Anonymous
map-marker Austin, Texas

The Best of Austin Magazine

They are not affiliated with The Chronicle magazine in Austin that has a "The Best of" article yearly. "The Best of Austin Magazine" is also not easily found on the internet. I've spoke to several people that are homeowners in the areas they claim to distribute but nobody has seen their "publication" Upon inquiring more about their business model, they are very defensive and rude. The owner Vee or Vernell Burris has a history of conspiracy, wire fraud, mail fraud and misuse of a government seal. I am researching with the US Postal Service if they even print and mail magazines to the 30,000 home owners they claim to.
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9 comments
#1497122

Thank you for posting this - this guy is a legit (and scary) scam artist.

#1496613

Vee just threatened me on the phone as I tried to call him out on scamming one of my clients via Recovery Source - it appears he's lying about visit numbers to his site - claiming they get 600 - 800 day and it appears they get less than 100 visits per day. How do we get someone like him turned in? This is awful and very upsetting.

#1193361

Now he's going to prey on addicts. I guess they won't go to the authorities if he scams them. Here is his new "non profit" named The Recovery Source

#1193349

Watch out. He has another company.

He keeps changing his name and company name, but still a scam artist. imediagrp is the new company he hides behind.

#1193345

FINALLY THIS *** BAG IS IN JAIL! NEVER BEEN HAPPIER!

HOPEFULLY THEY'LL GET HIM ON THE CHARGES WE FILED AGAINST HIM IN FEDERAL COURT AS WELL.

Florida Man To Serve 13 Months For Defrauding Thousands Of Homeowners In $4 Million Home Loan Modification Scam

Vernell Burris Jr., 54, of Coconut Creek, Fla., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel and ordered to serve two years of supervised release following his prison term.

Two co-defendants, Christopher S.

Godfrey, 44, of Delray Beach, Fla., and Dennis Fischer, 42, of Highland Beach, Fla., were each sentenced on Feb. 20, 2014, to serve 84 months in prison and three years of supervised release following their prison term.

#852984

MY company had an issue with The Best of Austin as well. We paid $800 and never heard anything from them again after are card was charged the full amount. They made sure to keep in touch with us before hand but then once are money cleared I never received a response or anything from them after numerous attempts to reach them.

#790900

Scam artist! BEWARE!

The postal service confirms these magazines do not have a bulk mail permit. They will take your money and mail them to you only. Vernell Burris, Jr., 52, of Boynton Beach, Fla., pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Court Judge Rya W.

Zobel to conspiracy and wire fraud.

According to the charges to which Burris pleaded guilty, he and other co-conspirators operated an organization called Home Owners Protection Economics Inc. (HOPE) from January 2009 through May 2011. They instructed HOPE employees to make a series of misrepresentations to induce financially-distressed homeowners looking for a federally-funded home loan modification to pay HOPE a $400-$900 up-front fee in exchange for HOPE’s home loan modifications, modification services and “software licenses.”

Among these misrepresentations detailed in the conspiracy and wire fraud charges were the claims that, with HOPE’s assistance, the homeowner was virtually guaranteed to receive a loan modification under the Home Affordable Modification Program, which is part of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) and is a federally-funded mortgage assistance program. HOPE also claimed that it operated as a non-profit.

In exchange for these up-front fees, HOPE sent its customers, including homeowners in Massachusetts, only a do-it-yourself application package, which was virtually identical to the application that the government provides free of charge, and instructed customers to fill out the application and submit it to their mortgage lender. The HOPE customers who did use these forms to apply on their own for loan modifications had no advantage in the application process, and, in fact, most of their applications were denied. Through these misrepresentations, HOPE was able to persuade thousands of homeowners to pay more than $3 million in fees to HOPE.

Judge Zobel scheduled sentencing for July 11, 2012. Burris faces up to 20 years in prison on each wire fraud count, to be followed by three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and restitution.

He also faces up to five years in prison on the conspiracy count.

#748792

This is a competitor post. Is doing business that difficult that you have to slander your competition?

If not, than why would your post be anonymous? Allow me to speak with you, to hear the details. Also, why would your post be without a loss of revenue?

Did you spend money on an Ad campaign?

#748787

i feel this comment is not warranted as you most be a disguntled employee. you should be ashamed of your self !!

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