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report scam| Country | United States |
| State | North Carolina |
| City | Charlotte |
| Address | 7504 E. Independence Blvd Suite 101 |
| Phone | 877-342-7770 |
| Website | http://www.wdrbmedia.com/ |
WDRBMedia Good morning Im not sure who this will reach or what this will do but I have a complaint to file against this company. I have been a “radio” host on there for a few months now and per the conversation the station and I had. I would submit my shows and they would promote my events, etc….. I was given free radio advertisement when I first went in but never got the clip, never heard the clip, and still to this day never knew when or if it even aired!
The office is located at 7501- 100 E. Independence Blvd. and the scam is to get people to come in for “free radio advertisement” but when you get there the guy that runs the office Dr. Smith or “Dr. Bizness as he goes by swindles you into signing up to be a radio host. They run your card that day. Me being as naïve as I was thinking this will take my writing to a different level and got excited. I signed a 6 month contract.
He gave me a diagram of how much money I can make, etc… So I fell for it! I haven’t seen one dime! They then told me I had to be a radio host for 6 months and THEN I will start to receive a stipend from what my sponsors put on my account! The cost of my show was $150.00 a month I haven’t paid anything a month because I was told by KATRINA LYNCH who is the office manager that I had sponsors! Now I get an email stating I am free to go and they won’t show me my account balance because the station has been taking care of the slot for me!!
I haven’t been notified of any change, when this happened, and what happened to my sponsors that they showed me before!! If you look them up you will see WGIV and WDRBMedia is a scam and they will not release my accurate account info or any info for that matter. I feel as if they took what was owed to me! Its more but not sure how long this email can really be. I have yet to recoup any earnings from this station and they will not show me my account balance info
I’m glad I seen this and looked it up because I was just about to go there Monday but it just didn’t seem right and they told me they were iHeartMedia lol wow thank for sharing
They do an interview and ask why do you want to be in radio. Then they explain their pyramid scheme that only helps line their pockets with your money and they want you to get sponsorship another words scam businesses. Then when you decide to not go with them they act like you are still going to pay them. As of Monday they are still planning on taking my money for the next 6 months. Wrong answer as I have texted them on the number that texts me, called and left messages, and emailed them to let them know I want nothing to do with their scheme.
1. You pay them and then the hustle is you then scam others to pay for "radio interviews" you do for them - they get you for a 6 month "contract" and automatically charge you monthly. You get NOTHING for these fees. No one follows up with you - no one contacts you outside of fake "trainings" (see below)
2. NO radio station and shows - streams on iheartradio and tunein to about 20 followers a week. They were not founded in 1947. WGIV radio which is now defunct was founded then. They were somehow associated with them which is partly responsible for that AM radio station being defunct now.
3. NO clear social media presence - the IG @wdrbmedia.radio (they have gone thru so many accounts) has 8k followers which they may have paid for because almost all of the posts are the new "hosts" standing in front of the step and repeat after their first training getting coached on how to say the business is so great - you literally get told what to say. Same for the facebook (https://www.facebook.com/WDRBmedia) you would think they would be promoting the radio shows, interviews, etc. These two media accounts did not exist beyond 2016.
4. NO real customer service
5. Ernest Smith will hustle you out of everything you have if you let him
6. the barter exchange has like 5 items on it with no explanation but $25 a month?
7. Continued to charge me even after my bank disputed their charges and my money was refunded
This organization for lack of a better word is a complete scam. I encountered them in May. I was a vendor at a health fair and was approached by a guest who was interested in interviewing me for a radio show. We exchanged cards and he reached out to me to schedule the interview. I went in for the interview and as I was in the waiting room, I noticed that the receptionist was making certain waiting people watch a video she played from a large screen on her desk. I also noticed that a man (Ernest Smith) I knew of personally came out of one of the offices and I was surprised to see him. I did the interview and the hosts were very nice but it was surprising. Even though I have never done radio work before, our interview was such that it could have been done in a home with a few mics from amazon. I did enjoy the interview but I started to feel leery like where is this really going.
