WeatherBug rip-off of Customers Contract with AOL - Jay Hoffman (from Lou Pearlman SCAM - Fashion Rock) has access to credit card information, maybe gives it to people in Florida and uses company time and resources to start his own business with Mike Schneider. Gaithersburg Maryland

This is an email Jason Hoffman is floating around. Evidently he is proud that he is a scam artist once again. This time for weatherbug.com. Weatherbug.com is under contract with AOL to be allowed to access their customers computers via their spyware. Jay admits to posting bogus reports to throw of their detractors.

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Date: Wed, 27 Apr 2005 06:18:34 -0700 (PDT)
From: jay the benny
Subject: well, the Model 1 cat is out of the bag
To: edward , michele presley , TJ

so one of my jobs here is to be the chief advocate on spyware/privacy issues - whenever someone says something about us being spyware I go and attack them, much the way i've attacked people over the years at M1 and TCT. I am the company pitbull apparently.

so the other day my boss, the VP of Product, and the chief attorney who is also the CPO (chief privacy officer) invite me to lunch to discuss spyware stuff. I'm going with 4 other staff to las vegas next week for the huge NetWorld conference (i know- me at a computer conference when my computer skills are about 1 level above edwards'- it's pretty funny!- i'm just going to deal with any spyware stuff) so I think, okay, they just want to go over everything I may need to know before Vegas.

so we go to lunch yesterday and I bring all my printouts and stuff, and I notice that as I'm passing out papers and asking questions, they don't seem real into it.....

so then the attorney, who I'm good friends with and work with regularly says "well, actually we're not here to talk about spyware......we know about the Virginia modeling agnecy stuff"-"- and I am thinking "gee, I picked a bad day not to wear my Depends because these guys are about to "Jerry maguire" me and fire me at lunch"-

now, you may remember that about 9 months ago WeatherBug fired some dude and in retaliation he found out about the Model 1 stuff and posted a bunch of ridiculous lies about me (and my friend Mike) on ripoffreport. 1 of the claims was that somehow there was credit card fraud at TCT- and since I have access to credit cards here at wxbug, this was a threat to all our customers.

so they said "we know that most of what he wrote was not true, but the credit card allegation concerns us because you DO have access to credit cards here."

so i told them it was 100% bullshit- the guy just found out that I had this achilles heel so he figured he'd make up whatever he could. and they said "well, normally it would be cause for concern, but we checked and could find nothing about any credit card abuse at the florida companies, and more importantly, you've been a great employee, very loyal, and a great advocate on all these forums and writing to customers who hear the 'spyware' rumors and correcting them, so we're putting the issue to bed."

the good news is the attorney understands the consent order and obviously he could tell it was weak since they settled for 60K total. and obviously they had a feeling the credit card 'claim' in the ripoffreport was bullshit.

so on the way back as I was walking to my office, my boss turns to me and says "don't worry about it- it's closed."

but boy, for about 10 minutes there I was wishing I brought my Depends.

so, I hope everything on your end is better! hear you're supposed to get some rain today.

we'll be down in December- amy and i are going to disney for a few days b/c 1) she's a huge disney fan and 2) i had to use my USairways tix before those idiots go bankrupt again.

say hi to cami and val.

Jay

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Well Jay, if you screw enough people, eventually KARMA will catch to you. The show is now on the other foot.

Here is a copy of the business plan for their new package spice business he left on Weatherbug company resources as of August 14, 2004. [NOTE: they are even planning on using WeatherBug phones to market this crap.]

1 Page Biz Summary
Short term goals - finalize brands, line names and logos and test recipes
Mid-range goals - begin product demos, meet with co-packers, finalize containers, packers, and initial order, website up and running
Long range goals - nutritional testing, warehousing options, locate broker/distributor, press and marketing effort launched

Within 30 days of August 1 (by September 1)
o Make another batch of spices using exact measurements, specific brands of spices
o Create testing score sheet for taste testing
o Meet with at least 1 co-packer (Vanns) for pricing info
o Find local stores that allow demonstrations- create list of top 5 events/stores to hold product demos
o Create plan for product demos- what do we need- materials, food license??, insurance, UPC codes if selling, merchant account, etc.
o Finalize names (Rub Me Right, Spice Sciences, Grill Gods, WxBug line ????) and get 1st draft of logos from Omid on other lines
o First draft of partnership agreements with Omid
o Pay Omid for initial designs and sign agreement for use of those images
o Determine net weight of spices to go into containers
o Finalize containers and locate wholesale container source (food grade, etc.)

