Better Business Bureau Warns About Telecom 2000 Network

The Better Business Bureau of Central East Texas, Inc., has issued a warning about a company called Telecom 2000 Network. This is a cellular phone and long distance company which relies on a multi-level marketing promotional plan. The company is owned by Al Petty.

According to the notice from the BBB:

"Al Petty, Jr. has been identified in BBB files since 1995 as the operator of numerious pyramid schemes. He has developed a pattern of unanswered complaints; operating illegal pyramid schemes and therefore maintains an unsatisfactory record with the Better Business Bureau.

"Effective 04/16/02 all phone numbers to Telecom 2000 available to the BBB were no longer in service. However, Mr. Petty is currently continuing conference calls with his participants on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8PM Central Time. The calls last approximately three hours and are at the caller's expense."

On April 17, 2002, certain of Petty's assets were placed under a court-ordered Permanent Injunction Order. Additionally, the FBI is investigating Petty for possible wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, and operating a Ponzi scheme.

Petty has also done business under the names On Line Exchange, TTN, Auto Drivers Research Association, Financial Family Plan, Independence 96, and Independence 2000 America, Inc.