Apprentice star accused of duping thousands with business courses

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Jessie Connors Tieva and Matthew Tieva, and their business Sellers Playbook, are accused of making 'false and unsubstantiated' claims
The couple reportedly promised that customers could make $20,000 a month and potential net profits of $1.3 million through their business courses
'Few, if any, consumers achieved these results, and most lost money,' the Federal Trade Commission and Minnesota Attorney General said in a joint statement
But Connors Tieva blamed lazy clients, saying: 'There are some people out there who think they can get the world handed to them and not work for anything'
The FTC has now shut down Sellers Playbook and the AG has filed a complaint
Connors Tieva, a mom-of-three, starred in the first season of The Apprentice alongside future White House Director of Communication Omarosa Manigault
She got through to week six before Donald Trump told her: 'You're fired'

Published: 11:35 EDT, 7 August 2018 | Updated: 13:48 EDT, 7 August 2018

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An Apprentice contestant and her husband have been accused of duping thousands of customers out of $15 million with 'shoddy' business courses.

Jessie Connors Tieva and Matthew Tieva ran Sellers Playbook, a Minneapolis-based consulting company that offered training and to people looking to start their own shops on Amazon.com.

But their business has been shut down by the Federal Trade Commission and the Minnesota Attorney General filed a complaint against the business over their 'false and unsubstantiated' claims.

Jessie Connors Tieva and Matthew Tieva ran Sellers Playbook, a Minneapolis-based consulting company that offered training and to people looking to start their own shops on Amazon.com.

'Sellers Playbook lured consumers into buying its expensive system by claiming that purchasers were likely to earn thousands of dollars per month selling products on Amazon,' the FTC and AG said in a joint statement, adding that the couple promised that customers could make $20,000 a month and potential net profits of $1.3 million.

'Few, if any, consumers achieved these results, and most lost money.'

But Connors Tieva, who starred in the first season of The Apprentice alongside Donald Trump and future White House Director of Communication Omarosa Manigault, blamed lazy customers for failing to achieve what they promised.

'We have thousands of students who have been very successful,' Connors Tieva told TwinCities.com. 'There are some people out there who think they can get the world handed to them and not work for anything.'

Conners Tieva described herself as a marketing firm owner when she appeared on The Apprentice in 2004

Connors Tieva, a mom-of-three, starred in the first season of The Apprentice alongside future White House Director of Communication Omarosa Manigault

Connors Tieva was also involved in another similar Amazon sales scheme that was shut down earlier this year and was ordered to return $10.8 million to its customers, according to the complaint by the AG.

The Tievas have no affiliation with Amazon, Sellers Playbook was simply promoting a business model for the website's third-party sales platform, Fulfillment by Amazon.

The complaint alleges nine violations of Federal Trade Commission regulations and U.S. law against the couple and their business, which has been shut down until the case is resolved.

Sellers Playbook was launched last year and offered free two-hour seminars, hosted by the former Apprentice contestant, to potential customers.

Attendees would then be pitched a three day workshop, costing between $500 and $1,000.

Sellers Playbook, a Minneapolis-based consulting company offered training and to people looking to start their own shops on Amazon.com

The couple promised that customers could make $20,000 a month and potential net profits of $1.3 million, although added a disclaimer that it was down to the students to fulfill their goals

The couple's business has been shut down by the Federal Trade Commission and the Minnesota Attorney General filed a complaint against the business over their 'false and unsubstantiated' claims

But Connors Tieva (pictured at The Apprentice finale party in 2004) blamed lazy customers for failing to achieve what they promised

Once there, an even more expensive package of mentorship and training would be offered - costing up to $48,000, the complaint said.

In exchange, customers purchasing the program could get access to the Sellers Playbook System, which promised them profits of up to 70 percent by selling items on Amazon's third-party sales platform.

The Minnesota Attorney General said the defendants had 'no adequate basis' for making such claims.

A preliminary injunction hearing will be held next week.

An Amazon spokesman told the DailyMail.com: 'The entrepreneurs and small businesses selling on Amazon are incredibly important to us and our customers, and we aggressively pursue those that attempt to harm their selling experience.

'We invest heavily to protect the integrity of our stores and take action to protect customers and sellers, including working with consumer protection agencies and law enforcement. We have zero tolerance for fraud and abuse and will continue to cooperate with law enforcement to pursue criminals.'

Conners Tieva, a mother-of-three, was the youngest Apprentice contestant when she appeared on the first season, aged 21, in 2004.

Listed as a marketing firm owner, she made it through six weeks before Trump told her: 'You're Fired.