After the interview, I went out into the waiting room and realized something. I have a non profit project and I had received a flyer for free radio advertising at an event a few weeks prior and I realized that this was the same radio station with that offer. I asked the receptionist about it and she made me watch the video - a video about building wealth and some inspirational stuff. I was then ushered into an office and the man (Ernest Smith) I knew of personally walked in. I did make the mistake of trusting him because of where I knew him from - huge mistake.
He proceeded to tell me how they have a business barter exchange, how I could have my own radio show and they have millions of listeners because they are nationally syndicated and they have a partnership with iheartradio. They offered me a month worth of advertising for my nonprofit project. I was looking to grow my business, honestly and the business barter exchange and my own short radio show seemed like a good idea at the time. Looking back, I see where and how he was trying to hustle me in his demeanor and his words. I ignored the flag that went off in my head because of who he was in my community. Big mistake.
They got me for a 15 min radio show with a 6 month "contract" - which on later review cannot hold up legally but I will get to that. This was about $95 a month. They also got me for $25 a month for the business barter exchange. I was told to come back for an appointment in two days to get set up.
I came back for the appointment - I should have known better. I met with a woman (she is one of the partners in this). She had a whole manual and all this stuff I had to fill out about my business. I had to watch all these videos on how to set up my account with the exchange. She kept telling me don't worry, they actually do the initial business set up for the barter and then I can add my items and services. I then went to the radio station side. Fill out a whole manual on "radio training" - like "I agree to send in the recording of my show on time". Basically, if you record your show in the studio there are all these charges. Turns out, you could record your show on your cell phone!
Now they teach you the structure - how to basically scam people. So the point of having your own show is so that you can charge people for the recording and/or video recording of their interview. As all this was happening, I was hit up over 20 times by the host for the initial interview I did, to pay $100 for audio and video of my interview. He wanted me to meet up with him and provide him with a flash drive and he would give me my recordings. I dodged him for a month and then declined. The man came in to tell me also, I could set up a partnership with another host to share the cost of the recording time fees.
I was there for this training for a total of 5 hours with no break and was exhausted. At the end, they make you stand in front of their step and repeat while the woman records you with a tablet making positive statements about the radio station, the man (Ernest Smith) and the business barter. I now know they do it at the end of the "training" when your mind is mishmash so it doesn't seem odd to you.
From there - I started to dig for info on this company - something I should have done in the beginning. I searched and found scam alerts. I couldn't find a definitive social media presence which was alarming. My interview wasn't promoted at all - the radio hosts I sat with barely had followers and didn't even list my interview or any other actually. Their youtube was non existent. They don't promote their hosts or anything. Additionally, I realized that basically they just stream over iheartradio and tunein - maybe 25 people listen a week. I wanted to cry. The business barter exchange website looks like it was made in 2000 and had very few listings. I couldn't even access my account for 3 weeks. I randomly got an email finally providing access after that. They said they were making a banner to promote my show for their website. I did not get an email for that until mid June even though I took the picture for it at the training (which I wasn't prepared for).
They make you come for Saturday "trainings" once a month - media training they say. They also make you pay for media passes so that you can "get into any event around the city free because you have this valuable media badge". They charge $25 for it. I did not get it. I went to the first Saturday training. It's 4 hours of hype on how to hustle people to pay for you to interview them. After that experience, I knew I was done. I sent several emails demanding to cancel my contract which were never responded to. They charged me for the first month and I let it go. I was mentally preparing myself to lose $600+ on this terrible deal. They didn't charge me for July at all and then charged me in August. I disputed the charges and I won - getting refunded by my bank. They had the nerve to try and charge me again a week ago. I disputed that as well and my bank cancelled my card so that they can't charge it.
After responding to an ad for an employment opportunity at WDRB MEDIA. I was booked for an appointment and flew to NC. The job was for a radio host at WDRM MEDIA and I was hired. Mr. Smith explained they were a nonprofit radio station. Iheartradio and other major donors funded them.
They were in part paying my monthly stipend and these same donors would invest over $2,000.00 a month in the production work of my show. The small catch though is he needed me to pay an initial Iheartradio hook-up fee and iheartradio/WDRB Media Pass. All lies! After that, they try to keep you connected to them for three years via a fake contract.
