Interviews with people who want refunds from Shawkey's
GSI and BizOpAlliance Scam

Dove Rickett

My life has changed so much ,since coming to know there are such deceitful and evil men/women like Gary and Stephanie. And my funds are gone . I have heard of con-men , and even watched investigative reports on TV . I could not believe anyone being taken in so easily . Never even imagining that I myself , would be a "victim" someday . "It will never happen to me" .
 
I took a good look at my self , and I dont like who I am now . I have gotten so mistrusting ,and yes, even "paranoid" ! I seem to think "I" need to protect others from falling prey to him ,and you people from being yet "suckered" back into believing him once again . I have come to the place of not trusting even your own judgement in staying away from him . And Yes , I am afraid for you .

Gary Shawkey keeps "chipping" away at us; and mocking every effort we take and are taking. Saying "No one can touch me"!But I believe in the "American Justice System " , I believe if we perservere , it will come to be . I believe that "Right and "Good" will win over soon .
 
He has launched a "new" campaign once again ,taking more money from trusting people. 
How long will he keep doing this ? Simple , until he is stopped !
 
It seems as if Gary will never be stopped , not true . As long as we believe he has to be stopped and keep the pressure on Politicians , State ,Local ,and Federal Agencies , HE will be stopped ! 
 
Every week that goes by ,and he has not been ordered to at least "cease and desist", until a investigation is done , is allowing him to take even more money from trusting people , it hurts . Hurts because I know he is still living off the money of innocent trusting people . And destroying more lives !
 
People are led in by friends ,someone trusted , believing "this guy is honest and he will help us make money !" He sold us useless shares/units in his so called Company !

 Afterall ,he even has a "Special Needs" Childrens program and has for about 4 yrs ! If he wasnt above board on all this , the law would have shut him down ." He purchased the Childrens Camp,82 acres,with our money! And now he blatantly calls it his "personal residence"! No agency seems to even care about this. My grandson has Cerebral palsy ,that is why I supported the Program for kids .
 
In turn they sell their friends and family members . Some money is paid out to entice a lot of people to "believe". When it is evident you have been "taken" ,your friends and family cant get their money back , you cant go to work without facing the ones there that lost money ,you are left embarrassed and humiliated . You have lost credibility . There is so much lost, besides money .
 
I am the first to say "Its not Fair!". Why hasnt he been  already stopped ? Gary Shawkey owes over $500,000 to Dr.Michael Perel, his wife put all her trust in the "friendship" of Gary Sawkey , AND all their money,for 5 years ! she committed suicide , and Gary Shawkey didnt even send flowers for her memorial !has refused to pay anything,John Wittingtton $270,000 on and on the list goes . 
 
It is International robbery .People from most Countries are involved..Gary Shawkey reside in Ohio. The Ohio Attorneys office refuses to help on the Basis "We are a small office and cant handle something this large"!! But did they help guide us to an Agency to help us ? NO.
 
We have evidence ,documents and tapes ,not to mention all of us as witnesses.We have petioned Politicians, The FBI and other Local ,State,and Federal Agencies ! We have filed so many reports I can no longer count them . This was started in March 2004 .BUT there were people before us that did try,and failed. They gave up too soon and did not try in the magnitude we have. 
 
So now I will do massive mailing to the Television investigative reporters. We have already contact 2 local Staions in Cleveland,Ohio .One called me for info. Some have contacted Gary ,but they end up believing him instead of investigating .  I have peoples statements ,amount they invested and how many shares/units they "own". Everything to make their job easier!
 
Dove Rickett
RR 1 Box 146 A
Athens , PA  18810

JoAnne Schnepp

Q. Why have you agreed to this interview? 
Because Mr. Gary Shawkey needs to be exposed and stopped, and people who may become his next victims need a chance, somewhere on line, to learn about him before they open their checkbooks to him and get manipulated like so many of us did!  He owes a group of us around $4,000,000!

Q. When did you Join BizOpAlliance? 
I joined in the very beginning, 4-5 years ago.  I was recruited by Gary himself, whom I had some contacts with when he worked for Don LaPre.  It was originally advertised as a 'Business in A Box' ....a concept of like minded internet business people who would research and share and bring a variety of new, tested and worthwhile businesses together under one umbrella...so all could be promoted from one website. 

