Complaint Review: Lux Life Publishing

I was contacted by a "sales" person from luxlifepublishing to be listed as a Mental Health professional in what turned out to be a fictitious Ft. Lauderdale Yachting magazine.  I paid $700 up front- I suggested doing half until a design was made but was told that upon receiving an initial proof professionals had taken the ad and not paid for the remainder of services. 

I said that I was reluctant because I am stay at home mom and had a very small business and that was a lot of money for me but I was assured that the type of services I provided would be a great match for the clientele and the investment would get me the kinds of clients I wanted to work with. I signed a contract.

There was several emails back and both over 3 months regarding my ad and graphics and photo.  A half decent proof was provided. It need a lot of work but it was a starting point.  What I don't understand if they already had my money why bother spending the time keeping up the charade and designing an ad? I was even asked to write up a 300 word bio and then was later told there wasn't enough space to include it.  That was very time consuming.  

At some point all communication just stopped and that's when I got suspicious. I contacted all 5 of the yachting clubs that this magazine was to be in circulation at and none of them distribute this magazine to its members nor had they ever even heard of it.

I contacted a lawyer who provided me with a name and address, DOB of the owner of the "business".  I took that name and went to the interent to find out that he was arrested for drug possesion (now I know how my $700 was spent). At this same time is when all the communication stopped.  I'm sure he is the owner, the salesman, and also the graphics person wrapped up into one.  Filiing a police report is my next step.