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1/11/01

Ex-CE Pres Jonathan Silverstein Wonders If It Is A Slow News Day?

Frank says to Luke: "The day that Jonathan Silverstein left Cybererotica... First you published that letter from "Julie Winters" with those damaging allegations about Jonathan. Then Ron Levi talked on the phone to RB. Then Silverstein decided to leave. Levi probably offered RB Jonathan's head on a platter."

Former Cybererotica.com President Jonathan Silverstein called me Thursday night. Listen here.

Luke: "I heard that you didn't quit Cybererotica a couple of months ago. That you were fired."

Jonathan: "Were you dropped on your head as a baby too many times or is it just a slow news day? This s--- is more than two months old. You should just move on bro. Everyone else did. I think the story lost its appeal already. I find it difficult to believe that anyone cares if I was fired or if Ron and I mutually agreed to part company. We're both on good terms. I think I left at the perfect time for me. Life is good. Business is good. I'm having fun doing it on my own.

"Vegas was a blast. I picked up some new deals. I had fun. My girlfriend webmistress Tyranny is doing all the interviews on the show floor for AVNLive.com.

"She's owned some adult sites. We met through the business a couple of years ago. I'm committed to her."

Luke: "When are you going to make an honest woman of her?"

Jonathan: "That would be difficult to do. She still needs to get divorced.

""My deal with Darren Blatt (aka D-Money) of MarketingFirm.com is about to explode. There were a ton of people at the show interested in utilizing our services...

"I'm working with the guys who did the Voyeur Bus (http://www.voyeurbus.com). It was in New York about a month ago. Doing the radio thing. They had CNN on the bus with them. The mayor of New York Rudy Giuliani called in the dogs and arrested everybody on the bus and the bus was impounded. Prior to my being involved with them. My cousin told me about it. I sent them an email and they ended up hiring me as a consultant and then they offered me a percentage of the company.

"We should be getting the bus back any day now. We're sending it to Kentucky to rebuild it. The city of New York pretty much destroyed the interior of the bus. We'll more than likely drive back to New York."

Luke: "You're not afraid of getting busted again?"

Jonathan: "I don't think they had any legal grounds for the arrest in the first place.

"The girls weren't naked. The girls weren't doing anything provocative. They weren't doing penetration. They were topless and they were on the bus.

"Back in the '70s, the feminist movement filed suit against the City of New York. If men can be topless, why can't women? I agree. We slapped the City of New York with a $20 million lawsuit two months ago."

Luke: "I hear that you're getting a piece of pretty much everything you're getting involved with these days?"

Jonathan: "I only have three criteria to getting involved with a project... One is that I start making money immediately either as a consultant... Getting a percentage and I have to have fun."

Luke: "Did you talk to RB at the show?"

Jonathan: "I spoke to Bob [Robert Botto, co-owner of RJB Telcom] and briefly and I spoke to RB [Richard Botto] briefly. And RB was like, any time you want to sit down, cool. And we just never found the time to do it."

Luke: "So how is your relationship with those guys?"

Jonathan: "It's stagnant because we really haven't sat down and talked. I'm hoping to speak to them some time this week."

Luke: "Are you part of the GIA [adult web trade alliance]?"

Jonathan: "No. I'm involved with ICM Registry which is the company that had proposed .xxx to ICANN. It wasn't approved for the test bed period but it wasn't rejected either... Hopefully before the end of the year, ICANN will allow .xxx to be a top level domain. I think that's good for business."

Jonathan Silverstein Was Fired From Cybererotica.com

I reported weeks ago that Jonathan Silverstein quit Cybererotica. Now I've heard from a good source who prefers to remain anonymous that Silverstein was fired.

Let's go back to my files.

Julie Winters writes Luke 11/6/00 and I published this the next day. A few hours later, Silverstein announced that he was resigning from Cybererotica, effective immediately. Jonathan Silverstein and Ron Levi both said that this resignation had nothing to do with Julie Winter's letter. Now I've learned from a reliable source that this following letter led to Levi firing Silverstein (both Levi and Silverstein deny this).

"Julie Winters" writes:

Luke:

Finally time to tell you what is really going on with the RJB shakedown. First, let me say I'm not someone who has a hard-on for them or anyone else in this business, but I do consider myself a top 10 player for sure. I have nothing to gain or lose by telling you this, but unless I do it anonymously I will totally destroy my business relationships with those mentioned below.

