A Christian influencer is taking warmth for her not-so-holy practices after being accused of scamming dozens of shoppers and being ordered to pay them practically $87,000.
Dana Chanel, whose actual identify is Casey Olivera, has over 1.1 million followers on Instagram, the place she promoted two corporations she co-owns, Credit score Exterminators (a credit score restore firm) and Alakazam Apps (an app developer).
Nonetheless, clients at each companies claimed that they paid upwards of $2,000 for providers they by no means acquired and, after asking for his or her a reimbursement, by no means acquired a refund.
Within the authentic lawsuit, which was filed in November 2021, one buyer who enrolled in Credit score Exterminators claimed she was instructed the service would assist take away delinquent credit score accounts for her, but it surely did no such factor. She claimed she acquired no refund and had paid the corporate over $2,000.
One other grievance from a nonprofit proprietor alleged that she paid Chanel and Alakazam Apps over $2,000 to assist develop a customized app for her firm that by no means got here to fruition, even after she tried to observe up a minimum of 10 instances. She additionally claims she didn’t obtain a refund.
Per this week’s ruling, Chanel was discovered to have “violated state client safety legal guidelines by deceptive customers and failing to ship bought items and providers” and is now banned from selling or promoting any credit score restore or cell app service shifting ahead.
“Promoting in immediately’s world has modified, and other people belief personalities they observe on-line to advertise fascinating items,” mentioned Pennsylvania Legal professional Normal Michelle Henry in a launch. “In these instances, customers had been misled by the influencer and companies that didn’t ship on purchases. My workplace has taken a tough stance towards potential hurt inflicted on Pennsylvanians on-line.”
Chanel can be the founding father of Sprinkle of Jesus (a Christian cell app) and Curl Bible (a hair and skincare model.)
Credit score Exterminators and Alakazam Apps are listed as defendants within the swimsuit. The defendants are being ordered to pay $87,269.91 in client restitution, $31,000 in authorized prices, and $6,000 in civil penalties.
