1/31/13 Post Two (Part 4)

This is the 4th part in a series. Please start at the beginning, found HERE.

The funniest thing about all of this. He's willing to show proof he paid for an urn (or so he says), but he's not willing to show proof of what he did with the funds he's collected over the last 2 years. Most, if not all, of this drama would go away if he would.

The first comment says it all. What the hell IS going on? Why is a businessman acting like a fool on his business page in front of his community? This is the point where I started wondering whether I had fallen for something I shouldn't have.

First comment: I have no idea who Lois is, but Gary seems to think she's everyone. Every fake profile was supposedly her.

Second comment: "He never says 'he' donates anything" Yes, he does. Shall I link it for you? The part where he says he paid for all the T18/military iPads.

Fourth Comment: And now we're back to Melissa/Taffie, even though Taffie has made contact with him. "Let me know if anyone is interested in the truth." Fishing for drama at this point.

Final Comment: You are correct. People want to know where in world all that money went, especially when 50% of the time Gary says he pays for everything.

Second comment: I have no idea if this claim is true. If it is, then Gary has a lot of explaining to do. Developers give him codes to give out to the community. If he's holding them until they are expired, and then his (former) admin were buying them to make them good, then A4 is in a bigger mess than previously thought.

Fouth comment: Gary takes it once again to a personal level. He calls Leslie's jewelry cheap and rubbish. Why? Because she is standing up to him and calling him on his nonsense. Again, typical Gary response throughout this whole evening.

Sixth comment: He's going to save parents of children ... from dealing with people who think it's ok to scam others? Then he should just shut down the page and save everyone from himself.

Third Comment: Once again, this is how his top supporters treat people who disagree? People who ask questions? Secondly, I've visited this so-called "hate" page. Yes, some of the comments are derogatory towards what Gary wears, some refer to some sort of horrid video he was in, but most all the comments/posts there are to inform people of the discrepancy between what he says and what is the truth.

First arrow: "We don't want to hear it". You are 100% correct on this SPMK. I didn't want to hear it either. I wanted to believe that was I was being told is the truth by Gary. However, the numbers don't add up. His behavior on a business page is deplorable. There is a difference between not wanting to hear the truth and sticking your head in the sand to avoid it.

Second arrow: I don't know if it would end the investigation, however, when I called the AG's office, they did verify that Gary has refused to give them financial information. That more than anything really raised my eyebrows.

First arrow: Unfortunately, this is correct. If you call the town of Oxford, CT, you will find that A4cwsn was not a 'registered' D.B.A. (doing business as) until January 2012. Therefore, the funds collected by him in 2011 cannot be claimed as a business. There was close to $40,000 raised in 2011, if not more. That all went to him personally. He has never shown what he actually did with this money.

Second arrow: The former(?) legal counsel to A4. Now we know actually what happened to the money raised for the 501c3 for VSP.

First arrow: Again, one of the top supporters... If you've read this far, you'll notice that none of the 'Survivors' have called any of the community members names. They've called Gary names, but he's done it himself. I don't condone it, but I understand it. However, for a supporter to call someone else names? It's disgusting.

Second arrow: I have read the Facebook Terms of Service (TOS). It actually says, under Protecting Other People's Rights: You will not post anyone's identification documents or sensitive financial information on Facebook. So, as you can see. You cannot post someone else's financial information. It IS perfectly ok for a business/charity to post theirs. Many of the 501c3's do this.

