Are Franserve franchise brokers unknowingly promoting the blatant franchise scam now being marketed as Davidovich NYC Bagel & Sandwich Shop?Â
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The second franchise organization within a week has responded to our warning and ejected the Davidovich NYC Bagel & Sandwich
The post Davidovich NYC Bagel Ejected From International Franchise Professionals Group (IFPG) appeared first on Unhappy Franchisee.
The IFPG International Franchise Professionals Group is a “membership organization� of franchise brokers. Recently, The IFPG announced that it was
The post Davidovich NYC Bagel & Sandwich Shop: Newest Franchise Partner of the International Franchise Professionals Group (IFPG) appeared first on Unhappy Franchisee.
International Franchise Expo (IFE) officials acted quickly and decisively to protect attendees and franchisor exhibitors from the predatory seller of a fraudulent franchise opportunity. Within 24 hours after being alerted by UnhappyFranchisee.Com publisher Sean Kelly, CEO Joe Smith & Davidovich NYC Bagel & Sandwich Shop were asked to leave the New York City trade show. By noon on Friday, only an empty booth and tray of bagels remained of the Craig’s List sellers’ first attempt to penetrate the franchise industry’s premiere event.
(UnhappyFranchisee.Com) Joe Smith, originally from Newburgh, N.Y., and his partner Dennis Mason, of Frenchtown, N.J., have collected hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars from individuals and families who dreamed of opening their own businesses. Smith & Mason offered (and offer) an opportunity too good to be true: a fully functional, fully financed bagel and sandwich shop franchise requiring only an up-front cash outlay of $29,500.
Using a number of names (NY Bagel Cafe & Deli, NYC Bagel & Sandwich Shop, and now Davidovich NYC Bagel & Sandwich Shop), Joe Smith & Dennis Mason have harvested a steady stream of fees from those who responded to the hundreds of ads they maintain on local Craig’s List classified sites.
Victims are provided with documents that don’t include critical information required by law, including three state enforcement orders regarding their fraudulent & illegal sales practices, the millions in fines and civil judgements they owe, that 90% of those who pay fees will never open a bagel store, or the extremely high failure rate of those that do manage to open.
Smith & Mason have recently become so emboldened by the ongoing success of their scam (we’ve been warning about it since 2013) that they decided to emerge from the dark, shady pages of Craig’s List to troll for victims at the franchise industry’s premiere franchise showcase and sales event: The International Franchise Expo (IFE) being held at the Javitz Center in New York City May 30 – June 1, 2019.
For Joe Smith, taking his NY Bagel Scam mainstream was a bold & risky move. Running a scam on the shady pages of Craig’s List is one thing, but operating in the bright light of day is another.
The International Franchise Expo (IFE) is produced by MFV Expositions, a division of a large international exposition company.
It’s sponsored by the International Franchise Association (IFA) with the assistance of the Department of Commerce/US Commercial Service.
IFE exhibitors include the New York Attorney General’s Office – the office in charge of protecting New York residents from unlawful franchise opportunities.
Friday’s roster of speakers includes Dale Cantone, the Assistant Attorney General – Franchise Unit Chief – Maryland Attorney General’s Office.
In 2015, Dale Cantone investigated a complaint by Unhappy Franchisee publisher Sean Kelly and issued an enforcement order and cease & desist against Joe Smith, Dennis Mason and NY Bagel.
Joe Smith gambled that either no one would notice or care enough to object him running his long-time scam at the IFE.
It was a gamble he lost.
Tom Portesy, President & CEO of MFV Expositions, producer of the IFE show, doesn’t mess around when it comes to protecting the attendees, franchisor exhibitors, and the integrity and image of his show.
Shortly before noon, Unhappy Franchisee posted a warning about NYC Bagel exhibiting at the IFE show (http://www.unhappyfranchisee.com/ife-international-franchise-expo-scam/).
Within hours, Tom Portesy contacted Sean Kelly asking for solid documentation for our allegations.
He forwarded our documents to MFV attorneys and quickly but thoroughly investigated the claims.
