Some small business owners allegedly lost as much as $250,000

By Truman Lewis of ConsumerAffairs

• Agency crackdown: FTC accuses Air AI of luring entrepreneurs with false promises of business growth, big earnings, and guaranteed refunds.

• High losses reported: Some small business owners allegedly lost as much as $250,000, often ending up in debt.

• Court action: FTC seeks to halt Air AIs practices, alleging violations of consumer protection and telemarketing rules.

The Federal Trade Commission has filed a complaint against Delaware-based Air AI Technologies, alleging the company and its operators misled small business owners with false promises of huge profits, refund guarantees, and cutting-edge AI services that rarely delivered.

According to the FTC, Air AI and its owners Caleb Matthew Maddix, Ryan Paul ODonnell, and Thomas Matthew Lancer marketed their conversational AI technology as a replacement for human customer service and as a tool that would generate tens of thousands of dollars, or even millions, for business owners. Since early 2023, the company allegedly sold business coaching programs, licenses, and an Air AI Access Card under the promise of fast returns and risk-free investments.

Unrealistic promises and broken guarantees

The FTC alleges that many entrepreneurs who bought into Air AIs offerings lost large sums of money, with some losing up to $250,000. Despite marketing refund guarantees promising to repay two to three times the customers investment if they failed to earn profits the company rarely honored those commitments, the complaint states. Instead, customers often faced delays, poor communication, and ultimately no refund.

Companies that market AI-related tools with false promises of unrealistic investment returns and guaranteed refunds harm hardworking small business owners and undermine legitimate businesss adoption of AI, said Christopher Mufarrige, director of the FTCs Bureau of Consumer Protection.

Alleged rule violations

The Commissions complaint accuses Air AI and five affiliated companies of violating multiple consumer protection laws, including:

• Making false or unsubstantiated claims about likely earnings.

• Misrepresenting refund policies and product performance.

• Violating the Telemarketing Sales Rule and Business Opportunity Rule by failing to provide required disclosure documents, exaggerating profitability, and refusing refunds.

The FTC is asking a federal court to halt the practices and provide relief for affected consumers.

An expert shares everything consumers need to know

• Standard homeowners insurance doesnt cover everything floods, sewer backups, and some storm damage may be excluded, so its critical to review your policy closely.

• Replacement cost vs. actual cash value, coverage caps, and event-specific deductibles (like wind or hail) can greatly affect what youll pay out of pocket after a disaster.

• Check your policy every year, consider endorsements like extended replacement cost, and stay on top of changes so your coverage keeps pace with rising risks and costs.

While natural disasters like wildfires and floods are affecting more and more consumers across the country, insurance companies arent necessarily keeping up.

After a disaster, it isnt uncommon for homeowners to be left with damages to their homes and lacking the proper coverage.

To help break this down, Leslie Kasperowicz, executive editor of Insurance.com, shared everything consumers need to know to make sure their homes are covered before the next emergency.

Check your policy

Kasperowicz explains that its of the utmost importance for consumers to regularly check their homeowners insurance policies.

First, it's important to understand that homeowners insurance does not cover floods, she told ConsumerAffairs. This will be listed in the exclusions portion of the policy along with other excluded perils.

It's vitally important to understand what your insurance does not cover. Because a standard home insurance policy is an all-perils policy it covers anything that is not specifically excluded. It's essential to know and understand those exclusions, particularly as they apply to water damage.

Kasperowicz said that water damage from a burst pipe or rain that enters through a storm-damaged roof (when it is part of the same storm) is covered. However, overland flooding and water and sewer backup are not.

Know your limits

In addition to knowing whats covered in your policy, its also imperative to know the limits of your policy.

In a standard homeowners policy, the house is covered at replacement cost, but personal property is usually not; it's covered at actual cash value, Kasperowicz said. Be sure to check and understand how things are covered and the limits of coverage. You can upgrade your personal property coverage to replacement cost for a small premium increase, and it's well worth it.

Her last piece of advice: check your deductibles.

It's common for insurance companies to add a separate deductible for certain weather events, such as a windstorm or hail deductible. That deductible only applies to those claims, and it may be a percentage of your dwelling coverage. You need to know what you will pay if you file a claim.

What kind of coverage is most important?

According to Kasperowicz, checking your coverage every year to ensure your policy is as up-to-date as possible is key.

It's important to have replacement cost coverage for your home that matches its current cost to rebuild, and, as mentioned, to carry replacement cost coverage on your personal property, she said.

