Pennsylvania Sues Idaho Man over Sales of Fake Spotted Lanternfly ‘Permits’
The lawsuit seeks to ban Kevin Wardell and his company from doing business in Pennsylvania and to repay buyers of the fake permits.
- Pennsylvania Attorney General Sunday filed a lawsuit against Kevin Wardell of Idaho and Diverse Solutions, LLC, accusing them of deceiving Pennsylvanians into purchasing fraudulent spotted lanternfly permits.
- Certain Pennsylvania businesses must obtain permits from the Pennsylvania Department due to a quarantine order addressing an invasive spotted lanternfly infestation. Legitimate training and permits are available for free through the Pennsylvania Department and Penn State Extension.
- Wardell allegedly used deceptive logos and terminology, including the name Spotted Lanternfly Commission, to trick residents. Letters sent by Wardell threatened civil and criminal penalties if compliance was not immediately obtained.
- Numerous individuals and businesses responded to the letters, believing they originated from the Pennsylvania Department, and purchased the fraudulent permits and training. Victims remained unaware the correspondence was not from official channels.
- Filed in the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas, the lawsuit seeks to prohibit Wardell and Diverse Solutions from conducting business in The Commonwealth and demands restitution for all consumers who purchased fraudulent permits.
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11 Articles
Lawsuit accuses business of selling fraudulent lanternfly permits to Pennsylvanians
The Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office has filed a lawsuit against Kevin Wardell of Idaho, accusing him of deceiving Pennsylvanians into purchasing fraudulent spotted lanternfly permits.
An Idaho man is being paid by the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office for allegedly scamming businesses into buying fake permits and training courses for the eradication of the invasive spotted latenfly. Prosecutors allege Kevin Wardell sent out fraudulent letters presented as wars from the Department of Agriculture.
Scammer sold fake spotted lanternfly permits to Pa. residents, AG says
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday filed a lawsuit against an Idaho man who’s accused of tricking state residents and businesses into buying fraudulent spotted lanternfly permits and training materials.
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