Third arrow: Again, let's go back to the FB TOS, under Promotions:

Promotions

If you use Facebook to communicate about or administer a promotion (such as a contest or sweepstakes), you are responsible for the lawful operation of that promotion, including the official rules, offer terms and eligibility requirements (e.g., age and residency restrictions), and compliance with regulations governing the promotion and all prizes offered in connection with the promotion (e.g., registration and obtaining necessary regulatory approvals). Please note that compliance with these guidelines does not constitute the lawfulness of a promotion. Promotions are subject to many regulations and if you are not certain that your promotion complies with applicable law, please consult with an expert.

i.    Promotions on Facebook must be administered within Apps on Facebook.com, either on a Canvas Page or a Page App.

ii.    Promotions on Facebook must include the following:

a.    A complete release of Facebook by each entrant or participant.

b.    Acknowledgment that the promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.

c.    Disclosure that the participant is providing information to [disclose recipient(s) of information] and not to Facebook.

iii.    You must not condition registration or entry upon the user taking any action using any Facebook features or functionality other than liking a Page, checking in to a Place, or connecting to your app. For example, you must not condition registration or entry upon the user liking a Wall post, or commenting or uploading a photo on a Wall.

iv.    You must not use Facebook features or functionality as a promotion’s registration or entry mechanism. For example, the act of liking a Page or checking in to a Place cannot automatically register or enter a promotion participant.

v.    You must not use Facebook features or functionality, such as the Like button, as a voting mechanism for a promotion.

vi.    You must not notify winners through Facebook, such as through Facebook messages, chat, or posts on profiles (timelines) or Pages.

vii.    Definitions:

a.    By “administration” we mean the operation of any element of the promotion, such as collecting entries, conducting a drawing, judging entries, or notifying winners.

b.    By “communication” we mean promoting, advertising or referencing a promotion in any way on Facebook, e.g., in ads, on a Page, or in a Wall post.

So... how many is that that Gary has violated? Every single iPad winner, etc has all been illegally done according to Facebook's Terms of Service. Shall we go over them one by one?

i.    Promotions on Facebook must be administered within Apps on Facebook.com, either on a Canvas Page or a Page App.

Well, we know this isn't happening.

ii.    Promotions on Facebook must include the following:

a.    A complete release of Facebook by each entrant or participant.

b.    Acknowledgment that the promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.

c.    Disclosure that the participant is providing information to [disclose recipient(s) of information] and not to Facebook.

A complete release of Facebook by each entrant? I know that's never happened. I've never released Facebook for any contest I've entered on A4cwsn's Facebook page.

Acknowledgement that the promotion is in no way sponsored... Yep, once again. Never been published.

Disclosure on information? Again, no disclosures ever.

iii.    You must not condition registration or entry upon the user taking any action using any Facebook features or functionality other than liking a Page, checking in to a Place, or connecting to your app. For example, you must not condition registration or entry upon the user liking a Wall post, or commenting or uploading a photo on a Wall.

Well, gee. So, sharing the banners, the app of the month, posting a photo, activity on the page, et al are ALL against Facebook's Terms of Service. Every single one of these is how people 'win' on A4cwsn's Facebook page.

iv.    You must not use Facebook features or functionality as a promotion’s registration or entry mechanism. For example, the act of liking a Page or checking in to a Place cannot automatically register or enter a promotion participant.

Once again, something is rotten in Denmark. This is something A4cwsn's REQUIRES in order to win.

v.    You must not use Facebook features or functionality, such as the Like button, as a voting mechanism for a promotion.

Ok, I'll give him this one. It's not your popularity on A4 with the other people. It's just your popularity with him.

vi.    You must not notify winners through Facebook, such as through Facebook messages, chat, or posts on profiles (timelines) or Pages

Really? That's the ONLY place he notifies them. He even had a banner announcing it!

vii.    Definitions:

a.    By “administration” we mean the operation of any element of the promotion, such as collecting entries, conducting a drawing, judging entries, or notifying winners.

b.    By “communication” we mean promoting, advertising or referencing a promotion in any way on Facebook, e.g., in ads, on a Page, or in a Wall post.

So, all those 'faithful' supporters are administration in Facebook's eyes, since they are picking the winners.

Yes, I know Facebook pages violate these rules everyday. However, their page owner doesn't try to use the Facebook Terms of Service as a reason for their behavior like Gary does. So, THANK YOU GARY for alerting me to actually read the Facebook Terms of Service. You have violated almost every single rule for Promotions. I've forwarded this information to Facebook.