Let me start by saying that I don't know every fact, but more than enough to see through all this.

There are several things at play here. One is the that the federal government does not have the power to regulate porn the way they would like to, through legislation, so they had to find another way. There has been an influx of cash into the FTC and other agencies as of late, and with this being an election year, what better timing than to come out with the Top Ten Dot Com Scams a week or so before the elections. If you read the FTC press release and have half a brain, you probably can figure out that the "scams" they uncovered are not even close to the largest scams out there on the net. The feds did a sloppy job and I believe we will see that in the long run. The door is still open though, and there are other agencies, such as the DOJ, poised to attack the adult internet.

Is Visa working with the FTC?

Could be. I know from a very good source that RJB's chargeback rate since 1999 has been under 2.5% overall and that they hardly qualify as a major offender. I have done business with RB and company and know they are light years ahead in customer service, fraud control and business practices. What you see in public is just a hint of the tight ship they run inside. Problem with our industry is not consumer fraud, it's webmasters who take advantage of programs like Max Cash, who end up as much of a victim as the consumer. Every one of us that run such a program knows this to be the hard truth.

So why RJB?

First, they are the biggest. Period. Nothing looks better for the FTC and their Dot Com campaign than going after the biggest. If anything this sends a signal and makes it appear that they are doing something productive. Problem is, they picked the wrong company. The FTC gets a few credit card fraud complaints and they are off to the races with accusations. Again, I know RJB and their principals well enough to know as a fact that the fraud allegations are not only false, but can be literally blown out of the water with proof. The dialer issue is another story. Perhaps they thought that there was full disclosure on this product. Perhaps they took a risk because all they think about is their webmasters which I think they give too much back to. That remains to be seen.

Second, and more importantly, there are competitors that would like nothing more than to see RJB go under. Amazing to think that with enough traffic to go around, the major players all do business together that there should be a happy coexistence, but sometimes that is not true. When you have people like Ron Levy of Cybererotica involved, who's jealousy of RJB has been palpable since day one, the happiness ends. It has been known among the players that Ron despises RB and as is the case with Ron, he never hides it. Anyone that has dealt with him knows that the slightest thing can send him into an angry, nasty frenzy. There is not one person I know that hasn't had a war with him, including his partner Paul who is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet. Let's add to the mix that Levy has been quietly fighting with the FTC over several issues, and has been claiming all over the place that he has the FTC's blessings on all his sites. He has a "good relationship with someone in the FTC". He spoke openly at a workshop in May about working with the FTC to keep free memberships and on disclosure issues. He's been in bed with them for some time now trying to stay alive with "free" memberships and what better way to cure your own ills than to point the FTC in another direction? Most important thing to Levy is who has the biggest dick and who is #1 in market share.

I have also been told of a disturbing quote that was relayed to me by 3 different people (who heard it first hand). I would not have believed it except two of the three people are people I would trust with my life. Around May of this year, Jonathan Silverstein, President of Cybererotica (and former crony of Seth Warshevsky) was overheard at an "adult internet function" as saying "RJB has big problems coming and they will never make it through the month of October. Mark my words, I know." It has also been said that "Python is next to go down" was also stated. RJB coincidentally was served Oct 27. Seems many other people that travel in Levy's and Silverstein's circles knew that the FTC was investigating RJB for a "long time" yet from all I have heard, RJB had no clue.

Levy's win at all costs mentality has finally taken him too far. Now he, and other companies have to worry if RJB is going to blow the whistle on all the scams that are apparent in the adult industry, several of which point right back to CE among others. If RJB got consumer complaints, I can't imagine how many Levy has piled up from the double and triple site billing he was doing.

Good luck RJB, though I doubt you will need luck at all.

Luke writes on Netpond: Ron Levi had no comment on these charges. He refuses to reply to anonymous accusations.

Cybererotica.com President Jonathan Silverstein writes: Luke, This is BULLSH*T, utter BULLSH*T! Factless/faceless accusations and propaganda! JW is so readily able to name names - except they're own and they're "sources"! Credible? NOT! Here's a little bit of perspective: The following is in RESPONSE to a post I made last week on Netpond regarding "Larry Flynt On Stern With Bush Abortion Shocker"

"J$style$, I have 3 women and 2 goats who will testify before a court of law you sodimized a racoon while in New Orleans. Not only that, but they you forced the coon to pretend to be a Daniel Boone Hat to cover your bald head. Then you you shaved COERCED and BULLIED it into shaving his balls - while you chanted " I am El Presidente' dance you shaven Coon"

Now am I to beleive this?? Are others on the board to beleive it?? Oy Vey!

