This is Episode #2 in a deep dive on con artist Charlie Javice, the Forbes 30 Under 30 "business leader" who raked in millions from investors for her phony fintech startup Frank while scamming customers and leaving behind a trail of missed red flags.
Watch the series
Episode #1: Charlie's shady "nonprofit" lands her a reality show
Episode #2: Charlie launches the most hypocritical startup ever
Episode #3: Charlie cons JPMorgan into buying a list of fake emails
Episode #4: Charlie claims she’s the victim and sues JPMorgan
Episode #5: Judge forces JPMorgan to pay Charlie’s legal bills
—————
Charlie's company Frank was supposed to help students pay for college.
A few snapshots from Frank’s website withfrank.org archived via Wayback Machine.
—————
The U.S. Department of Education thought Frank's website was confusing, so it sent a cease and desist letter for violating its trademark FAFSA.
Frank’s website frankfafsa.com included the government-copyrighted name FAFSA. Read more details on Charlie’s settlement with the U.S. Department of Education over allegations she misled students at Business Insider.
—————
Frank's questionable cash-advance loans and COVID grant "applications" also earned it a warning from the Federal Trade Commission.
Students Need Emergency Grants, But This Tool Just Gives Them False Hope (on Frank’s CARES grant “application”) via New America
Frank’s Student Emergency Grants page via Wayback Machine
Bipartisan letter requesting the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Frank from U.S. Congress members
Frank’s membership page offering cash-advance loans with misleading advertising and lending terms via Wayback Machine
FTC Warns Frank Financial Aid to Stop Potentially Misleading Marketing Directed to Students Seeking Coronavirus Financial Relief via FTC
A 26-year-old founder has a solution to what Bill Gates calls an 'unnecessary roadblock' to college — and her startup is helping students get thousands off their tuition via Business Insider
A Value-Driven Visionary: Celebrating Charlie and the acquisition of Frank via Aleph Capital’s Medium
Acadeum’s blog post about partnering with Frank’s Classfinder via Acadeum
Billions in Untapped College Financial Aid Is Up for Grabs With This New Tool via VICE
Bipartisan letter requesting the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Frank from U.S. Congress members
Charlie Javice, Millennial CEO Sued by JPMorgan, Was a ‘Namedropping’ Cool Boss via The Daily Beast
Charlie Javice: “Rejection is a numbers game” via Persistence 360° podcast
Charlie Javice’s profile via Forbes
Court complaint against Charlie Javice by JPMorgan Chase Bank
FAFSA: Ask any college student. The federal student aid application is needlessly complex via USATODAY
Financial Aid Tips For Your Family via CBS New York
Frank Announces $10 Million Series A To Help Students Raise Financial Aid & Lower Tuition via Crunchbase
Frank promotion with NFL star Kelvin Beachum Jr. via attn
Frank promotion via Detroit Pistons
Frank raises $5M more in its quest to get students max financial aid via TechCrunch
Frank startup founder Charlie Javice, accused of defrauding JPMorgan with fake users, previously settled with Department of Education over allegations she misled students via Business Insider
Frank’s Classfinder page via Wayback Machine
Frank’s membership page offering cash-advance loans with misleading advertising and lending terms via Wayback Machine
Frank’s Student Emergency Grants page via Wayback Machine
Frank’s website withfrank.org archived via Wayback Machine
Frank’s website frankfafsa.com archived via Wayback Machine
FTC Warns Frank Financial Aid to Stop Potentially Misleading Marketing Directed to Students Seeking Coronavirus Financial Relief via FTC
Getting Help with Financial Aid (Interview with Charlie Javice) via Bill Carmody
How a 25-Year-Old Woman Is Rebuilding the College Financial Aid Process, 1 Student at a Time via PopSugar
Interview with Frank Founder Charlie Javice via Cheddar News
Investors are pouring money into Frank, a TurboTax for student loan applications via TechCrunch
JP Morgan Says Startup Founder Used Millions Of Fake Customers To Dupe It Into An Acquisition via Forbes
Meet the Woman Making Quality Education Affordable for All via In Her Sight
Power to the People:The FinTech Revolution via OurCrowd
Simplifying FAFSA: Interview with Frank CEO/Founder Charlie Javice via Fox Business
Students Need Emergency Grants, But This Tool Just Gives Them False Hope (on Frank’s CARES grant “application”) via New America
The 8 Most Confusing Things About Fafsa (article by Charlie Javice requiring extensive corrections) via The New York Times
The 25-Year-Old CEO of Frank Is Working to Bridge the Student Aid Gap via Brit + Co
Warning letter: Misleading Students About CARES Act Emergency Assistance and Cash Advance Product to Frank from the Federal Trade Commission
—————
About Guzzle
Hi! I'm Mary, and I make Guzzle, a YouTube series that spills the tea on shady money-makers. I investigate scammers, report on suspicious tactics, and try to help y'all avoid financial harm. The full story →