| NEWARK
— Attorney General Zulima V. Farber
and Division of Consumer Affairs Director
Kimberly Ricketts announced that New Jersey
consumers may be eligible to receive some
restitution if they were swindled by a British
Columbia-based company involved in a telemarketing
scam that offered consumers a chance to
win a share in the Australian Lottery. Affected
New Jersey consumers will have until Tuesday,
May 2 to file a claim for a refund.
The
money is made available as a result of a
$175,000 judgment awarded to the Pennsylvania
Attorney General’s Office after it
sued Sushila Devi Kumar, also known as Sheila
Kumar, and Sandhya Murthi, also known as
Kelly Williams. Kumar did business under
the names Systems 3 Marketing Inc., SMI,
or Systems Marketing. The lawsuit alleged
the defendants had telemarketers contact
mostly elderly consumers to encourage them
to participate in a lottery “pool”
that would enhance their chances of winning
large prizes from the Australian Lottery.
Any
consumer who paid money to Systems 3 Marketing
Inc, SMI or Systems Marketing to participate
in the Australian Lottery is eligible for
some restitution. If the total amount of
all claims submitted exceeds the amount
available for distribution, pro rata refunds
will be made. To claim a refund, consumers
must submit an SMI Refund Claim Registration
Form and an Affidavit to: Pennsylvania Office
of Attorney General, Bureau of Consumer
Protection, 171 Lovell Avenue, Suite 202,
Ebensburg, Pa. 15931.
For
more information or to obtain a claim form
and affidavit, log onto www.NJConsumerAffairs.gov
and click on “SMI Refund Claim Registration.”
Those who do not have Internet access, may
call 814-471-1831 to receive
the forms by mail. All claims must be received
by Tuesday, May 2.
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