RB from RJB Telcom replies to Luke: "Not commenting any further except to say that nothing has been won or lost yet. Don't believe the hype, Luke...I haven't seen one thing close regarding this situation until that letter you sent me this morning. That's about 95% accurate. As for all the other stuff you've asked me about, amazing what people will do or say in times like this...That's alright though...I've received a great deal of information and I have a mental list a mile long...I'm an Italian with a long memory. Enough said."

11/19/00

RJB Telcom Controversy

RB (Rich Botto) writes from the FTC besieged RJB Telcom:

"Look, it's common knowledge that I am not a fan of anonymous letters/posts etc (ask Nick over at Netpond about this), but I have to say that JW's two letters have been about as accurate as anything I have read. At least in regard to the events involving my company.

"Yes, RJB did receive donations to aid with legal fees during this FTC matter. Many of these donations did come from the "mid level" webmaster. In fact, the overall support from the smaller to mid level webmaster community has been overwhelming. When this first came down, I expected that there would be a rally amongst the larger companies...A circle the wagons mentality. That has not happened. We requested public and/or financial support from some and in almost all instances we've been ignored. In fact, many of them have gone the complete opposite direction and pulled traffic from us. People who we vigorously supported during their times of crisis have turned a blind eye. Meanwhile, we feel that we are fighting this battle for the entire industry. To say we have been disappointed would be the understatement of the century. As for the rest...I have no comment."

JW writes:

Luke, I am writing you again to clear up a lot of the rumors and confusion that is going on with the RJB/FTC case. I wish to remain anonymous as I did in my first letter, as it would destroy my reputation and business should I not do so.

[Ron Levi from CE responds: "It seems to me the only rumors and confusion is being caused by JW himself. Who is this anonymous person, why doesn't he reveal himself since he has all this knowledge? I do not like responding to anonymous emails but these statements are so damaging I will make an exception."]

Again, I do not know every fact, but know more than enough to do more than just guess about things as most in this community seem to do.

[Ron Levi responds: "This is obviously not a true statement because he is not telling the truth, just spreading his own rumors."]

There have been many of us that have supported RJB during their undeserved crisis, both with kind words and legal fees. I am one of these people. However, I find it odd that there are players larger than I that have not even contributed in any way. It seems that the larger players have gone into a shell, treating RJB like they have some sort of disease. The list of supporters that I have seen and heard about looks like a "who's who" from the mid to small adult companies. I know several people that have very little funds that contributed to RJB's legal defense, while some of the biggest names in the business haven't even offered to help. What is really going on here? Perhaps they feel that they are next on the government's hit list? Maybe they think that RJB is blowing the whistle on their well-known billing scams? I hope they are.

Ron Levy is included in the non-supporters.

[Ron responds: "I have repeatedly tried to contact RB - I talked to him once on the phone and he didn't have time to talk. We went to Adultdex in hopes of talking to him, he did not show up. I have put in another call for him this morning, no response."]

I confirmed this. As I recently stated, Levy not only knew about this action but also is the most likely candidate to have caused this action. Levy has been quietly fighting with the FTC over several issues, and has been claiming all over the place that he has the FTC's blessings on all his sites. He has a "good relationship with someone in the FTC". He spoke openly at a workshop in May about working with the FTC to keep free memberships and on disclosure issues. He's been in bed with them for some time now trying to stay alive with "free" memberships and what better way to cure your own ills than to point the FTC in another direction? Most important thing to Levy is who has the biggest dick and who is #1 in market share.

[Ron responds: "I had no knowledge of this action until everyone else did, I learned it from the Netpond Board. Yes, we're currently working on our own investigation with the FTC. We're in compliance with the FTC's guidelines as per their website. I have no relationship with any person from the FTC. The FTC communicates with our FTC attorney, who then communicates with our Corporate Attorney who then communicates with our in house counsel. I hear what is going on with the FTC from our in house counsel.

"Again, we are in compliance with the FTC's guidelines for disclosure on our billing practices as per their website. We supplied the FTC all documentation they requested, I guess that means we were working with the FTC.

" I do not communicate with the FTC personally. We are able to stay within the FTC's guidelines with our Free Trial Membership.