Q. What prompted you to join this program?
I was looking to supplement my income as an RN, and this seemed an ideal way to get started.  We would have support from others and the businesses that were brought on board would be tested and proven....and for a newbie to the internet...one website to promote that had it all on it.....well...it seemed like an ideal concept! 

I joined for FREE initially, but then overtime,  various programs were introduced with paid versions and we were encouraged to take a paid version in order to make 'bigger commissions'.

Q. What did you hope to accomplish with this program? 
I was an aging RN...with some minor health problems.  I could foresee that I was not going to be able to continue to do bedside nursing until I was 65 yrs old.  I had a fairly good retirement plan, but felt I should be lining up another way to earn some money.  And given, that my retirement plans included traveling with my husband, I wanted the internet idea, so I could work at it, no matter where I might be.  I had an on line friend who had been with Gary too in Don LaPre's programs...and she was making $10,000 per month give or take, selling CyberDetective software on line.  She thought Gary's BizOpp in a Box concept was a good place for an inexperienced person to start too.

After while, with the many and frequent emails from Gary, I also bought into the BizOpp4Kids program  (now called Power E Kids) that was supposed to help special needs kids and I started paying for that membership too....as a donation to the program and the Deer Valley Kids Camp.  I kept waiting for the camp to open, and for kids to get to go there, and actually volunteered one time to be an RN for a camp session.  But...so far...no kids at the camp.  However Gary and Stephanie live on the premises of this NON profit piece of property in OHIO...and are now started to provide leadership training sessions there at $1495/weekend...which has nothing to do with Special Needs Kids?

Q. Why did you become dissatisfied with the program? 
I remained a staunch and loyal supporter of Gary's, despite not doing well...not really making a great deal of money in any of his programs all these years....until he manipulated all of us members of his marketing group into the Excel/VarTec opportunity last December.  By spring, 2004,  I had conversed with enough other people about how Gary was not keeping any promises he made when he convinced us to sign up for Excel at $744 each, to be able to see that it was all a hyped up scam to earn him some big bonus money...and set him up with a big promotion so he would look credible to start recruiting a big group of Excel reps into his paid programs...as his next group of victims.

Part of Gary's way of doing things, was to hype every new program he came out with, a great deal.  And then urge those of us who HAD already invested money to help get the last program going....to open our checkbooks one more time for the newest one.  Since we weren't getting paid any significant return on our investments due to various 'problems' he kept having....we would always open the checkbook one more time, believing that riches were right around the corner.

It didn't seem to matter that his current programs did not work. His marketing tools did not get me anything all those years except a few random hits and a total of 54 FREE members signed up in a downline.  In the end, currently, only 12 of them have a reachable email address at all.  One of those members WAS a paying member for a couple years in ONE program, which paid me a whopping$8.00/mo commission.  Gary also was able to keep us all from communicating with each other, and when we were having problems making money  or getting his tools to work, it would be explained away in a manner that left us thinking WE didn't know what we were doing!  This past spring, when a group of us started talking to each other, we were not only shocked at exactly how much money various people had put into Gary's hands, with no pay backs, but equally upset that ALL of us had no commissions paid, no paid downline members and many of the same issues with programs and tools not working properly!  No longer did we believe WE were at fault! 

When the Excel placements came to light, many of us just plain got angry and started to see the light as to what had been going on all along...but then, according to Mr. Shawkey, it was 'too late' to get a refund on our monies, because he had only allowed a short time period for people to request their monies back last fall.

Coincidentally his 'refund period' was just as he was starting the big hype about the Strategic Alliance he had going with the Excel/VarTec company that was going to be making people millionaires who signed on with him!  So, of course, many signed on, thinking it was a last chance effort to get some return on investment owed to them!!  Thus, the short deadline to request refunds came and went and a  lot of us waited...and joined Excel, hoping THAT would give us the payout we were waiting for!