Friday morning, Tom Portesy and Maryland Assistant Attorney General Dale Cantone met with NYC Davidovich Bagel CEO Joe Smith and gave him a chance to respond to the allegations.
Having determined that there were problems with NYC Bagel’s franchise disclosures, Tom Portesy asked Joe Smith and NYC Bagel to leave the show.
According to Portesy, Joe Smith politely and respectfully packed up his booth and vacated Booth 1039.
An exhibitor sent us a picture of Booth 1039 taken Friday afternoon, empty except for a tray of hardening bagels left behind.
Since 2013, we have been warning potential victims and urging law enforcement to shut down the NY Bagel Scam and hold Joe Smith & Dennis Mason accountable.
It’s frustrating to see them still operating with impunity and running hundreds of ads on Craig’s List.
However, we appreciate and thank those who have been willing to take a stand and do their part to limit the NY Bagel franchise scam of Joe Smith & Dennis Mason, including:
ALSO READ:
NYC Bagel Franchise Scam Overview
NY BAGEL CAFÉ Franchise: How Many Have Closed? [UPDATED]
NY BAGEL CAFÉ Franchise Graveyard
NYC Davidovich Bagel Franchise Posts
DAVIDOVICH BAKERY: Part of the NYC Bagel Scam?
FRANCHISE DISCUSSIONS by Company
ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE NY BAGEL, NYC BAGEL OR DAVIDOVICH NYC BAGEL SCAM? HAVE YOU DEALT WITH DENNIS MASON OR JOE SMITH? SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.
TAGS: Marc Fintz, Marc Zirogiannis, Davidovich Bagels, Davidovich Bakery, Gene Davidovich, Davidovich NYC Bagel, Davidovich franchise, NY Bagel Cafe, NYC Bagel franchise, NYC Davidovich, Davidovich bakery, Davidovich Bagels, Davidovich franchise, Joe Smith, Dennis Mason, IFE, International Franchise Expo, International Franchise Association, IFA
The post Davidovich NYC Bagel Kicked Out of International Franchise Expo (IFE) appeared first on NY Bagel Scam.
International Franchise Expo (IFE) officials acted quickly and decisively to protect attendees and franchisor exhibitors from the predatory seller of
The post NYC Davidovich Bagel Ejected From International Franchise Expo (IFE) appeared first on Unhappy Franchisee.
Craig’s List franchise scammers whose fraudulent practices have been documented & exposed in three state investigations is exhibiting under a new name at the International Franchise Expo (IFE) May 30 – June 1, 2019 at the Javitz Center in New York City, NY. Franchisor exhibitors should expect unfair competition and lost leads to a competitor deceptively promising full financing and no franchise failures. Prospective franchisees should be aware that more than 90% of those who paid franchise fees never opened and 99.9% of those who opened eventually failed.
(UnhappyFranchisee.Com) A warning has been issued for attendees and franchisor exhibitors of the International Franchise Expo (IFE) being held May 30 – June 1, 2019 at the Javitz Center in New York City, NY.
The IFE is an international trade show produced by MFV Expositions, sponsored by the International Franchise Association and assisted by the Department of Commerce/US Commercial Service.
According to the MFV website, the IFE is the premier annual event for the franchise industry
IFE is one of the few shows supported by the US Department of Commerce. Through international buyer outreach, the show attracts investors from nearly all 50 states and over 100 countries around the world. From domestic or international expansion to selling single units, area developments, or master franchises, IFE is the industry’s one-stop shopping event.
The IFE promises franchise sellers the opportunity to “Engage face-to-face with qualified prospects… “ and “engage with current and future prospects throughout your sales funnel.�
One of the “opportunities� being hawked at the IFE is a known Craig’s List scam now being promoted as “Davidovich NYC Bagel & Sandwich Shop� franchise opportunity.
Headed by two men named Joseph Smith and Dennis Mason, the franchise fee-collection scheme has been promoted in recent years through a number of corporate names (New York Bagel Enterprises, Inc., SMS, Inc., SMS Franchising LLC) and trade name variations (NY Bagel Cafe, NYC Bagel Cafe & Sandwich Shop, Davidovich NYC Bagel & Sandwich Shop).
