Complaint Review: Selective Wellness LLC

I too have been scammed.  I have spoken with three others across the country thusfar and want to gather more information to pursue criminal charges on Joe (if he's alive) and those that helped him.  Please contact me to discuss.  mcwb133 at g mail dot com.  For those who spoke to "Dawn Smith" or a female with other aliases as an initial reference, I have her personal phone number and all her business affiliations and would be happy to share them with you to pursue further.   

Dear Chandler,

I have not contacted the Broward Sheriff, but will do so tomorrow.

I have reported it to the PA Attorney General.  They referred it to the US Postal Service.  Haven't heard from them siince.

I reported it to the FLA Attorney General.  They have not responded to it directly, but have referrerd me to "Seniors vs Crime" and the the FL Dept of Consumer Affairs.  Neither agency has enforcement powers, but are there to "mediate" a dispute, voluntariilly (sp?)..... yeah, right.

I reported it to the F.B.I.  They said it wasn't a big enough crime for them to get involved, but would forward it to the Fla office to keep on file.  Thery said if there were enough reports showing big numbers, they might get interested.  They suggested I file a report with their internet crimes division, ic3.gov or ic3.com (can't remember which is correct). I did that and haven't heard anything.  During my initial report to the FBI call center, they told me that local law enforcement wouldn't be able to help me.

I reported it to the FTC as suggested by the auto-response I got from the Fla Atty General.  Haven't heard anything.

I reported it to the Fla B.B.B.  They didn't do anything.  Neither did the National B.B.B.

The website that reported his death notice has since deleted it.

I keep checking every once in a while to see if the crook starts up another website business, but so far, it looks like he's in the wind.

I'll keep looking.  Good luck with the Sheriff. 

I don't believe that Joe is dead, although that would certainly be a blessing to those he has scammed, including me.  His latest phone number: 800-761-1260 includes a recording of his legal name, "Joseph Langner is not available now, please leave a message".  He actually makes his profit from selling distribution territories; having the seller fail and then reselling the same territory to a different person, under a differnt LLC.  He uses the same selling materials & website; they just have a new LLC name.  There are usually about 3 differnt LLC's and brand names running across the country (using the same materials & websites). 

To my knowledge, he has been doing the same thing under nearly 20 different LLC's and brand names since or just before the year 2000.  He currently has federal & state tax leans on his house.  He did recently move his company and made, yet another corporate name change.  He is currently using, Summit Health, Testingforwellness.com and Exact Health, LLC.  

Federal Violations include:

            Truth in Advertising Principals – FTC – The letters on the web site that we are suppose to use that say: Our patented software (US patent #6510430) uses laboratory test results from the analysis of a 24-hour urine sample, combines the results of those assays with each patient’s responses on a detailed health questionnaire and makes specific recommendations as to the supplements, the dosage and the priority of use of the recommended supplements, recognizing each client will have individual budget considerations.

            The Business Opportunity Rule – FTC – Deliberately deceiving and misleading prospective distributors by both implication and by direct referral to persons who were not earning or achieving what they say they are.  Failure to disclose full relationship information regarding any successful distributor whose phone number the company gives to the prospective distributor.  Failure to provide required and separate (from any agreement) disclosure documents (updated quarterly) according to the Business Opportunity Rule and requiring the prospective distributor to sign and return to the seller.

fLORIDA STATUTES: Regulation of Trade: Misrepresentation & failure to disclose efforst to sell; Misrepresentation of amounts and profits to be gained; Falsley claming that they own trademarks and intellectual property, Misrepresentation of material facts and misleading representations of the business opportunity and the "exclusive territory" encompassing the same area to more than one business opportunity purchaser. 

The State of Florida has not yet prosecuted.  The FBI is aware of him.  The FTC has complaints filed.  Yet no action has been taken by any of these institutions, except Florida.  Their action is to contact Joe, make him agree to give the money back and then drop the complaint....over and over again and again, while Joe changes his name, phone number & location.

His companies also claim to own a patent (us: 6510430) that is actually the property of Walgreens, iNC. 

I ask any of you that have been dupped by Joe Langner and  read this rebuttal to contact the Broward County Sheriff's office immediately. I have initiated a formal complaint and have been issued a case number. I intend on seeing Joe go to prison. The case #10-1403-002987 that is being actively investigated. It resided in the economic crimes division and is being handed by Detective Henriques-Wilson at 954-321-4255. This is her direct line. Joe accepted a wire transfere fromy father for $24K versus a paper check. This has now crossed into very serious wire fraud and racketeering on a federal level. We can all work together to stop this criminal but I am afraid he may already be on the run..

Please feel free to contact me at (((email redacted)))

 I was scammed as well by a Joe Lauer of Proper Wellness. My story is verbatim to all the others. Wonderful promises. Conversations with "wealthy, successful distributors." I was fortnuate enough to receive $7000 back. However, today, one of the installments bounced and Proper Wellness has disappeared.

It has been reported that Langner died last week.  I have been in touch with another one of his victims, and apparently their phones were answered by a machine that stated that the owner had died and that the company was shut down, at least for the time being.

When I called a few of their numbers this week, most were disconnected (the # for Focused Health went to voice mail).   All of their websites have been shut down since Monday.

It looks very suspicious.  The only notice I could find just mentions his name and dates at a Memorial Park in Boca Pointe.... no obit or any other details.

It wouldn't suprise me if the crook staged his own demise to avoid prosecution.  I reported him to the Florida Attorney General, and based on other ripoff reports it isn't the only complaint.

 After reading your report, I must fully agree. I was also taken for an area distributorship. Joe told me if I changed my mind he would refund me for the kits I still had. I spent $12,500, worked hard for 3 months, then realized this was not going to work. I called him and told him I wanted out, and he could take back the remaining kits and refund me as he promised. He said, "I never promised that. Besides, we don't work through distributors any more." He totally ripped me off and lied to me. I would like to join in on a class action lawsuit against Joe Langner.