Two former promoter of the 8 Figure Dream Lifestyle pyramid scheme have been sued by the FTC.

A Complaint filed by the FTC on December 8th, 2023, names three defendants:

Bob Shafer, aka Robert William Shafer, Coach Bob, Bo Hall, Bo Small, Bo Rich and Beau Rich, a resident of New York;

Samuel James Smith, a resident of Idaho; and

Charles Joseph Garis Jr., aka Joe Gaines, a resident of Pennsylvania

The FTC has accused Shafer, Smith and Garis of violating the FTC Act and Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR).

As per the FTC’s lawsuit, filed on December 8th, 2023, Shafer, a resident of New York, and Smith, a resident of Idaho, operated

a sprawling business opportunity scheme that has taken in millions of dollars from consumers with bogus promises of huge returns.

BehindMLM
came across Shafer’s pyramid scheme
in 2022. Marketing was vague and there was no specific company name marketed.

In addition to his own scam, Shafer also promoted other scams.

8 Figure Dream Lifestyle
was a gifting scheme that relied on pyramid recruitment to stay afloat.

The FTC
sued 8 Figure Dream Lifestyle for telemarketing fraud
in 2019. The case was
settled for $31.9 million
in 2020.

Shafer and Garis weren’t defendants in the 8 Figure Dream Lifestyle lawsuit, but the FTC does acknowledge their role within the scheme.

Defendant Shafer participated in a money-making scheme known as 8 Figure Dream Lifestyle (“8FDL”), which caused more than $31 million in harm to consumers.

Defendant Shafer took at least $68,000 in membership fees from consumers as an 8FDL seller.

Defendant Garis, like Defendant Shafer, also participated in the 8FDL money-making scheme.

Defendant Garis took at least $424,000 in membership fees from consumers as an 8FDL seller.

Shafer’s, Smith’s and Garis Jr.’s scheme went by a few names, one of which was Blueprint to Wealth.

The alleged scam operated in much the same manner 8 Figure Dream Lifestyle did; pseudo-compliance garbage was bundled with membership fees, and recruitment of new victims the only way to make money.

With membership, consumers purportedly gain two ways to earn money.

First, they gain the right to receive commissions from the sale of memberships in the same moneymaking scheme that they have just paid Defendants thousands of dollars to join.

Second, they obtain a license to resell e-learning materials on personal and business development (“Digital Products”) from the scheme’s so called “e-learning library.”

Some or all of these Digital Products come with the purchase of a membership, and Defendants characterize them as valuable and in demand.

No viable market exists for their purportedly valuable Digital Products. The products are merely incidental to membership.

Blueprint to Wealth membership cost between $3000 to $21,000.

Although Shafer and Smith marketed their scheme as a “done for you” money machine, in reality

They (paid) few consumers any commissions, let alone the thousands of dollars in monthly commissions they

🤖 Quick Answer

Who are the defendants in the FTC lawsuit against the 8 Figure Dream Lifestyle scheme?
Three defendants were named in the FTC complaint filed December 8th, 2023: Bob Shafer (also known as Robert William Shafer, Coach Bob, and other aliases) from New York; Samuel James Smith from Idaho; and Charles Joseph Garis Jr. from Pennsylvania, all accused of operating a fraudulent business opportunity scheme.

What violations did the FTC accuse the defendants of committing?
The FTC accused Shafer, Smith, and Garis of violating the FTC Act and the Telemarketing Sales Rule. They allegedly operated a sprawling business opportunity scheme that defrauded consumers through false promises of substantial financial returns on their investments.

How much money was allegedly taken from consumers in this scheme?
According to the FTC's lawsuit, the scheme operated by Shafer

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