Archive for the ‘Buyer Beware’ Category
Military Advertising Scam Growing Larger
January 10th, 2009
Some people are just the pits.
Here in the Augusta area, there have been several businesses that have been approached to advertise in a “publication” providing discounts to soldiers on Fort Gordon. And by Publication I mean thin air.
There’s something funny about the way people react when they are scammed. You see, most don’t take to it kindly at all. And what you’re left with, is people that like to talk. A Lot. So much so that they like talking to the press.
Remember my face!
Meet Duke Martin. Spokesman and possible owner of Mil Pub Inc.
Mil Pub Inc promises to their advertisers that from anywhere between $600 to several thousand dollars, you will be given the opportunity to submit an ad created by yourself or by their in-house graphic designer to a booklet that allegedly is under contract with Fort Gordon to go to EVERY new recruit that steps foot onto base. That would be all well and good… if someone on base had actually ever heard of him.
Oh...yeah...about that...
The story started to break when a business owner paid for an advertising slot and got the run around. Word spread, and Scott Hudson
, investigative reporter for local A.M. station WGAC started asking questions. Questions that Sad Duke apparently didn’t appreciate. Now it’s escalating so much so, the Local News stations (NBC Augusta being one of them), Sheriff’s office, and… oh, the D.A. are investigating. Will this guy go down? I don’t know. But please look out for this. It’s a shame that someone would stoop low enough to take advantage of businesses trying to provide assistance and discounts to our servicemen. So here’s the rundown of what we know:
Mil Pub Inc is based in Carson City, Nevada
Duke Martin is either owner or General Manager
Shawnda Kettles is an “Account Executive”
There is no Mil Pub Inc registered in Georgia or Nevada
There’s a chance of a possible record for Mr. Martin in Alaska
Contracts given to their clients have clauses cleverly worded to alleviate them from actually running any actual publication
They are actively selling ads in the following places - Ft. Benning, GA - Ft. Gordon, GA - Ft. Jackson - Shaw AFB SC - Ft. Lewis-Mccord AFB WA - Ft. Stewart AFB GA - Hampton Roads Virginia - Ft. Huachuca -D.Monthan AFB, AZ - Keesler AFB - Maryland-Washington DC - Robins AFB GA - and Various other Installations
It’s widespread. Apparently they’re still operating like there’s nothing wrong being done. So if you know anything, or anyone who has interest in advertising with a military installation, let them know to be careful and to check who they’re dealing with…
Here’s some links to local news reports about the situation:
http://www.nbcaugusta.com/news/georgia/37112524.html
http://www.nbcaugusta.com/news/local/37234919.html
~Kenny
