An entrepreneur has found herself in legal trouble.
Influencer Casey Olivera, who also goes by Dana Chanel online, has been found guilty of taking advantage of dozens of people, according to a press release. In November 2021, a lawsuit was filed against Olivera for failing to provide customers with services from businesses she co-owns — credit repair company Credit Exterminators and app developer Alakazam Apps. The plaintiffs claimed that they purchased up to $2,000 in services from the Philadelphia, PA-based companies but didn’t receive them, the outlet shares. Additionally, they didn’t receive a refund after requesting one.
Specifically, one customer alleged that she paid for a custom app from Alakazam Apps. Although she followed up around ten times, she didn’t receive her product or a refund, based on an Entrepreneur report.
“The complaining consumers alleged that the companies misled them about the characteristics and the value of the goods and services they bought,” the press release stated. “In some instances, consumers claimed they never received the purchased goods and services.”
The ruling against Olivera stated that she “violated state consumer protection laws by misleading consumers and failing to deliver purchased goods and services.” What’s more, she has been ordered to pay over $87,000 in consumer restitution, $31,000 in legal costs, and $6,000 in civil penalties.
According to the press release, “the Consent Petition was filed in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas and is pending approval of the Court.”
Olivera has also been banned from promoting or selling any credit repair or mobile app service moving forward.
“Advertising in today’s world has changed, and people trust personalities they follow online to promote desirable goods,” Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry shared in a statement. “In these cases, consumers were misled by the influencer and businesses that did not deliver on purchases. My office has taken a hard stance against potential harm inflicted on Pennsylvanians online.”
