"I've done all the work. You just have to make the call..."
Posted on 12/20/2004 10:14:12 AM PST by presidio9
Television viewers who thought those commercials promising "hidden money" from the federal government to help pay bills were too good to be true were right, the state Consumer Protection Board warns in a new report.
The CPB report, titled "Secrets Revealed! How Misleading Advertising is Feeding a Nationwide Boom in Government Scams," takes pitchman Matthew Lesko to task for exaggerating what is available to the public.
For years, Lesko, dressed in suits adorned with question marks, has loudly hawked his books on television and over the Internet, saying he can help people find money from thousands of little-known federal government programs.
But while there are some grants out there, the vast majority comes from well-known assistance programs like food stamps, welfare and Medicare, or from programs not available to the general public, the report finds.
In other cases, the CPB found, government money is offered through contracts, loans, direct services or financial assistance for businesses and other organizations.
One example cited in the report is Lesko's claim that a researcher was given $500,000 to "travel the world."
But the report found that the researcher was a Georgetown physicist who won a grant from the National Science Foundation.
Others included an offer of free car repairs that was actually automobile recalls; $400 a week for those out of work that was actually unemployment insurance; and 10 percent off a restaurant bill that was really early-bird specials for seniors.
"Lesko is now promoting a new book . . . by claiming that the federal government has more than $350 billion in hidden money that ordinary people can use to pay their credit-card bills and get out of debt," said CPB Chairwoman Teresa Santiago.
"That claim is simply not true."
Lesko did not return a call seeking comment.
But on his Web site,
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
"I've done all the work. You just have to make the call..."
He always looked like such an honest, trustworthy fellow.
ROTFLMAO!
I liked watching his manic commercials on late-night. It beat the usual boreing infomercials.
That being said, I hope his cellmate has a thing for glue...
You know, I ran into that guy in the airport a couple of years back. He was in jeans, but still was wearing that dorky jacket! LOL
So did Ted Turner: I never trusted him, either...
I figured his secret to riches wasn't government handouts. It's handouts from idiots buying his book.
The fact that he can hawk his stuff is an indictment against your congressman who voted for all the crap that Lesko peddles.
He reminds me of the Amazing Kreskin who claims he can bend spoons with his mind. Even looks a bit like him.
The black sheep of the Riddler's family.
Edward Nigma called. He wants his suit back.
How gay is this guy???
flaming
Even if his cleaims were true, I resented the idea of his peddling a book that would help people live off the Federal Government's (i.e. MY) money. I actually feel better about him this way - feeding off of peoples' greed to get something for nothing. Go Matthew!!
I'll bet he's got enough free money to pay his bills!!! But he may end up in that pesky government program that takes away his freedon to spend it!
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