They want to keep charging you for 6 months for iheartradio hook-up fees, even if you leave. And, for the people who can't keep their show because they can afford the iheartradio hook-up fee, those aforementioned people make them work as free labor to work off fees that don't exist.
In fairness, I took the time for them to prove to me these charges and claims. they denied or act like I never asked. From where I sit, this is a scam that looks like a "RICO" activity to me.
How To properly report these people. Ernes Smith, Kimberly McDuffie, (Smith ), and Katrina Lynch who make up the entity of what you know as WDRB MEDIA /have complaints spanning back to 2010, and yet, they keep scamming with authority and ease. Why? it's my understanding that they can do this with ease because thy put WDRB MEDIA out front to detract from the real company and real bad actors in the situation.
They hang out with the "so-called" business entity WDRB to roast on purpose, so they can deflect from the real bad acts and the real name of the company that's behind the scam. That's why for over 10 years no one could hold them accountable. I found the mother company. That's what we need to focus on from what I understand. the name "WDRB" is the organizational victim too!
The real organizational culprit from where the money trail leads are; Profit & Growth Foundation for Entrepreneurship, Inc C2015 097 00987. Affectional called( "Profit & Growth). Y'all they should have just given us our money!
So if you report a complaint and you want it to have teeth moving forward, I'm suggesting the complaint should go something as below: Ernest Smith, Kimberly McDuffie (Smith) & Katrina Lynch who claim to represent a Company by the name of WDRB MEDIA in connection with Profit & Growth Foundation for Entrepreneurship, Inc C2015 097 00987.
WDRB is just the place where the scam happens. the above is the meat and potatoes. Tell your experience then you can also file your complaints about Profit & Growth Foundation for Entrepreneurship, Inc C2015 097 00987. with the N.C Secretary of State and the Nonprofit Department of Justice. these people under WDRB have complaints dating back to 2010. Let's not let these people continue to scam others. Let's start reporting our complaints properly.
In my opinion, they are similar to certain modelling/talent agencies from the 90's that prey on poor & middle class victims of all races who-- IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC-- are actually looking for full-time work with benefits.
In addition they allegedly use high pressure sales tactics and manipulation to trick 'applicants' into thinking that this is a real interview for just a few open slots when in reality it may just be an-ongoing scam. What kind of moral human being does this in 2021?
Wish I read this first now I will have to fight them in court anyone else willing to fight these guy send me an email.
Do not give this company your hard earned money. This company is a scam. They lie to you to try to get you in the door saying it’s a interview. Next the conman asks you for money to be a radio host. Do not do it!! He should be ashamed of himself an he had the nerve to catch an attitude when I asked for a complete understanding. Con artist with a nasty attitude.
1. You pay them and then the hustle is you then scam others to pay for "radio interviews" you do for them - they get you for a 6 month "contract" and automatically charge you monthly. You get NOTHING for these fees. No one follows up with you - no one contacts you outside of fake "trainings" (see below)
2. NO radio station and shows - streams on iheartradio and tunein to about 20 followers a week. They were not founded in 1947. WGIV radio which is now defunct was founded then. They were somehow associated with them which is partly responsible for that AM radio station being defunct now.
3. NO clear social media presence - the IG @wdrbmedia.radio (they have gone thru so many accounts) has 8k followers which they may have paid for because almost all of the posts are the new "hosts" standing in front of the step and repeat after their first training getting coached on how to say the business is so great - you literally get told what to say. Same for the facebook (https://www.facebook.com/WDRBmedia) you would think they would be promoting the radio shows, interviews, etc. These two media accounts did not exist beyond 2016.
4. NO real customer service
5. Ernest Smith will hustle you out of everything you have if you let him
6. the barter exchange has like 5 items on it with no explanation but $25 a month?
