Consumers Harmed by Deceptive Business Coaching Scheme Lurn Receive Over $2.4 Million From FTC

The Federal Trade Commission is issuing over $2.4 million in refunds to individuals who were misled by Lurn’s business consulting programs regarding the potential earnings they could achieve. The FTC filed a lawsuit against Lurn in September 2023, claiming that the online business coaching company made false statements in order to sell its money-making programs. Lurn made exaggerated claims about the potential earnings consumers could make through their programs, such as becoming a “Stay-At-Home Millionaire” or making $11,453 per month despite a 98% failure rate. The company lacked evidence to support these claims, and very few consumers actually profited from the programs.

The FTC is distributing payments to 1,922 consumers who bought coaching or mentoring programs from Lurn, with most receiving checks by mail. Recipients are advised to cash their checks within 90 days, as indicated on the check. Those without an address on file will receive a PayPal payment, which must be redeemed within 30 days. Consumers with inquiries about their payment can reach out to the refund administrator, Rust Consulting, at 833-637-3837 or visit the FTC website for answers to common refund queries. It’s important to note that the Commission never requires individuals to make payments or provide account information to receive a refund.

The Commission’s interactive dashboards offer a state-by-state breakdown of refund distributions in FTC cases. In 2023, FTC actions led to a total of $324 million in refunds issued to consumers nationwide.