"We compete with many Paysites, who needs to be #1, there is enough business for everyone. We have promoted more healthy competition than anyone in this industry, we introduced many content providers to the industry and sold our marketing software to many paysites that are our competitors."]

Luke, a few hours after I send you my original letter, Silverstein is fired as president of CE. That's right, fired. The "resignation" approach was pure bulls---. It was classic Levy damage control. Someone had to take the fall for Levy's ill-fated plot against RJB and Silverstein's inability to keep his big mouth shut. You don't need to be too brilliant to figure out that not only was my story true, but the fact Silverstein took the fall a few hours later confirms it. Silverstein was at adultdex looking for any small job he could get his hands on. That doesn't seem like the sign of an employee that resigned because he had another job lined up or wanted to move into another industry. Not many people just resign as a president of a company for no reason, with no backup. He was fired for revealing Levy's plan.

[Ron responds: "Jonathan and I had been trying to renegotiate his contract for about three months. We reached an impasse and mutually agreed to sever our relationship. It had nothing to do with the RJB situation. Jonathan will have no trouble getting employment in the AdultNet - he is in very high demand and has had many offers which he sifting through."]

Does anyone remember Xpics problems with the FTC? Someone ask David (of Xpics) who he felt was responsible for all of his problems? He swears to this day that Levy deflected the FTC in his direction, coincidentally at a time when Xpics was #1.

[Ron responds: "Xpics had their problems with the FTC way before we were ever contacted by the FTC."]

This is not a big secret among the players. Nor is it a secret that Levy is a predator. Ask anyone who does or has done business with that animal.

[Ron responds: "I see, because I have been in this industry since the beginning and have helped numerous folks into this business I am now a 'predator' and an 'animal'. JW, too bad you're such a coward that you remain anonymous but at the same time poison the minds around the industry with your lies."]

Is it surprising that the usually vocal Levy has not stated a word in support of RJB? Not to me.

[Ron responds: "I have tried to contact RB and have not been successful in doing so. I await his phone call. If he called me he would get all the support he needs from us, but without communication, it's tough to help him."]

I know someone that knows one of the players that attended a dinner at Adultdex recently. JB of CEN was overheard cracking jokes about RJB and stating that they were going down and not going to survive. I tend to know otherwise. I wouldn't be surprised if you hear some very promising news from them regarding the FTC very shortly. I believe RJB will survive this and feel horrible that such a well run, above board business could be so wrongly accused. Perhaps JB should not be cracking jokes and CEN and Levy should not be pointing fingers at others, as their companies are two of the shadiest scammers in the business. Once again, good luck RJB.

The Mouse In Your Pocket

[Ron responds about the JB allegation: "I have no knowledge of this but doubt that JB would make a joke about a serious matter like this."]

A Source from CENCash.com replies to JW:

Thats total bulls---. We have and always will support RJB. Perhaps this Julie Winters should get her facts straight. I was instrumental in pushing Epoch to turn back on the checks for RJB and continue to send them mounds of traffic. Was in epoch's office asking for there help. Find it funny how this Julie Winters wants to remain anonymous. In addition I spoke with Ron Levy and he is willing to support RJB 100%. I too shall remain anonymous as I never get into dirty laundry.

Luke says:

Among most of my sources, Ron Levi of Cybererotica has an impeccable reputation for honesty. He's treated me with integrity. My sources and I find it impossible to believe that Levi fingered anyone to the FTC. He's laying low right now because he has his own FTC investigation to deal with. Other major porners are laying low for similar reasons.

Ron Levi and Jonathan Silverstein deny that Silverstein's departure from Levi's employment has anything to do with JW's letter of 11/6/00.

Levi and Silverstein attended Adultdex last week to meet with RB and straighten out miscommunications. But RB and his brother Robert were tied up with their FTC litigation and were unable to make the show and meet with them.

Jonathan Silverstein writes:

Luke,

The only "pure bulls---" I see here is this anon JW person. To me, JW seems more like like an outsider (who wants SO BAD to be an insider) than someone with "top 10 player" status. This letter is pretty much the same as the last one - just with more he said/she said conspiracy crap and accusations!

Re-reading BOTH letters, I came across what seems to be totally consistent - a lot of BS propaganda and character assassination based NOT on what the author (JW) KNOWS, but rather what you're supposed to believe are the authors "reliable sources" - case and point:

"I know several people...", "I have seen and heard about...", "I confirmed this.", "I know someone that knows one of the players that...", "I have also been told of a disturbing quote that was relayed to me by 3 different people (who heard it first hand).", AND MY FAVORITE - "Jonathan Silverstein, President of Cybererotica (and former crony of Seth Warshevsky) was overheard at an "adult internet function" as saying..."

