Allegations of Fraud, Identity Theft, and Lawsuits Spark 30-Day Investigation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) October 16, 2010 -- Lehigh County, PA October 15, 2010 -- The board of Merchants Barter met early Friday morning at their offices in Pennsylvania, to discuss the findings of the investigation into the 30-day assault of online attacks and charges of fraud. The conclusion came as no surprise to board members who have been with the company since it’s inception in 2000. All postings, press releases, and articles have originated from the same location although many aliases and locations were listed.

Merchants Barter has been in business since 2000. The last time they experienced this sort of online assault was in 2005, when MBE terminated the services of a marketing firm out of Canada. A man whose true identity came to light after much inside company information had been divulged to him ran this firm. He used unauthorized marketing materials in the solicitation of new licensees for MBE. As soon as evidence of this was brought to President, Steve Bolles attention, the firm was terminated. Then the attacks began.

MBE suffered the same online attacks in 2005& 2006. In addition, their phones were tampered with by an auto dial service programmed to call constantly so that members could not get through. Their phone service company was able to solve the problem within 24 hrs. Those calls originated from Canada. Three very large men with weapons entered the MBE offices in the Poconos during this time, demanding commission monies for this firm in Cananda. When Bolles showed them the proof of the fraudulent marketing and the company’s offer to refund the money generated from those sales, the men left. Police reports were filed with the Pocono Regional Police.
During this period several calls were made to MBE and even one to their corporate attorney with messages stating that ‘if you pay me $20,000 all your internet problems from the north will go away.’ MBE reported all of their findings to local & state police. When the true identity of the man behind the marketing firm was discovered, they then collaborated with the FBI and Canadian Mounted Police as he was wanted on a warrant for extradition to the US to serve a term of 5 years for taking bribes as an IRS agent.

For the protection of its employees, MBE publicly lists their PO Box address only. Their members know their location. For the protection of our Licensees, they can be contacted via the corporate website or through our phone system. And for the protection of our members, their information will never be released. Any information released previously has brought hardship at the hands of this individual.

Coincidentally, MBE had not heard from this individual for nearly 5 years. He stating that he had been exonerated of all charges in NY court posted a press release. The docket number listed was bogus. The attacks against MBE began again. It was easy to see the links as all the information used in the new postings included information about the company from 5 years ago. Wanting to be thorough, MBE hired a forensic analyst. He confirmed what MBE already knew. Theses postings, some as senior citizens, families, women and men, some from PA, FL, and China, all originated from the same location. MBE has the 75-page report available to any member or Licensee currently doing business with MBE. We will not publicly release it as it only gives the individual behind this mess more information to work with. MBE hopes to have the issue resolved in the coming weeks as injunctions are being filed and they hand over the evidence to the authorities.

bruce gorcyca     investigation     merchants barter complaints     merchants barter fraud     merchants barter ripoff report     merchants barter scam     NABA     steve bolles