Q. What is the refund due you for? 
I have about $3900 invested in  PPO shares, coop unit shares, money invested to help create this fantastic CD that was going to bring in millions, monies to help get the .safe portal started....supposedly a new internet service provider that was going to be bigger and better than Yahoo and  AOL combined!!   It was a dud that never got off the ground.  Monies invested when the company was going to 'go public' and then we would have actual shares on the stock exchange that we owned and would appreciate for us.  That was a good one....because the company never went public, but Mr. Shawkey just kept all the money and used it for other purposes.  We now believe that might have been illegal and we are looking into it!   I did NOT ask for my monies to be returned until just this past week, because I didn't want to be shut out of the special locked room meetings going on with Gary and his marketing group members since May,2004.  I had paid a yearly membership that was not running out until this month, and wanted to keep my doors open so as to know what was happening.  Last week I sent a formal letter requesting my refund entirely.

Q. What has been done in that regard since then? 
Gary Shawkey has not acknowledged receiving my email request for refunds, even though I sent it with a 'return receipt' requested.  I am now sending a hard copy by certified mail to assure it has been received.

Q. Have you contacted Gary Shawkey?
I contacted Gary Shawkey last April via email to ask some serious questions about him not keeping promises made relative to the Excel/VarTec business.  I never got a response from him.  I have emailed a couple other times since then with various concerns and gotten no responses from him.  It is common not to get a response.  He will say he is either too busy working 16-20 hours/day for all of us...or that he didn't ever get the email.  There is always an excuse with Gary and while he is full of good talk about how much he cares about his team of people, he certainly doesn't mind taking our money for every new venture and make some very strange business policies.  We learned just a couple months ago that he plan for paying back his investors the monies he owes us is for the monies to be paid only as a % of his NET profits.  That upset us, as he always just used the term 'profits' all these years....and when he clarified that the reason we hadn't been paid anything was because the payments come out of NET profits and the business has NO NET PROFITS....we began to understand that we would never be paid....as it is pretty easy for a business owner to arrange spending so that there are NO net profits to show on the books.  People do it all the time for the IRS!  He wasn't even viewing what he owed us as a DEBT! 

Q. What would you advise others to do who want refunds? 
I advise anyone and everyone, who has any money invested with Gary Shawkey...including the Excel opportunity, to write a certified letter requesting their refunds in full immediately.  I also suggest they consider filing complaints with the Internet Fraud Division of the FBI,  and the SEC if they donated monies that were to be shares in the PPO.  Also, complain to the Ohio Attorney General's office, as well as the Attorney General for the state you live in, and the State of Florida, where he still has some business holdings.  If you joined Excel and didn't get what he promised you, complain to Excel and to the Texas Attorney General...where Excel/VarTec is located.  VarTec is well aware of our complaints about the policies he broke in getting us to join their business opportunity, and the policies he broke in placing both customers and reps to assure that he got promoted and made many thousands of dollars in bonus money.  We are still waiting to see what action they might be taking against this man.

If you are an Excel Rep, or anyone who answers his ads on the Internet about the fantastic marketing and lead generation training he is offering at his Deer Valley Camp and Retreat  (which by the way is licensed as a NON PROFIT organization to benefit special needs kids....and none have ever been there!)...my advice to you  is KEEP YOUR CHECKBOOK CLOSE TO YOUR HEART and DO NOT OPEN IT!!  He is charging $1495.00 for a 3 day training at this camp...and he is looking for successful Excel Reps who can afford these kinds of fees for trainings.  He is hoping to lure them by telling them he got promoted to ESD in 10 weeks by using these same marketing tools....and none of this is true!   He will give you a lot of leads...but they may be purchased or harvested leads.  I just urge anyone to BE WARY of this man.  Do NOT be his next victim.  He needs more victims because most of his loyal marketing group members have jumped ship and won't bail him out any more. He is a smooth operator, so don't listen too long.  He once told us in a training meeting that once he got someone on the phone, he could sell them anything....as long as he didn't let them hang up on him....it was just a matter of time!  Don't be one of those people!!
 

Q. Why have you agreed to this interview?
A. I agreed to do this interview, to let the others due refunds, know that they are not alone. This interview is not to be construed as intemperate or to damage anyones reputation or business, but, to honestly represent my circumstances in not being able to get my refund repaid. I can't speak to the others who have contacted you, I can only speak to my own situation.