Re-read the letters and judge for yourself!

As far as me looking to take "any small job I can get my hands on" at Adultdex, that's just laughable! Most people were disappointed with the turnout at Adultdex, but I wasn't! I had meetings with people everyday throughout the show and got some business done - so for me it was a huge success!

On another note, 5 minutes after I posted about my departure from CE, my email box was full with offers AND just for JW's information - between Adultdex and those emails, I ended up with over 40 that I'm reviewing right now! To further that, only a handful were actually job offers - the rest comprised of people that want to retain my services as (A) a Consultant, and (B) people that have offered me equity in their company(s) or (C) full partnerships!

Outspoken webmaster Brad Shaw writes:

Luke, I have no comment on the rumors. I will sit back and wait for the rumors to separate themselves from the truth as I have had nothing but positive dealings with Jonathan and Ron Levy over the years.

As for the RJB situation, I am 100% behind RJB in their situation with the FTC. Our traffic is still pointed to RJB's sites as it has been for 2.5 years. In my opinion after reading the FTC'c complaints it is obvious it was more a matter of being number one and volume that led the FTC to look into the operations of RJB. There are few people in our business who I would vouch for, RB is one of them.

I will say I am very disappointed in some of the larger companies not coming to RJB's aid. But it can not be too surprising since a couple of these same guys would double bill their own mothers credit card if that's what it took to be number #1. I have a feeling they are so desperate to be number one that a few of them are pleased to see RJB encounter these troubles. Do not let anyone fool you, in our business friends are few and far between. People are out for themselves and the greed with catch up with these guys.

Alien from SinCityFilms.com posts this Rashi-like commentary to JW's controversial letter:

Please Note that this is RJB's initial encounter with the FTC. The FTC seems to always introduce itself in the mannor that it has with RJB. Nothing New here. Asset freezing?? Why of course! It is there hallmark of love and preservation.

You can bet the FTC is in Cybererotica and advises what it would like implemented, Cybererotica does not want the FTC to crunch them and they avoid this crunch by having open relations with the FTC. This is highly advisable to any Minor league player.

When I launch SinCity for the bigger picture rest assured I will try and talk with the FTC just to make sure everything is good with them. It ought to be standard procedure.

RECENTLY: I have noted that Cybererotica now ensures that every subscriber reads a terms and conditions page before actual sign-up. This was just implemented, and I am sure it was implemented because the FTC advised it.

When XPICS was really in deep they got $2 million in relief. The big guys are like big brothers and if they see a brother really hurting they will help him but not until it is dire, even though they may not want to. RJB is not in deep and if they can pull themselves through it with the FTC by themselves, they will recieve no help. The bigger guys will do something if it appears to be a FTC Fatality which to date does not exhist. You can bet that Levy will not put up the money though. Levy is business, knows business and indeed likes being #1. But we all have our own unique personalities now don't we??

It might be safe to think that the Bigger players did not like what RJB was doing with dialers.

The "scams" will be revealed obviously, and I am sure are already known to the FTC. The FTC will stop what it wants to stop. The dialers. Besure to understand Cybererotica did not do dialers. RJB did, and RJB must have known he was taking a risk. You can bet that Ron knew RJB was going down from his open relations with the FTC before it happened. It's not a conspiracy to figure out and you can bet Ron was told not to say s--- to no one about the date RJB would get tackled by the FTC.

I personally do not support the use of dialers and it is a viable form of fraud and they enable access to explicit matter without legal verification of age. Ron is not the bad guy here, if your big and he is, your gonna be very aware of what the authorities want. He listens and does not f--- with them. Smart. Plain and simple. Thats what ya do if your Ron or any big player. You think for a second RJB called the FTC himself to make sure everything was okay on his networks with the Trade Commission?

Silverstein been doing adult web for a very long time. Some leave the business because it is time to find other fun and other things to do.

"He was fired for revealing Levy's plan."

What plan is that? The knowledge that RJB was gonna be hit with the FTC?? Once again Levy just came accros the information, through dialogue with the FTC. Why the f--- is that a plan? Levy couldnt stop the FTC, Levy couldnt do s--- about it except keep quiet. When will people face that?