Within 60 days of August 1 (by end of September)
o Finalize recipes
o Finalize Logos and line names
o Choose # of spices to launch
o Choose final branding for initial launch-names, descriptions, stories, uses
o Hold tasting day for friends/family to finalize blends
o Insurance-talk to Jay's cousin Rob
o Marketing Plan
o Determine initial amount of $$ to invest in test runs at co-packer- how many cases

Within 90days of August 1 (by end of October)
o First drafts of press releases after website launches
o Agreement with co-packer that we can distribute through our own channels (Wxbug, or others)
o Have website finalized and launched
o Determine if we want/need Kosher certification
o Establish pricing for website and retail
o Sign with Purchase Fulfillment service- or warehouse
o Attend organic food show in D.C.- mid-October
o Establish Biz Ops procedures for day to day operations
o Initial marketing push (in conjunction with Marketing Plan) to food/spice forums, bulleting boards, etc.
o Lab testing of all lines for nutritional information (determine $$)

Within 120 days of August 1 (by end of November)
o All testing to verify low salt, low sugar, low carb claims
o Pitch product to at least 3 food brokers- sign with 1
o Instore Placement deal
o Instore product demo plan if required
o Prepare kits for sale on WeatherBug webstore
o Local Media Push- WJW, BJW, Wash. Bus. Journal with OK from WxBug execs

By December 31
o xxxx amount in gross sales from website, demos, consignment deals
o Hold at least xxx product demonstrations
o Distribution in xxxxx stores (consignment OK)
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Here are copies of e-mail sent to Edge Sports Team, another side venture to distract them from work.

----- Original Message -----
From: Tolner@aol.com
To: Jay Hoffman
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2004 2:04 PM
Subject: Re: edge sports team account being sent to me

Dear Jason:

Please could you mail copies of the statement(s) to 1701 and I will look into it.

Thanks - Mark

Jay also diverts "trouble" to an unauthorized e-mail address (like people who claim they got our program without their authorization, pop-up problems, etc). Anyone having been asked to respond to weatherbugjay@yahoo.com should contact [deleted] ripoffreport.com rebuttal below.

[Place your comments below and be sure to include your FULL contact information so Rip-off Report can contact you.]

Here is a copy of the business plan for their new package spice business he left on Weatherbug company resources as of August 14, 2004. [NOTE: they are even planning on using WeatherBug phones to market this crap.]

1 Page Biz Summary
Short term goals - finalize brands, line names and logos and test recipes
Mid-range goals - begin product demos, meet with co-packers, finalize containers, packers, and initial order, website up and running
Long range goals - nutritional testing, warehousing options, locate broker/distributor, press and marketing effort launched

Within 30 days of August 1 (by September 1)
o Make another batch of spices using exact measurements, specific brands of spices
o Create testing score sheet for taste testing
o Meet with at least 1 co-packer (Vanns) for pricing info
o Find local stores that allow demonstrations- create list of top 5 events/stores to hold product demos
o Create plan for product demos- what do we need- materials, food license??, insurance, UPC codes if selling, merchant account, etc.
o Finalize names (Rub Me Right, Spice Sciences, Grill Gods, WxBug line ????) and get 1st draft of logos from Omid on other lines
o First draft of partnership agreements with Omid
o Pay Omid for initial designs and sign agreement for use of those images
o Determine net weight of spices to go into containers
o Finalize containers and locate wholesale container source (food grade, etc.)

Within 60 days of August 1 (by end of September)
o Finalize recipes
o Finalize Logos and line names
o Choose # of spices to launch
o Choose final branding for initial launch-names, descriptions, stories, uses
o Hold tasting day for friends/family to finalize blends
o Insurance-talk to Jay's cousin Rob
o Marketing Plan
o Determine initial amount of $$ to invest in test runs at co-packer- how many cases

Within 90days of August 1 (by end of October)
o First drafts of press releases after website launches
o Agreement with co-packer that we can distribute through our own channels (Wxbug, or others)
o Have website finalized and launched
o Determine if we want/need Kosher certification
o Establish pricing for website and retail
o Sign with Purchase Fulfillment service- or warehouse
o Attend organic food show in D.C.- mid-October
o Establish Biz Ops procedures for day to day operations
o Initial marketing push (in conjunction with Marketing Plan) to food/spice forums, bulleting boards, etc.
o Lab testing of all lines for nutritional information (determine $$)

Within 120 days of August 1 (by end of November)
o All testing to verify low salt, low sugar, low carb claims
o Pitch product to at least 3 food brokers- sign with 1
o Instore Placement deal
o Instore product demo plan if required
o Prepare kits for sale on WeatherBug webstore
o Local Media Push- WJW, BJW, Wash. Bus. Journal with OK from WxBug execs

By December 31
o xxxx amount in gross sales from website, demos, consignment deals
o Hold at least xxx product demonstrations
o Distribution in xxxxx stores (consignment OK)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Here are copies of e-mail sent to Edge Sports Team, another side venture to distract them from work.