Q. When did you Join BizOpAlliance?
A. I joined this organization in the latter part of 2002, or first part of 2003. I can't give an exact date since my computer had crashed in early May of 2003, and I lost all information regarding that time period.

Q. What prompted you to join this program?
A. It had been recommended by friends and acquaintancesas being one of the better programs on the internet that I could make money with. After looking at their website and the products they offered, I joined as a free member.

Q. What is the refund due you for?
A. The refund due me is for Co-Op shares that I purchased in June and July of 2003. At that time the organization was heading in a direction that I considered to be extremely viable as far as potential future earnings. They had some things working on a national level which I don't want to
mention because of possible legal issues. They were also about to introduce to the Internet the only Safe ISP for families, and were about to go National with the release of a CD-ROM for that, such as what AOL had done, and they intended to introduced it to the public by means of a gala in Washington, to launch the program with the GSI Internet Sponsors Satellite/Web Simulcast in our Nation’s Capital at the 4th of July Fireworks Display for American Troops overseas, Families Worldwide, and to Launch the “.Safe” Family Internet Portal.

With the things going on at the time and the anticipated revenues I could see, I promoted this heavily in my home community. At this time because of anticipated changes to the program, the Co-Op Shares in question were offered as a last time offer, since they would not be able to offer them again after the proposed changes went into effect. So I purchased them because of the cut off deadline, and the potential income I could see coming from them.

Subsequent to this closed meetings were held with interestedparties in attendance. These parties were to provide support and help in the distribution of the CD-ROM distribution of the Family Internet Portal program as well as other things. 

The meetings were a disaster. A businesslike decorum was needed, and even though there were monitors present, theycould not control what went on in the meetings in regard to the membership present, and they were in fact not in a business setting. Because of this and other things which were going on in the background, the interested parties declined, and the program was abandoned.

At this time BizOpAlliance issued a letter saying that they were going to reorganize, change the name, and approach things in a different direction. Because of this they gave the membership the option of staying or opting out, with a refund for stock and co-op shares. This was on December 7, 2003. Because of the embarrasement to me on a local level, and what I anticipated coming, I chose to opt-out and requested a refund for my co-op shares.

Q. What has been done in that regard since then?
A. I had received no communication from them regarding when the refunds would be paid out. And between mid January and March 1st, had written them asking for that information. What I received was a stock answer from them stating "that I agreed to the refund and the refunds would be paid out in accordance with the agreement". 

The agreement stated that the refunds would be paid out of  Corporate Funds on a monthly basis. It does not in fact state when that would start. On March1, 2004, which was 84 days since I agreed to the refund, I felt that I was not going to get an answer from them with any payout schedule. I also felt that sufficient time had elapsed for that to start, and/or to receive my refund payment. So I sent them a demand letter for payment of the refund, and again I received their stock answer " That I agreed to the refund and that I should refer to the agreement".

I have recourse locally in small claims, but, rather than jump to that I have joined NIBA to peacefully resolve this issue. If that cannot be done, then I will have no other option but to pursue a legal remedy. What they owe me is $200.00 and it's not a great amount of money, but it's the principle of the matter. They owe me the money, and they need to pay me, it's that simple. 

Q. Why have you agreed to this interview?
A. To inform people of a man that wins your trust and confidence in everything he says and does. Calls you "friend" and "I care about you people and your success is what "I" am about". Guarantees and promises in writing/verbally that not only will you get your invested money back, but make a substantial profit with it. He has a program for "Special Needs"children called "BizOpp4Kids/PowerEKids". Because my grandson, whom I care for, has Cerebral Palsy, I bought into that also.The monthly subscription to that program was to originally pay the childs way AND the caregiver, FREE trips to Disney, Swim with the Dolphins, Marine World and MORE. For 3 yrs we advertised and Marketed this to the public. My grandson kept asking me "When go Disney?" 

