Thousands of customers who signed up for expensive real estate seminars endorsed by HGTV stars are getting checks from the FTC. Crooked company lured people in with ads featuring HGTV stars The Federal Trade Commission is issuing refunds to more than 25,000 people who signed up for training programs from Zurixx, LLC. The seminars promised to teach them how to use the company’s system to make fast money flipping houses.
Advertisements for Zurixx’s seminars often featured the stars of real estate-focused reality shows, including Tarek and Christina El Moussa (now Christina Hall) from HGTV’s Flip or Flop , Hilary Farr from HGTV’s Love It or List It , and Peter Souhleris and Dave Seymour from A&E’s Flipping Boston. People were invited to attend a free event that was really a pitch for a three-day introductory seminary that cost $1,997. Attendees were then urged to purchase more courses and services that could cost up to $41,297.
In September 2019, the FTC and the Utah Department of Commerce Division of Consumer Protection sued Zurixx and its owners, Cristopher Cannon, James Carlson, and Jeffrey Spangler. A settlement was reached in February 2022. In addition to the monetary judgment, the defendants are permanently barred from selling any real estate or business coaching services.
“Many victims will finally be getting some justice. Thousands who were coached into fraudulent investments by Zurixx owners will receive checks from this substantial settlement,” said Utah .