----- Original Message -----
From: Tolner@aol.com
To: Jay Hoffman
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2004 2:04 PM
Subject: Re: edge sports team account being sent to me

Dear Jason:

Please could you mail copies of the statement(s) to 1701 and I will look into it.

Thanks - Mark

Jay also diverts "trouble" to an unauthorized e-mail address (like people who claim they got our program without their authorization, pop-up problems, etc). Anyone having been asked to respond to weatherbugjay@yahoo.com should contact [deleted] ripoffreport.com rebuttal below.

[Place your comments below and be sure to include your FULL contact information so Rip-off Report can contact you.]

Here is a copy of the business plan for their new package spice business he left on Weatherbug company resources as of August 14, 2004. [NOTE: they are even planning on using WeatherBug phones to market this crap.]

1 Page Biz Summary
Short term goals - finalize brands, line names and logos and test recipes
Mid-range goals - begin product demos, meet with co-packers, finalize containers, packers, and initial order, website up and running
Long range goals - nutritional testing, warehousing options, locate broker/distributor, press and marketing effort launched

Within 30 days of August 1 (by September 1)
o Make another batch of spices using exact measurements, specific brands of spices
o Create testing score sheet for taste testing
o Meet with at least 1 co-packer (Vanns) for pricing info
o Find local stores that allow demonstrations- create list of top 5 events/stores to hold product demos
o Create plan for product demos- what do we need- materials, food license??, insurance, UPC codes if selling, merchant account, etc.
o Finalize names (Rub Me Right, Spice Sciences, Grill Gods, WxBug line ????) and get 1st draft of logos from Omid on other lines
o First draft of partnership agreements with Omid
o Pay Omid for initial designs and sign agreement for use of those images
o Determine net weight of spices to go into containers
o Finalize containers and locate wholesale container source (food grade, etc.)

Within 60 days of August 1 (by end of September)
o Finalize recipes
o Finalize Logos and line names
o Choose # of spices to launch
o Choose final branding for initial launch-names, descriptions, stories, uses
o Hold tasting day for friends/family to finalize blends
o Insurance-talk to Jay's cousin Rob
o Marketing Plan
o Determine initial amount of $$ to invest in test runs at co-packer- how many cases

Within 90days of August 1 (by end of October)
o First drafts of press releases after website launches
o Agreement with co-packer that we can distribute through our own channels (Wxbug, or others)
o Have website finalized and launched
o Determine if we want/need Kosher certification
o Establish pricing for website and retail
o Sign with Purchase Fulfillment service- or warehouse
o Attend organic food show in D.C.- mid-October
o Establish Biz Ops procedures for day to day operations
o Initial marketing push (in conjunction with Marketing Plan) to food/spice forums, bulleting boards, etc.
o Lab testing of all lines for nutritional information (determine $$)

Within 120 days of August 1 (by end of November)
o All testing to verify low salt, low sugar, low carb claims
o Pitch product to at least 3 food brokers- sign with 1
o Instore Placement deal
o Instore product demo plan if required
o Prepare kits for sale on WeatherBug webstore
o Local Media Push- WJW, BJW, Wash. Bus. Journal with OK from WxBug execs

By December 31
o xxxx amount in gross sales from website, demos, consignment deals
o Hold at least xxx product demonstrations
o Distribution in xxxxx stores (consignment OK)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Here are copies of e-mail sent to Edge Sports Team, another side venture to distract them from work.

----- Original Message -----
From: Tolner@aol.com
To: Jay Hoffman
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2004 2:04 PM
Subject: Re: edge sports team account being sent to me

Dear Jason:

Please could you mail copies of the statement(s) to 1701 and I will look into it.

Thanks - Mark

Jay also diverts "trouble" to an unauthorized e-mail address (like people who claim they got our program without their authorization, pop-up problems, etc). Anyone having been asked to respond to weatherbugjay@yahoo.com should contact [deleted] ripoffreport.com rebuttal below.

[Place your comments below and be sure to include your FULL contact information so Rip-off Report can contact you.]