I highly recommend adding an extended replacement cost coverage endorsement to your policy, which gives you wiggle room to account for inflation. It is usually 125% or 150% of the dwelling coverage. Check your dwelling coverage every year.

Information is power

This advice applies to everyone, Kasperowicz said. Severe weather is on the rise across the country, and as summers become hotter that's not likely to get better anytime soon.

Review your policy on every renewal and be sure to read the section that outlines any changes from the year before. If anything is unclear, call your agent or insurance company representative and ask questions. You'll be better prepared for a disaster claim if you understand your coverage.

Low expectations index may signal a looming recession

By Truman Lewis of ConsumerAffairs

• Index edges lower: The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Indexfell 1.3 points in August to 97.4, as views on jobs and incomes weakened.

• Recession signal: Expectations Index stayed below 80, a threshold that often signals a looming recession.

• Inflation concerns: Write-in responses showed growing worries about tariffs, high prices, and rising inflation expectations.

U.S. consumer confidence slipped modestly in August as concerns about job prospects and household income outweighed more optimistic views of business conditions, according to new data from The Conference Board.

The Consumer Confidence Index fell to 97.4 this month, down from 98.7 in July. The Present Situation Index, reflecting consumers view of current business and labor market conditions, dropped to 131.2. The Expectations Index, which tracks the short-term outlook for income, jobs, and business conditions, fell to 74.8remaining under the level of 80 that often foreshadows a recession.

Labor market concerns mount

Consumer confidence dipped slightly in August but remained at a level similar to those of the past three months, said Stephanie Guichard, senior economist at The Conference Board. She noted that consumers appraisal of job availability declined for the eighth straight month, even as assessments of current business conditions improved.

Expectations for the labor market also weakened. Nearly 27% of respondents said they expect fewer jobs to be available in the next six months, up from 25% in July. Optimism about future income also slipped, with fewer consumers expecting raises and more anticipating declines.

Inflation expectations rise again

Consumers reported growing concerns about prices, particularly food and groceries, as mentions of inflation and tariffs increased in survey responses. Average 12-month inflation expectations rose to 6.2% in August from 5.7% in July, reversing three months of easing.

Confidence levels varied across demographics: sentiment fell among those under 35, held steady for people 35 to 55, and improved among those over 55. By political affiliation, confidence weakened for Republicans and Democrats but was little changed for Independents.

Spending intentions mixed

Purchasing plans shifted in August, with buying intentions for both new and used cars rising, while intentions for TVs and tablets fell. Consumers plans to travel, dine out, and spend on entertainment also softened. Non-discretionary spending plans, such as for financial services and home or car maintenance, improved slightly.

The survey, based on an online sample conducted by Toluna, closed August 20.

Two lots of frozen dog and cat food being recalled

Viva Raw LLC of Charlotte, N.C., is recalling two lots of frozen dog and cat foods after testing detected contamination with Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes.

The recall covers products from Lot 21495 and Lot 21975, which were distributed nationwide between July 2 and August 21, 2025, through direct-to-consumer sales and select retailers in New York, Illinois, South Carolina, Florida, Kansas, California, and Arizona.

Products affected

• Lot 21495: Viva Ground Beef for Dogs; Viva Beef & Turkey for Puppies

• Lot 21975: Viva Ground Chicken for Dogs; Viva Chunked Chicken for Dogs; Viva Chicken for Cats; Viva Pure Chicken

The products were sold as frozen 1-pound bricks in clear vacuum packaging with the lot number printed on top.

Health risks for people and pets

Salmonella and Listeria can sicken both pets and humans. People handling contaminated pet food are at risk if they do not thoroughly wash their hands or clean surfaces after contact.

In people, symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and fever. In rare cases, infections can become more serious, leading to arterial infections, arthritis, or miscarriage in pregnant women.

Pets infected with Salmonella or Listeria may show signs such as lethargy, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, or abdominal pain. Even pets that appear healthy can shed the bacteria and infect other animals or humans.

No illnesses reported so far

The potential contamination was identified through routine testing by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture. To date, no illnesses in people, dogs, or cats have been reported in connection with the recalled products.

What consumers should do

Consumers who purchased these lots should:

• Stop feeding the recalled food to pets.

• Contact Viva Raw at info@vivarawpets.com or (919) 371-8882 for a refund.

• Dispose of recalled food safely, where children, pets, and wildlife cannot access it.

• Clean and sanitize all pet bowls, cups, utensils, and storage containers that may have come into contact with the food.

• Wash hands thoroughly after handling recalled products or anything they touched.

Viva Raw said only Lots 21495 and 21975 are affected by the recall.