UPDATE:
The RipOffReport is NO LONGER A USA WEBSITE.
The owner has moved his website to Italy and is
now hosted by www.tiscali.com in an attempt to
avoid USA authorities from shutting down his business.
(Verified by performing a standard Trace Route)



The following news story has come to our attention:

FOR THE LATEST UPDATES:
CLICK HERE


Universal Communication Systems Inc and Subsidiary Air Water Corporation Today Filed a 'RICO' Law Suit Action Against Xcentric Ventures LLC, Creative Business Investment C, RipOffReport.com BadBusinessBureau.com LLC, Frank Torelli, BadBusinessBureau.com, Alias 'NM', Ed Magedson, and John Does 1-25

Company chairman Michael Zwebner announced today that the company has filed a civil "RICO" law suit IN THE CIRCUIT COURT IN AND FOR THE 11TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA seeking money damages for the Companies' losses as a victim of the defendants' "RICO" (Racketeering Influenced Criminal Organization) conduct and for other improper activities. The law suit names a number of defendants who have and are continuing to allegedly operate a Criminal Racketeering Enterprise against the company (ies) and its directors and staff, as well as unnamed John Does 1-25, being individuals that will be named and added in due course.

UPDATE: October 19, 2006:
The US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division had scheduled a hearing to determine the extent and nature of punishment for contempt of court by Ed Magedson and the Rip-Off Report, after he violated that court's order to remove defamatory materials from their website. Unfortunately, that hearing has been rescheduled until December 12, 2006, as Magedson's lawyer continues to delay the case.

Meanwhile, Magedson continues to publish the most scurrilous materials about companies that complained to the Federal Court in the first place. Despite a Federal Court Order directing him to remove the defamation about their businesses, Magedson removed only one or two posts, but created and maintains dozens of others. He now features a Plaintiff, George S. May, on the Rip-off Report home page. The Plaintiff recently claimed over a million dollars in damages as a result of Magedson thumbing his nose at the Court. At last count there were over 54 rip-off reports filed by Magedson and his crew against this company that sued him.

Is it a mere coincidence that anyone who sues or testifies against Magedson gets vilified to no end on his website?

Or is this part of Magedson's Rip-Off-Report's website extortion s c a m: any who refuses to pay or any brave enough to stand up to him in court are targeted for the worst possible treatment on the rip-off report?

Instead of a source for useful information, the rip-off report web site appears to have become Ed Magedson's vehicle for revenge and harassment. In fact he testified under oath: "I have no other way to retaliate"

When will he learn?



THE MAIN ALLEGATIONS:

The law suit alleges that the defendants associated in the Racketeering Enterprise and conducted or participated, directly or indirectly in such enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity consisting of a scheme and article to defraud, lure, obtain, extort monies by means of fraud, misrepresentation, pretenses, and material omissions through false and misleading practices, and to defame and violate the legal rights of Plaintiff(s) through a pattern of criminal activity or a pattern of racketeering activity including the use of telecommunications, mail, wire communications as prescribed by 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1341 and Sec. 1343, 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1962, and F.S. Sec. mail fraud, wire fraud.

Michael J Zwebner added, "We have watched the outrageous actions of these persons continue unabated for far too long. Enough is Enough! We are now responding appropriately, and other "alias" participants in this criminal racketeering enterprise and related internet posting activities can expect to see their names added to the list of RICO defendants once their identities are obtained through the Court system's discovery process. I have stated before and repeat now, that all such defamatory and extortionate behavior against us will not be tolerated, and the culprits will now have to face justice in the courtroom. "

Contact: Rolando Sablon
Company: Universal Communication Systems, Inc., Miami Beach
Voice: 305-672-6344
Email: info@ucsy.com
URL: www.ucsy.com



And this:

$20,000 REWARD
For information leading to valid service
of original legal process on:

Ed Magedson, Owner of RipOffReports

Because Ed Magedson hides to avoid legal proceedings, Federated Financial now offers $20,000 for information leading to valid service of original legal process on Ed Magedson, personally, (we have served his corporation) in:

The Matter of Federated Financial Services, Inc.
vs.
Xcentric ventures, LLC, Ed Magedson, et al
Case No. CACE0401772 (21)
Broward County
17th Judicial District of Florida

To submit information and apply for this reward send email to rewards@federatedfinancial.com, all personal information will be kept confidential. You'll be performing a public service, and we'll happily make the announcement for you, anonymously. (Interested legal counsel and currently engaged process servers excluded.)