7. Continued to charge me even after my bank disputed their charges and my money was refunded
This organization for lack of a better word is a complete scam. I encountered them in May. I was a vendor at a health fair and was approached by a guest who was interested in interviewing me for a radio show. We exchanged cards and he reached out to me to schedule the interview. I went in for the interview and as I was in the waiting room, I noticed that the receptionist was making certain waiting people watch a video she played from a large screen on her desk. I also noticed that a man (Ernest Smith) I knew of personally came out of one of the offices and I was surprised to see him. I did the interview and the hosts were very nice but it was surprising. Even though I have never done radio work before, our interview was such that it could have been done in a home with a few mics from amazon. I did enjoy the interview but I started to feel leery like where is this really going.
After the interview, I went out into the waiting room and realized something. I have a non profit project and I had received a flyer for free radio advertising at an event a few weeks prior and I realized that this was the same radio station with that offer. I asked the receptionist about it and she made me watch the video - a video about building wealth and some inspirational stuff. I was then ushered into an office and the man (Ernest Smith) I knew of personally walked in. I did make the mistake of trusting him because of where I knew him from - huge mistake.
He proceeded to tell me how they have a business barter exchange, how I could have my own radio show and they have millions of listeners because they are nationally syndicated and they have a partnership with iheartradio. They offered me a month worth of advertising for my nonprofit project. I was looking to grow my business, honestly and the business barter exchange and my own short radio show seemed like a good idea at the time. Looking back, I see where and how he was trying to hustle me in his demeanor and his words. I ignored the flag that went off in my head because of who he was in my community. Big mistake.
They got me for a 15 min radio show with a 6 month "contract" - which on later review cannot hold up legally but I will get to that. This was about $95 a month. They also got me for $25 a month for the business barter exchange. I was told to come back for an appointment in two days to get set up.
I came back for the appointment - I should have known better. I met with a woman (she is one of the partners in this). She had a whole manual and all this stuff I had to fill out about my business. I had to watch all these videos on how to set up my account with the exchange. She kept telling me don't worry, they actually do the initial business set up for the barter and then I can add my items and services. I then went to the radio station side. Fill out a whole manual on "radio training" - like "I agree to send in the recording of my show on time". Basically, if you record your show in the studio there are all these charges. Turns out, you could record your show on your cell phone!
Now they teach you the structure - how to basically scam people. So the point of having your own show is so that you can charge people for the recording and/or video recording of their interview. As all this was happening, I was hit up over 20 times by the host for the initial interview I did, to pay $100 for audio and video of my interview. He wanted me to meet up with him and provide him with a flash drive and he would give me my recordings. I dodged him for a month and then declined. The man came in to tell me also, I could set up a partnership with another host to share the cost of the recording time fees.
I was there for this training for a total of 5 hours with no break and was exhausted. At the end, they make you stand in front of their step and repeat while the woman records you with a tablet making positive statements about the radio station, the man (Ernest Smith) and the business barter. I now know they do it at the end of the "training" when your mind is mishmash so it doesn't seem odd to you.
From there - I started to dig for info on this company - something I should have done in the beginning. I searched and found scam alerts. I couldn't find a definitive social media presence which was alarming. My interview wasn't promoted at all - the radio hosts I sat with barely had followers and didn't even list my interview or any other actually. Their youtube was non existent. They don't promote their hosts or anything. Additionally, I realized that basically they just stream over iheartradio and tunein - maybe 25 people listen a week. I wanted to cry. The business barter exchange website looks like it was made in 2000 and had very few listings. I couldn't even access my account for 3 weeks. I randomly got an email finally providing access after that. They said they were making a banner to promote my show for their website. I did not get an email for that until mid June even though I took the picture for it at the training (which I wasn't prepared for).
They make you come for Saturday "trainings" once a month - media training they say. They also make you pay for media passes so that you can "get into any event around the city free because you have this valuable media badge". They charge $25 for it. I did not get it. I went to the first Saturday training. It's 4 hours of hype on how to hustle people to pay for you to interview them. After that experience, I knew I was done. I sent several emails demanding to cancel my contract which were never responded to. They charged me for the first month and I let it go. I was mentally preparing myself to lose $600+ on this terrible deal. They didn't charge me for July at all and then charged me in August. I disputed the charges and I won - getting refunded by my bank. They had the nerve to try and charge me again a week ago. I disputed that as well and my bank cancelled my card so that they can't charge it.