I f---en knew RJB was gonna get hit week's before it happened just because of what they were doing and my sources. The dialers were completely new and undealt with by the government and RJB was the biggest of em for that.

I have been telling David they, Dialer's will be bad news and we had to avoid there use. David the smart man he is, know's when something is bad and it did not take more than a small explanation for him to see why.

The dialer; though looks like a good idea is one of the most f---ed things to do when it comes adult entertainment online. It is no small matter when it comes to children getting access to hardcore subject matter with our government. That is literally the fastest way to extinguish an adult company. I would not be to surprised if the DOJ step's in on RJB with proof that underage netizens were accessing hardcore content through the dialer service coupled with a few dozen families who say there children have been "poisoned" by adult pornography. That would sink RJB into rubble and is a possible scenario once the FTC finds all the treasures RJB has stored.

I personally hope that does not happen. RJB is not bad I think they just made a mistake in judgement of what they were doing. It happens sometimes, it happens to all of us. If you run a yellow light your taking a chance to get pulled over. People seeing you get pulled over will laugh. We are talking about one hell of a speeding ticket here however.

WHO IS DAVID AT XPICS? I was 5 Years at XPICS I NEVER KNEW A DAVID. Mario? Brian? Blaine? Kevin? John? George? Me? I am not David. I am Alien. The XPICS issue was warranted when the FTC came down. I know what it was, why and how it was fixed. Was it all that bad?? No. Think Brian, when talking about the FTC does not crack a smile when it is mentioned? Hind site is often funny no matter how dire. Predator is harsh... I suppose Business men and Predator are synominous. The will to win is not the trait of a predator.

You can bet there would be jokes. I laughed when the FTC came to XPICS while outside having a smoke. No surprise. Of course RJB will survive the FTC....

Joe Musacha writes:

Mr. Ford-

I have a "good friend' who works at a company which supplies dialers to the adult market. I know exactly what went on, and I would like to set the record straight.

I would like to correct for the record some of the "facts" that Alien from SinCityFilms.com wrote in commentary to JW's controversial letter.

First off, Alien writes: "It might be safe to think that the Bigger players did not like what RJB was doing with dialers." Cybererotica and nearly every other major player were using USA dialers. They have all since been pulled. In fact, Cybererotica used the words "free" all over their dialer solicitation, something RJB NEVER did. To imply that the dialer is "free" was a much more misleading tactic to the consumer when compared to RJB's tactics, and Cybererotica is 100% guilty of this.

[Ron Levi from CE responds: "We have never used USA dialers."]

One or two of the bigger players were smart, they only used the dialer on credit card rejects, or used the dialer on foreign traffic. This kept it a bit more discreet. But most of the big boys did not do it this way, and if the FTC wanted to f--- them all, they could tommorow. No doubt about that.

The fact is that RJB was the biggest, and this FTC crackdown is more about CC and debit card fraud than anything else. The dialer charges were thrown in there at the last moment once the Verity International case hit the street. Verity was the company controlling the USA to Madagascar route, which was being used for most of the USA outbound traffic dialer minutes. Verity has since been sued by the FTC, and the case is in court and yet to be decided. This case will largely determine the future of dialers working from the USA. Once the s--- hit the fan with Verity, the FTC saw they had an opening in attacking RJB on the dialer issue.

And they most certainly did. The facts remain: Cybererotica used dialers, from at least 2 different major dialer companies. Alien should get the facts straight and don't simply blame the dialers for this mess. The dialer is an easy scapegoat for the industry's problems. Just read the complaint against RJB, perhaps only 15% of the complaint is dialer related.

One last thing about the dialers. Other countries, such as the major European countries and Japan allow dialers to be used. They are regulated by various governing agencies, (kind of like 900 #'s) and a totally legal and viable form of payment. Obviously, the FTC has no jurisdiction over using foreign dialers on your website. And wait for the Verity case to be resolved before determing that USA dialers are deemed fraud.

Ron Levi from CE responds: "We have never used USA dialers."

RB (Rich Botto) from RJB Telcom writes at noon Monday: "Have to catch a flight...Haven't had much time over the last 3 weeks to speak with anyone...Also want to make it clear that we contacted a few people about the legal relief, but that much of it came from a grass roots movement amongst the community. We owe a great deal of thanks to those people. Don't have much time to elaborate.

"One more quick item...Joe Musacha's points about the dialer in regard to our case is the most accurate account to date. For anyone who actually read the complaint, that should be crystal clear."