay was then deposited into these accounts without authorization from the drivers. Drivers could not access their earnings without agreeing to Branch’s terms and conditions. Walmart required Spark Drivers to use Branch accounts or face termination.
Harvesting more than ten million in junk fees from drivers: Spark Drivers paid more than ten million dollars in junk fees to Branch to instantly transfer their earnings to an account of their choice.
Deceiving drivers about their access to their earnings: Walmart and Branch misrepresented to drivers that Branch Accounts would give them “instant access” to pay. In actuality, many drivers experienced delays when accessing their wages or paid fees to transfer their money elsewhere. Branch also deceived the drivers about their ability to stop payments or make certain transfers using the accounts.
Enforcement Action
Under the Consumer Financial Protection Act, the CFPB has the authority to take action against institutions violating consumer financial protection laws, including the Truth in Savings Act (TISA), the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA), and the prohibitions on unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices in the Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA). The CFPB’s lawsuit seeks to stop the companies’ unlawful conduct, to provide redress for harmed consumers, and the imposition of a civil money penalty, which would be paid into the CFPB’s victims relief fund.
Today’s enforcement action follows several actions taken by the CFPB to address consumer protections in the workplace. In October, the CFPB issued guidance that emphasizes how companies using third-party consumer reports, including background dossiers and surveillance-based algorithmic scores, must follow Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) rules. The CFPB has highlighted the growing prevalence of employer-driven debt and the challenges faced by consumers when they become indebted to an employer as a condition of employment.
This is the CFPB’s first action against a fintech partner of Evolve Bank & Trust related to a deposit product. The CFPB previously filed a lawsuit against SoLo Funds, another Evolve Bank & Trust fintech partner, in the short-term, small-dollar loan space. The Federal Reserve Board issued an enforcement action against Evolve in June, finding the bank failed to properly police its fintech partners.
Consumers can submit complaints about financial products and services by visiting the CFPB’s website or by calling (855) 411-CFPB (2372).
Employees who believe their company has violated federal consumer financial protection laws are encouraged to send information about what they know to whistleblower@cfpb.gov. To learn more about reporting potential industry misconduct, visit the CFPB’s website.
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The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is a 21st century agency that implements and enforces Federal consumer financial law and ensures that markets for consumer financial products are fair, transparent, and competitive. For more information, visit www.consumerfinance.gov.
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PREDATORS EAT THE WEAK – SCAVENGERS EAT THE DEAD
Habakkuk 1:8 “Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hastens to eat.”
In my lingering memories are times of traveling in Africa. Being in one of the East African game parks and observing the elephants, giraffes, and rhinos in their natural habitat is a forever experience.
Among the observations was to see the predator cats stalking their prey. The female lions crouched watching the wildebeests, antelope or at times, cape buffalo. Male lions wait while the females provide lunch.
In Tsavo East Game Park in Kenya I watched several cheetahs stalk a herd of gazelles. When they finally began their run, the prey was over a hill from my vantage point. To watch a “kill” is an exciting but terrible thing to see.
There appears to be a feeding priority order. The cats would kill the prey. After they ate their fill the hyenas would come along to partake of the left-overs, then the vultures would clean up the mess. All that was left was a bone pile.
Wolves are both predators and scavengers. I live in an area where there are numerous coyotes. I have discovered in my wanderings through the forests and fields, coyotes will eat most anything from small animals to seeds from various trees.
Coyotes appear to me to be miniature wolves, but less aggressive than wolves. Perhaps, subtle would be an applicable word. Sneaky might also apply. That they are seen mostly at night, hiding in darkness like humans sometimes do, speaks loudly concerning their intent.
To witness a bird of prey swoop down into a lake and retrieve a fish from the water, or a hawk or owl crash land himself into a field to gather his lunch in the form of a rabbit or mouse, reminds us of Bible principles. These are presented to us in the form of warnings.
Matthew 7: 15-16 “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?”
The Bible continually warns us of false prophets and teachers. It is easy enough to discern either if one is well-studied in the scriptures. The defenseless are the prey of the predators. Unsuspecting, innocent and tasty, the victims fall for the first silver-tongued liar that comes along.
One characteristic of the false teachers is that in so many cases, they believe what they are saying. That makes them very convincing. If someone tries to teach a gospel other than the scriptural truth, either run or if so learned, point out where they are not in line with the Word of God.
Galatians 1: 8 “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” The Apostle Paul warned new believers in the first century of those that perverted the Gospel.
For centuries, men have included their own notions and opinions into the teachings of our Creator God and those changes can alter God’s intended meanings.
We have found in cultures around the world, if a false prophet contacts their victims before the truth of the Bible is presented, it is virtually impossible to convince them of the truth.
This is why is it imperative, true Christians with the Holy Bible version of the Gospel of Jesus Christ must continue to work and work long hard hours to promote the Gospel.
The Bible teaches there is only one eternal salvation. That is by a faith based belief (Ephesians 2: 8) that Christ Jesus was crucified (Matthew 27: 35) for the remission of sin (Romans 4: 25) and resurrected (Matthew 28: 6).
We live in a world with many intent on misleading others; the scammers, identify thieves, advertisers and even the merchants we purchase products from. Where can we find the truth? Everything is questionable and maybe it has to be. Many see trust becoming a thing of the past and credibility is a term seldom heard (or drastically misused) in this century.
Jesus said in the Olivet Discourse there would be deceivers and false prophets. We are witnessing this coming to fruition. Many believing they are God called are promoting their own ideas and the last chapter in the Bible clearly states this practice is prohibited.
Revelation 22: 18b-19a “If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life.”
The predators and the scavengers consume what is available. The religious predators are after the vulnerable and weak. The scavengers pursue the many that fill seats in a church but have no spiritual inclinations. We must not allow ourselves to be the victim.
Galatians 1: 10 “For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”
Van Yandell is a retired Industrial Arts teacher, an ordained gospel evangelist and commissioned missionary. His email: vmy2121@outlook.com
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