SPI notifies all embassies of Athena's Higher Learning Center franchise fraud based in Beijing

Feb. 11, 2010 - PRLog -- Today, Carl Catrone, chief investigator of Scam Patrol International announced that a urgent red flag fraud alert was sent to 56 embassies in Beijing advising them of a fraudulent franchise "investment opportunity" being peddled out of Beijing by American fugitives Sam and Linda Arnold who have a 16 year criminal history of swindling victims in California, Nevada, Texas, and Florida.  Arnold who served prison time after pleading guilty to six fraud felonies that targeted the elderly and migrant Chinese, fled to China after even more charges were laid against him (See wanted posters at http://www.cslb.ca.gov/GeneralInformation/Newsroom/MostWanted/SamuelNevielArnold.asp and details of previous frauds at http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=34886 and http://www.ripoffreport.com/loans/american-independent/american-independent-capital-g-e3682.htm

Catrone angrily remarked that "Arnold has been swindling people with impunity from China only because he married a Chinese woman which legally prevents extradition".  SPI interviewed a total of 17 victims in China alone whose losses from his many fraudulent transactions exceed $5 million USD.  Catrone admitted that unless the embassies pressured the Chinese government, Arnold and his staff of con artists would continue with his various scams since his partners include corrupt military officers and a Beijing Judge, of which Arnold regularly boasts.

Catrone also conceded that even though SPI is fully cooperating with Interpol investigators, victims would continue to accumulate since Arnold uses phony press releases, forged bank statements, and paid referrals to say wonderful things about his companies. One victim insists that Arnold even showed her a photo of himself having dinner with the Premier of China which Catrone claims must be a doctored photo.

SPI conducted a six month investigation of the Arnolds and uncovered six different front companies - all operating out of executive suites and using over 30 telephone numbers in just the last year.  Catrone is determined to see Arnold apprehended and prosecuted but for now is happy just to alert the public to what appears to be a very lucrative oppotunity, when in fact not one "teacher" at Athena's Higher Learning Center hold's any teaching degree nor any degree in Education, Linguistics, Chinese nor English. According to Catrone "This bogus school is not licensed nor accredited in any country" and he warned investors to steer clear of the obvious sham.

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Scam Patrol International is a volunteer coalition of retired law enforcement personnel, active private investigators, and internet investigators dedicated to smoking out and exposing internet fraudsters. Acting as an early warning system, SPI hopes to minimize victim counts. If you are a victim or know of a fraud in progress please contact Scam Patrol International at ScamPatrol at hotmail.com. Our motto: "Its better to beware than be sorry".