Complaint Review: Global Arena | Notice: Ripoff Report VIP Arbitration Decision: A neutral and independent Arbitrator has determined that the following Report contained one or more false statements of facts. The false statements have been redacted as ((Statement REDACTED as false pursuant to Ripoff Report VIP Arbitration)) | Furthermore, the Arbitrator found that the Author of this Report was not written by who they purported to be. | Global Arena, Jonah Engler, Brett Friedberg, Jon Sheklow, Josh Turney, Michael Tannen, Theresa Hutchins, Carlin Glyptis, Joe Schaffer, Bruce Johnson, ((Statement REDACTED as false pursuant to Ripoff Report VIP Arbitration))!!! ((Statement REDACTED as false pursuant to Ripoff Report VIP Arbitration))!! New York New York

RIPOFF REPORT VIP ARBITRATION

SUMMARY OF ARBITRATOR’S DECISION

Global Arena, Complainant

v.

Anonymous, Author of Report #1098596,

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Complainant Global Arena (the “Complainant”) has challenged the truthfulness of certain specific statements (each, a “Statement”) posted by Author Anonymous (the “Author”) on the Ripoff Report website at www.ripoffreport.com as Ripoff Report #1098596 (the “Report”). The Author accused the Complainant of engaging in misconduct in connection with the sale of securities, in which the Complainant denied all allegations. The Author did not submit a response to the Complainant or any contact information. Therefore, in accordance with the Ripoff Report VIP Arbitration Rules (the “Rules), the Author waived their right to participate in this Arbitration. By submitting a Report and a Complaint on the Ripoff Report websites, both the Complainant and the Author have agreed to submit the dispute to the Ripoff Report VIP Arbitration Program.

In accordance with the Rules, the Arbitrator was asked to decide whether the challenged Statements were an opinion or a fact. If, and only if, the Statement was determined to be a statement of fact, the Arbitrator was asked to further decided if, by a preponderance of the evidence, to determine if the Statement was true or false. If the statement identified by the Complainant is determined to be an opinion, no determination will be made as to that particular Statement because an opinion cannot be determined to be true nor false.

In this case, the Arbitrator had only the evidence submitted by the Complainant to consider. The evidence submitted included Ripoff Report #1098596, Complainant’s Arbitration Statement, Complainant’s Witness Statements, and supporting documentation.

Each Statement challenged by the Complainant has been considered, together with any Witness Statements and Documents provided by the Complainant for determination of the truth or falsity of the Statement. The Author did not provide a response to the Complaint.

The Arbitrator determined that the certain statements challenged in the Report were false. Therefore, according to the VIP Arbitration Rules, those statements have been redacted.

Decided April 28, 2014

Bruce E. Meyerson, Arbitrator

* A copy of the full Arbitrator’s Decision is available upon request. Please e-mail arbitration@ripoffreport.com with the name of the Complainant and Report number.

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I was contacted by Brett Friedberg about one week ago who tried to pressure me to transfer my account to his firm, Global Arena. He gave me some pitch about some junk bond for a company that he said was going to get acquired this month. When I told him I wasn't interested, he transferred me to his secretary, Carlin Glyptis, who tried to flirt with me over the phone and made sexual passes at me, which I found highly inappropriate. When I told her, just as I told Brett, that I wasn't interested, she suggested that we "grab some drinks and have some fun" the next time she was in Dallas. I told her to take me off her list and not contact me again.

Three days ago I got a call from Jon Sheklow of Global Arena, who gave me the same high pressured sales pitch as Brett. When I told him no thanks and to take me off of his list, guess what he did?? That's right, transferred me to his secretary Theresa Hutchins, who made similar sexual passes as Carlin. She said that if I transferred my account that she'd email me some photos of herself so I could "think about her when I'm in bed at night."

Are you kidding me? Are these guys brokers or are they running a brothel?!??

Then just this morning I got a call from Josh Turney. Same routine about buying junk bonds, and same bull* pitch about the company being acquired before the end of the year. When I told him to take me off his list he challenged my manhood and yelled expletives at me. Classy.

Enough was enough. After some simple googling I found out that these guys are part of group of brokers that have worked together for the past 10 years. They're led by two senior brokers, Jonah Engler and Michael Tannen, who started working together at a place called First Republic Group, which is now out of business. I pulled up their licenses on FINRA and they're more entertaining to read than this week's National Enquirer. Jonah has 14 customer complaints and 1 Well's Notice by FINRA.Michael Tannen has 6 customer complaints with 1 pending. The previous complaints against these guys? FRAUD, CHURNING, UNAUTHORIZED TRADING, EXCESSIVE COMMISSIONS, UNSUITABLE INVESTMENTS, FAILURE TO DO DUE DILIGENCE, etc.

((Statement REDACTED as false pursuant to Ripoff Report VIP Arbitration)). Who uses aliases?? Look them up on FINRA's BrokerCheck! They all have tons of customer disputes, regulatory action against them and Jonah Engler, Jon Sheklow, and Brett Friedberg are all under current FINRA investigations! Brett Friedberg isn't even a licensed broker any more because he got kicked out of the business! I thought you weren't supposed to call people if you aren't even licensed!!

((Statement REDACTED as false pursuant to Ripoff Report VIP Arbitration))! ((Statement REDACTED as false pursuant to Ripoff Report VIP Arbitration))!!! ((Statement REDACTED as false pursuant to Ripoff Report VIP Arbitration))!!