State investigations by franchise regulators in Virginia, Maryland, Washington each determined that the sellers of what is now called NYC Davidovich Bagel & Sandwich Shop provide their victims with fraudulent franchise documents designed to hide their numerous franchise lawsuits, judgements, enforcement orders, bankruptcies, and store failures. All three states issued enforcement orders against Joe Smith & Dennis Mason, and the State of Virginia fined the two more than $750,000. The Washington Enforcement Order includes a long list of NYC Bagel lawsuits & judgements.
NY BAGEL CAFÉ Guilty of Fraud, Fined $764,899.33
NY BAGEL SCAM Washington Enforcement Order
NY BAGEL CAFÉ SCAM Claims Validated by VA Corporations Commission
NY BAGEL CAFÉ Franchise Fraud Investigation by MD Attorney General
NYC Davidovich Bagel scammer Joe Smith & Dennis Mason provide bogus franchise disclosure documents that claim they have suffered ZERO franchise failures and ZERO store closures.
UnhappyFranchisee.Com and NY Bagel Victims have painstakenly documented more than 50 NY Bagel Cafe and NYC Bagel & Sandwich shop franchise locations that have closed or rebranded:
NY BAGEL CAFÉ Franchise: How Many Have Closed? [UPDATED]
The NYC Bagel Franchise Graveyard shows the storefronts of the many dead NY Bagel Café franchises, providing indisputable proof that the NY Bagel Café is an extremely high-risk venture – and those risks are not disclosed as required by law:
NY BAGEL CAFÉ Franchise Graveyard
We have been warning potential victims and urging law enforcement to act since 2013. Here is an index of our more than 40 blog posts:
NYC Bagel Franchise Scam Overview
Unfortunately, Joe smith & Dennis Mason have become more aggressive and open with their bagel franchise scam.
There are currently 200 Craig’s List ads promoting their scam.
They are being promoted through the International Franchise Association and the IFE.
Their fraudulent Franchise disclosure document is posted in the Frandata SBA Franchise Registry, and they are eligible for SBA-guaranteed loans that have already resulted in a default.
Help us warn potential victims, urge law enforcement to act, and stop the NYC Davidovich Bagel & Sandwich franchise scam with a contribution here:
Help Stop the NYC Bagel Franchise Scam
ALSO READ:
NYC Davidovich Bagel Franchise Posts
DAVIDOVICH BAKERY: Part of the NYC Bagel Scam?
FRANCHISE DISCUSSIONS by Company
ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE NY BAGEL, NYC BAGEL OR DAVIDIVICH BAGEL SCAM? HAVE YOU DEALT WITH DENNIS MASON OR JOE SMITH?  SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.
Contact UnhappyFranchisee.com
TAGS: NY Bagel Cafe, NYC Bagel franchise, NYC Davidovich, Davidovich bakery, Davidovich Bagels, Davidovich franchise, Joe Smith, Dennis Mason, IFE, International Franchise Expo, International Franchise Association, IFA
The post NYC Davidovich Bagel Scam at International Franchise Expo (IFE) appeared first on NY Bagel Scam.
Craig’s List franchise scammers whose fraudulent practices have been documented & exposed in three state investigations is exhibiting under a
The post IFE International Franchise Expo is Promoting a Blatant Franchise Scam appeared first on Unhappy Franchisee.
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The post DICKEY’S BARBECUE PIT Franchise SBA Loans Investigated by U.S. Senator appeared first on Unhappy Franchisee.
Experimac aka Experimax franchise SBA-guaranteed loans, which we’ve reported have an unusually high and growing default rate, are being investigated
The post EXPERIMAC Franchise SBA Loans Investigated by U.S. Senator appeared first on Unhappy Franchisee.
Join our franchise-industry-wide discussion: What should every prospective franchise owner understand about the franchise relationship that many don’t? On this
The post FRANCHISE ATTORNEYS Share: What Every Franchisee Should Know (But Many Don’t) appeared first on Unhappy Franchisee.