The trips never happened! Nothing. Over a year ago Gary Shawkey purchased "a farm in Ohio for the Needy and/or Special Needs Children". So it was then changed from the Free Trips to a Camp "Shalom" with swimming, hay rides, fishing, games etc. for the "Children." So people payed into that with monthly subscriptions and bought "Paving Bricks" for the children to walk on!! At $100 each! Last fall after pressure from some members he offered a "week-end" for members at $199 each and tried to charge me $99 for my grandson, for just a "get together!" One couple I know [only a handful were going] payed for themselves and 3 others, but decided to cancel 3 days later, was refused a "refund" because" you did not cancel in a proper time frame, but you can do a rain-check." Now he is claiming the Camp to be their personal Residence and will be used for training purposes at $1495 a person, per week-end!

Some had savings, credit cards, got loans etc. to become a part of a very promising Company. We were sold Ad Packs? PPO's, marketing tools that we could have gotten any where on the Internet for a fraction of the money we paid him [but we didnt know any better at the time], his health products that were worthless 

Q. When and why did you Join BizOpAlliance and GSI?
A. I started coming to the "Paltalk" room meeting, after being encouaged by a close friend, in 2001. After several meetings, the hype and enthusiasim by him and the other members, I became a member in Jan of 2002.

Q. What did you hope to accomplish with this program?
A. We were convinced the money we invested in this company would not only be returned, but with profit helping us to become financially independent. A big portion of the members were on disability, SS, retired, elderly with very little hope of gainful employment.We were guaranteed a steady income on the commissions of 8 programs he had going.

Q. Why did you become dissatisfied with the program?
A. We kept giving him money and paying for programs with not a cent return. My husband has cancer and I needed money. I would ask for even the commissions due me and he would not reply. If we asked in the meetings we were belittled and called "negative" and had "no idea what it takes to operate a business." Last Fall I sent a formal request for all monies due me. He did reply with a short, nasty email, mentioning nothing about owing me money. So I sought legal advice from my Attorney and not knowing about others investing a lot more than my $28,000, he told me several Federal Felonies were committed by this man and his wife and to report it to the FBI. My Attorney does not have the means to make trips into Ohio. I sent the "letter" to Gary and he sent a so called "legal letter back stating I "had no money coming as I did not request it in a certain time frame".

Q. What is your understanding of how to obtain a refund?
A. We were told from the beginning "anytime you want out, I'll return your money, send me an email." Then this year he put up a form to be filled out for return of our money. He then said we all would get paid a percentage of what the company brought in over a period of several years[?!]

Q. What is the refund for and how much is due you?
A. $28,000 which is for the "shares/units" we purchased, PPO's, Ad Packs and also includes a $200 payment to him for a USA Today ad. One man, Ken Vaughn has paid $3000 for his share of the same ad. Gary Shawkey won't even acknowledge owing a lot of us for thousands of dollars paid to him for the ads to run . We called USA Today and as of May he had only run 1 ad for one day!!

Q. When you didn't get your refund what did you do?
A. Sought the advice of my attorney.

Q. Have you contacted Gary Shawkey?
A. YES! Many times.

Q. What would you advise others to do who want refunds?
A. Band together, start pursuing any and all avenues to get our money back and STOP him and his wife from hurting anymore people, from destroying lives! I made a commitment to stop Gary and Stephanie Shawkey from hurting any more innocent people! If I run into a wall, I will only back up and go at it again. Somehow, somewhere, someone will hear us and care about making this world just a little safer, for innocent people like us. One Gary Shawkey STOPPED! means others like him can also be stopped. He has broken laws for years before our group, but people give up trying, feeling helpless and hopeless! I wont give up! And I will do everything and anything legally to accomplish what I have set out to do. And I will take the ones, with me, all the way, if they become tired I will lend them my strength, if they lose hope I will lend them my hope, if they just flat give up I will still fight for them.They will not be left behind forgotten.

 One of our members committed suicide. And I WILL not let this death be for nothing; and forgotten!

Parts of the 1st interview could have been my own, the opinions and story are so similar. I feel like a light bulb was just lit to show me the truth behind scores of emails I've rec'd the last couple of years. Shawkey sure knows how to spin a believable tale of opportunity, and then when things don't work out, he starts something new and improved to keep people hanging on. Every time a venture fails, he blames the members for not participating or supporting him. I have to wonder now if he really set up those various businesses, or if it was all smoke and mirrors designed to milk more money from people desperate for a financial savior. 

