I answered an ad on Atlanta Craigslist November 2009 for a company seeking an investor to expand a profitable advertising business with operations in Seattle, New York, and Boston.

The company principal, Joe Ewert, claimed to be an advertising industry veteran with major national contracts including, AT&T, Apple/Ipod, Accenture, and US Air force as well as many more.He provided copies of signed contracts along with financial statements and invoices.The business was making a large monthly profit but because of the slow paying national customers he needed an infusion of cash for expansion.I invested an initial $9500.

In December 2009 Joe Ewert solicited me for a larger investment to continue the expansion into different markets with the first being Chicago.He provided additional information for due diligence to include, financial statements, invoices, copies of bank statements showing payment from the national advertisers, copies of his passport and drivers license.He also confirmed a new contract with TBS, as well as a confirmed commitment in 2010 from RJ Reynolds Tobacco company for $847,000.I invested an additional $22,700.

In February 2010, I came to find out that the claims of national advertisers were false and the contracts were forgeries.None of contracts of the claimed national advertisers were legitimate.When questioned, Joe initially denied the claims, and later admitted the documentation was falsified.

Through research, as well as communication with his family and former friends, I have found out he has a history of scam/con type criminal activities. I have also found several additional victims within different industry segments. We have in total been defrauded out of over $100,000!!

Josef Ewert lives in Seattle Washington and Boston Mass and operates out of Washington, California, Georgia, Illinois, New York, and Massachusetts.He has mentioned business interest in the Dallas,Texas and Las Vegas, Nevada areas as well.He uses several aliases as well as many different business names and telephone numbers, usually free voicemails.He also uses commercial PO boxes.I have reason to believe he is involved in many different types of scams.

He has at least two accomplices. Christina Capone, his girlfriend whom he resides with in Seattle, Washington and Boston Mass and Mario Eutese Barnes, a long time friend and partner, residing in Atlanta, Georgia.