Regulators crack down on scam said to target Cambodians

Regulators crack down on scam said to target Cambodians

WASHINGTON Regulators cracked down today against an allegedly bogus
investment scheme targeting Cambodian immigrants.

The S-E-C filed an emergency action in federal district court in
Massachusetts against two Canton-based operations.

World Marketing Direct Selling and One Universe Online claim to sell
vitamins and weight-loss products. But the S-E-C says their real
business is luring investors into a so-called "pyramid" scheme.

The complaint also names Seng Tan and Christian Rochon of Attleboro and
a third man.

Prospects -- many of them Cambodian immigrants -- were told that a
26-thousand dollar investment would give them three-hundred dollars a
month and a promise the companies would take care of them for life.

Although some initial payments were made to investors, the checks
eventually stopped.

Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may
not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

.