Every 'last chance' offer he makes seems to get extended for weeks, supposedly because of people begging him to extend the deadline so they can participate. Then there follows a series of emails almost begging for more members and money, just a little more and we'll all have success beyond our dreams. 

Funny how clear things look in hind sight, and how many times he has run the same scheme 
only painted a slightly different color. He preys on the hope of needy people whose world has been expanded by the internet, and shames those who dare to question his use of their money. 

When his income stream begins to slow down, he hastily puts up a website with pictures, or a video of himself and something or someone impressive to help substantiate his claims, all of which have some element of peace and prosperity for the 'family', good health, morality, and a better way of life for people everywhere. He can make you feel like a bad person for not participating, like it is your duty, and you are a disappointment to all humanity if you don't spend your last dime to further his cause. Surely his next step will be into politics!

Fortunately, I didn't have more than $200 to 'invest', and didn't try to convince others to spend their money with Shawkey. I believed in his fairy tale of a substantial income, at least at the very beginning of his major schemes that were to pay me based on my purchase of 'coop units'. I will send the certified letter requesting a refund, and will inform you of a reply if I receive one. 

I appreciate being placed on any mailing list you have for those trying to reclaim lost funds from GSI and associated companies. Thank you for providing me with this information, and I feel sure you will be receiving many more emails like mine. 

You are welcome to use whatever part of my email that might help, or at least let others know they aren't alone. Maybe they'll salvage some self respect knowing they aren't the only ones who believed the Shawkey tale, or should I say tail...! lol

The more I think about it, the more I remember just how much of my money went into the Shawkey pockets. I bought into the 'safe portal' and registered several domain names, bought his bizopp CD, and paid for membership to his 'money list'. I purchased health products during his 'fire sale', that had been priced so high to start with, that the sale price wasn't cheap. I paid for his 'secrets' newsletter sent out every month or two, that usually had out dated articles written by other professionals. It is embarrassing to look back and remember how easily I gave him my money. 

The feelings he invoked fed the desire to be a part of something important, something good, helping people have a safe internet place where their kids could go without worry over inappropriate content. I spent about $100 for domain names and access to the 'safe portal', and I remember emails and forum posts from 'people close to the source' that hinted at big profits for securing and reselling the best domain names. 

He fed the needs of people to do good, to belong to a group, to work for a worthy cause, and supplementing their income while doing these good works was just icing on the cake. He used the same hook with the Bizopp Kids program, and always portrayed himself as the charitable mentor who  changed lives. He really knows how to make every opportunity sound like it's your one and only chance in life to be a success, and you'll look back and regret not joining him because he is doing it all for you! 

He sold the Excel deal as a company so far ahead of all others in the communications business, that the big payday was as good as sitting in the safe, and all you had to do was buy the $400 combination. I remember how badly I wanted to jump on board that one, but just didn't have the funds. Every 'last chance' email had me trying to figure a way to afford it, and believing I'd never have a chance like that again. I guess not having expendable income served me well, a blessing in disguise. 

Still, I did as he asked and changed my phone service over, and my bill doubled, so I've ended up changing it again. Now the emails are saying that the Excel money won't be coming exactly like he thought, but only because of the member's lack of participation. He makes it sound as if everything he does is for others' benefit, never for himself, and he just can't understand how anyone can pass up this big chance he has so unselfishly provided.

In every case things end up with a big reorganization or re-focus, and he finds a way to squeeze more money from the situation. He always has a plan B, and you can bet it involves you giving him some money. No one left behind, not as long as they have any money left. I have to take my hat off to him in that he knows how to market whatever he is selling, and it's sad that he uses that talent in the 'appearance' of helping others while he is the one who benefits.

Now, for only $1500, you can spend a weekend on the farm with the Shawkeys, and they'll turn you into a successful internet entrepreneur in 3 days! For $500 a day, I can think of better things to do than listen to hype and step in crap! I hate the fact that I let someone take advantage of me for as long as this has gone on, and that it only became clear when someone else questioned his credibility. I can't help but feel that someone who can play people as he can, has provided  an 'out' for himself, but maybe spreading the word will keep someone else from losing their money.