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I was first contacted by CloseUp TV on 7/26/22 by an Executive Producer.  I was offered a radio segment on their Empowered Women radio series.  I accepted, and paid for, one show.

The show aired 9/22/22.  Later that evening, I received a voicemail from someone who identified himself as Christopher Johnson, Director of Marketing and Advertising at NBC (though his Caller ID said Anthony Holmes).  He called me “Superstar,” told me they were interviewing for a Women Making a Difference in America series and wanted to talk to me.

I chatted with him for roughly an hour on 9/23/22. He said things like “we promoted Marshall Goldsmith, were able to get up to $50,000 for each speaking opportunity for him.  We’d start you out around $20,000” and “it will be your best year in business.”  A little while later, I interviewed with a crew from CloseUp TV and was offered the role as the “female coach” they would promote.  I was told I beat out other female coaches.  Was told I needed to pay a portion of the video interview and was rushed to give them my credit card number.

A few days later (9/28/22), Christopher called back and told me they secured me a spot in Empowered Professionals magazine and on a billboard in Times Square.  Kept using his line “I hope you saved pennies for a rainy day,” and “we need to make you look bigger than you are,” and “the other women have already agreed to this.”  I agreed to this and paid another sum of money.

About a week later (10/10/22), Christopher called again and said they needed to do another five radio interviews.  He used the same lines as before.  I reluctantly agreed and paid again.

Christopher had promised “we’ll work side by side” throughout the video editing process, storyboarding (before) then editing (after).  None of that happened.  I prepared for the interview by myself, flew to CT for the interview on 10/29/22, and then edited by myself.  When I asked Christopher about the editing, he said “you do it.  You know yourself the best.”

Despite Christopher identifying himself as working for NBC, all contracts came from CloseUp TV, CloseUp Talk Radio, or Empowered Professional Digital Magazine, with Louis Ceparano’s name on them.  When I asked an Executive Producer about Christopher, she said "he's a freelancer."

December/January, I talked with Christopher a couple times.  He kept using the phrase “did you save any pennies for a rainy day?” and told me it’d really help if we hired a Project Manager to support him.  I told him no.

I am writing this in early July 2023.  They have produced the materials (video, magazine, radio shows, NY Times Square billboard) they promised, though some details (like how they would market those materials) do not match the contract.

I haven’t been offered any of the speaking or guest coaching opportunities as promised.  These materials are not worth what they charged for them, and I would never agree to these had I not been promised to make my money back.

Talking with others, I am told this is a known trick.  They sell people on high-dollar marketing materials with the promise of getting high-dollar paying gigs, and never follow through on securing those gigs.

I also learned that Christopher’s real name is Anthony Holmes (which matches the caller ID from the initial call).  That may explain why he changed his phone number in April 2023.

I have also since learned other female coaches were "selected."  Their telling me I was the only one is incorrect.

In summary: looking back, there were red flags.  Yet I was an ambitious new entrepreneur ready to make a difference in the world.  I can see why there aren’t many reports – it’s pretty darn embarrassing to say you were had for many $10s of thousands.  But if I don’t report it, how will others know?