In the event of multiple identical submissions, the first received by Federated will receive the reward. Federated reserves the exclusive right to prorate the reward between and amongst multiple qualifying individuals according to its own criteria as to what information contributed most to valid service.

Ed Magedson uses his (ripoffreports) websites to extort money from honest businesses in return for testimonials from Ripoffreport.com.

Ed Magedson wrote to us on 12/31/04, in response to our lawsuit against him, offering to give us a good testimonial for "a reduced fee of $2,500 up front and a monthly monitoring of about $125 a month...

Magedson wrote:
"The normal cost for the amount of Reports you have would be about $9,000 and much more of a monthly monitoring fee...An investigative Report by Rip-off Report...would be a very positive one, turning all the negatives into a positive. Anyone would want to do business with your company. You will wish there were more Rip-off Reports on you, ...NO joke..."

Ed himself has admitted in at least one newspaper article link:
"Taking money from businesses that bureaus are supposed to watch is a conflict of interest..."




ARREST FILE LINK of RipOffReport Owner

Another extortion letter:
http://www.bad-business-rip-off.net/hycite.html

Sources:
http://www.bad-business-rip-off.com/
http://www.goodbusinessbureau.com/


And more this month:
RipOffReport Loses
$101,100.93 Lawsuit

Michael King, Attorney representing Raceway Ford, received victory from two (2) judgements against the owner of RipOffReports and Bad Business Reports on 11-9-2004 totaling $101,100.93

Source:
Superior Court Link


RipOffReport Loses
$36,631.71 Lawsuit

MAIN & GILBERT LLC received victory from three (3) judgements against the owner of RipOffReports and Bad Business Reports totaling $36,631.71

Source:
Superior Court Link


RipOffReport Loses
$14,289.95 Lawsuit

Michael Herzog, Attorney, received victory from three (3) judgements against the owner of RipOffReports and Bad Business Reports totaling $14,289.95 on behalf of his clients.

Source:
Superior Court Link



FBI Report: The FBI is currently trying to obtain original document. In a recent report and in the process of giving out information on fugitives Robert and Pamela Kirchman, Ed Magedson (owner of RipOffReports) was mentioned as a possible co-consirator in colusion with the Kirchmans to extort money from businesses via a website s c a m. Anyone with information on the wherabouts of any of these individuals is encouraged to contact the FBI in Staunton Virginia. (804) 261-1044.

Source: http://www.webspawner.com/users/sharkiebites/index.html


Better Business Bureau Report for:
RipOffReport & Bad Business Owner:
"Unsatisfactory Record"

Go here:
http://www.dc.bbb.org/report.html?na...compid=1038533


RipOffReport Loses
$27 Million Dollar Lawsuit

Alyon Technologies received victory from a judgement against the owner of RipOffReports and Bad Business Reports totaling $27,100,932 on behalf of his clients.

Sources:
PDF Document Link

News Story Link


UPDATE: APRIL 2005
The following copy was sent to us by a consumer:
RipOffReport Owner Begs
For Money to Defend Multiple Lawsuits!

Letter from RipOff Owner:

"Dear Consumers,

"Urgent Message from Rip-off Report.

"We need your help at this critical time to keep this web site freely accessible to the public. We have incurred and are incurring unmanageable and substantial legal fees in many states. We are being sued because of the Reports. Now we are paying the price. These culprits have targeted us for legal action, forcing us to spend money on what seems to be endless legal fees across the nation. We wish to stress to you that once we take a position on a company, we realize that we place our business in jeopardy. The demands on us are greater than ever. Your help is urgently needed. I hope we can count on you at this pivotal time. We have barely been able to meet the overhead required for the operation and maintenance of the web site, and those costs are growing everyday. Contributions have not generated enough funds to support our work. Now the additional legal expenses may severely affect the operation of Rip-off Report.

"I am asking that you do all you can to help -- today. Please don't say to yourself that others will give and you don't have to. Also, no amount is too small, send what you can, please.

"PLEASE HELP US NOW!

"Remember, YOUR DONATIONS are NOT TAX Deductible

"ED Magedson - Founder, Rip-off Report"


(Updates April 2005)