I was contacted by Brett Friedberg about one week ago who tried to pressure me to transfer my account to his firm, Global Arena. He gave me some pitch about some junk bond for a company that he said was going to get acquired this month. When I told him I wasn’t interested, he transferred me to his secretary, Carlin Glyptis, who tried to flirt with me over the phone and made sexual passes at me, which I found highly inappropriate. When I told her, just as I told Brett, that I wasn’t interested, she suggested that we “grab some drinks and have some fun” the next time she was in Dallas. I told her to take me off her list and not contact me again.
Three days ago I got a call from Jon Sheklow of Global Arena, who gave me the same high pressured sales pitch as Brett. When I told him no thanks and to take me off of his list, guess what he did?? That’s right, transferred me to his secretary Theresa Hutchins, who made similar sexual passes as Carlin. She said that if I transferred my account that she’d email me some photos of herself so I could “think about her when I’m in bed at night.”
Are you kidding me? Are these guys brokers or are they running a brothel?!??
Then just this morning I got a call from Josh Turney. Same routine about buying junk bonds, and same bull* pitch about the company being acquired before the end of the year. When I told him to take me off his list he challenged my manhood and yelled expletives at me. Classy.
Enough was enough. After some simple googling I found out that these guys are part of group of brokers that have worked together for the past 10 years. They’re led by two senior brokers, Jonah Engler and Michael Tannen, who started working together at a place called First Republic Group, which is now out of business. I pulled up their licenses on FINRA and they’re more entertaining to read than this week’s National Enquirer. Jonah has 14 customer complaints and 1 Well’s Notice by FINRA.Michael Tannen has 6 customer complaints with 1 pending. The previous complaints against these guys? FRAUD, CHURNING, UNAUTHORIZED TRADING, EXCESSIVE COMMISSIONS, UNSUITABLE INVESTMENTS, FAILURE TO DO DUE DILIGENCE, etc.
((Statement REDACTED as false pursuant to Ripoff Report VIP Arbitration)). Who uses aliases?? Look them up on FINRA’s BrokerCheck! They all have tons of customer disputes, regulatory action against them and Jonah Engler, Jon Sheklow, and Brett Friedberg are all under current FINRA investigations! Brett Friedberg isn’t even a licensed broker any more because he got kicked out of the business! I thought you weren’t supposed to call people if you aren’t even licensed!!
Everyone here, you should know that Victor Vega is the name of Michael Madsen’s character in the 1992 Quentin Tarantino movie Reservoir Dogs. The character’s pseudonym and better-known name is Mr. Blonde. Just so everyone knows, whoever it is is lying to you and using a false name. I can’t say for sure, it could be his real name, but guys who like Boiler Room and Wall Street tend to like Reservoir Dogs. Just common sense.He might work for Jonah Engler over there at HFP Capital. Look at Jonah’s record on FINRA Broker Check and the number of things he has been accused of over the years. Not someone you want to do business with, and a firm that would hire a guy like that just means that they will hire anyone who can make money regardless of whether he actually makes his clients money or not. They (and Jonah) get paid as long as he can generate commissions off of his accounts.
LOL Its so funny I found this . I knew Victor as a teen , LOL yeah that is his real name and he is a scum bag , pretends he is rich and knows it all and tries to sucker you into something . No one could ever stand him . DO NOT TRUST HIM
And if he can sell you right on the phone he will. Which explains the you give me $4K and I’ll double your return [***] line. Like I said guy needs to get better as his job. If he actually knew how to go about the phone sale you all might have more respect for him…might being the operative word here.
I did not call Victor.
A FedEx arrived at my business asking for bank numbers, SSN, DL number and a photo ID to be returned with a check for $4200.00 in the pre-paid FedEx envolope supplied. I am a CEO in Florida and do not know how this “businessman” obtained my address although it would not be that dillicult if some research was done.Everyone should be aware!!
I received a solicitation call from Mr. Vega. When I told him that I would not be interested in his services, he proceeded to berate me until I hung up. A few hours later he called back and continued to insult me until I threatened to pursue legal action against him. This is not a person that I could recommend ever doing business with. Very unprofessional.
I worked at HFP for a bit it’s a huge scumbag firm. Drugs, money, etc. they mostly sell junk bonds and charge at least 3% commission (or mark up so they can say there’s no commission) on. The way in and the way out. They had one bond that did well (ford motor credit) that they talk about from 2008. But they love to forget the like of blockbuster and all the other bankrupt companies they put their clients money in. It’s just a giant pyramid scheme to make the partners rich, it’s mostly kids just out of college being sold and dream and working crazy hours for little pay until they are burnt out.Also while I was there they hired a pr firm to get all bad stuff about them taken off Internet or hidden by better false reviews. That’s who I’m assuming posted the defense of them on here and pointed you to look at Goldman. Ask them a difficult question though and they simply deflect and say it doesn’t matter. They are just a chop shop who will eventually leave you with nothing. Don’t do business with them and call or request to be on their “do not call list”. Finra requires them to upon request or you can file a complaint and put a mark on their licenses
I know who this guy is…Victor Vega now works at Spencer Trask. He pretends to be rich and is the biggest scum bag you’ll meet, I’m talking a monkey in a suit. I actually wasted my time to meet with guy and saw right through him. With enough research, you’ll see he’s had problems with the law.
Actually, Jonah recieved a Wells Notice from FINRA and he is now under investigation. Reasonable Basis suitability – violation of NASD 2310 and FINRA 2010. you only get one of those if you are in serious trouble. He’ll be out of the business soon, just watch.
He might work for Jonah Engler over there at HFP Capital. Look at Jonah’s record on FINRA Broker Check and the number of things he has been accused of over the years. Not someone you want to do business with, and a firm that would hire a guy like that just means that they will hire anyone who can make money regardless of whether he actually makes his clients money or not. They (and Jonah) get paid as long as he can generate commissions off of his accounts.
I worked under Jonah and Josh as a junior broker at Global Arena and they were the worst people I’ve ever met. It was like being in a terrible wall street greed film. I was told on multiple occasions that I did not need to know what I was talking about nor did it need to be true….as long as it sounded good and made us money. Jonah told me that we are not in the business of making the clients’ money….”we are just here to get money from these blind old people.” Both Josh and Jonah told me to never speak to any customers unless I was pitching them something….”we don’t have time for paperwork or explanations” they would say….”leave that to these dumb bitches” referring to the sales assistants.
The part that was the most shocking was the response to regulatory concerns. For starters there is NO COMPLIANCE people in their office….I REPEAT NO COMPLIANCE ON SIGHT. Second after being there for less than a day I found out that all of the senior brokers have tons of marks on their licenses, and don’t give a d**n. At one point a junior broker was asked about the marks by a customer and he asked Jonah what to say when he got off of the phone. If I didn’t see his response with my own eyes I would not have believed it he STOOD ON HIS DESK and YELLED “FINRA AINT GOT S*** ON ME…I HAVE A TON OF MONEY FOR LAYWERS WHAT THE F*%K ARE THE GONNA DO”
THESE ARE THE WORST PEOPLE I HAVE EVER MET IN MY LIFE…..BE VERY LEARY OF THEM!!
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