Prime One Financial

Court Cases: Price

Background Information:

A Toronto based telemarketing scam operating under the name Prime One Financial, Prime One Benefits, First National Credit Service, U.S. National Credit, Gold Universal and Ameriline, targeted consumers throughout the United States. In various court filings related to the Prime One Financial, the government has alleged that between 1999 and 2004, the overall scam bilked tens of thousands of consumers throughout the United States .

Telemarketers for Prime One Financial placed cold calls to consumers, especially those with credit problems, and falsely represented that their company could provide the consumer with a major credit card for an advanced fee. Telemarketers then solicited advanced fees of between $150 and $250 from each victim in purported application or processing fees. However, the company had no connection with banks or financial institutions that issued credit cards and therefore couldn't provide a credit card to any consumer. In court filings the amount of loss is estimated to be between $8 million to $10 million or more. The government estimates that there were approximately 40,000 victims of the scam.

This case was investigated by the St. Louis Field Office of the Chicago Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Federal Trade Commission. The case arose out of the Toronto Strategic Partnership, a partnership of Canadian and U.S. law enforcement agencies which includes both the Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistance was provided to the investigation by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Toronto Police Service Fraud Squad. The prosecution of the cases is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce E. Reppert.

Since there are a very large number of victims in this prosecution, these cases may be designated as “Multiple Crime Victim” cases by Court Order under the provisions of 18 U.S.C. §3771(d)(2). Accordingly, the principal means of communicating and consulting with the investigators and government lawyers regarding these cases will be through a designated email for victims. If you are a victim, and wish to contact us, please send an email to USAILS.VW_ILS@usdoj.gov, and provide your full name, mailing address, telephone number, and email address. Given the large number of victims in these matters, and our need to efficiently manage our multiple victim prosecutions, we ask that you communicate with us by email. If necessary, we can have someone respond to you by telephone.

To any victim who plans on attending any Court proceeding:
Victims have the right to attend public Court proceedings, subject to some limitations as determined by the Court. For many reasons Court proceedings may be cancelled or rescheduled on short notice. If you are planning to attend a scheduled hearing, please check this web site for any updates before coming to Court.

A crime victim has the following rights:

(1) The right to be reasonably protected from the accused.

(2) The right to reasonable, accurate, and timely notice of any public Court proceeding, or any parole proceeding, involving the crime or of any release or escape of the accused.

(3) The right not to be excluded from any such public Court proceeding, unless the Court, after receiving clear and convincing evidence, determines that testimony by the victim would be materially altered if the victim heard other testimony at that proceeding.

(4) The right to be reasonably heard at any public proceeding in the district Court involving release, plea, sentencing, or any parole proceeding.

(5) The reasonable right to confer with the attorney for the Government in the case.

(6) The right to full and timely restitution as provided in law.

(7) The right to proceedings free from unreasonable delay.

(8) The right to be treated with fairness and with respect for the victim's dignity and privacy.

United States Attorney’s Office
Southern District of Illinois
9 Executive Drive
Fairview Heights, Il 62208
(618) 628-3700