Home Advisor Accused Of Creating Fraudulent Web Ads

GOLDEN, CO – A Denver consumer reporter and radio host sued Golden-based Home Advisor, accusing the home-repair referral company of creating fake internet ads for his company that lead to their own website.

As first reported in BusinessDen, Tom Martino of the Troubleshooter Network, Inc. alleges that Home Advisor infringed on his company's trademark and copyright and gives the appearance that Martino is endorsing his competitor.

The Trojan-horse ads on the search engine Bing, "willfully mislead and misdirect consumers searching the Internet for services provided by the Troubleshooter Network," the suit alleges. When customers click on the ads for Martino's Referral List service, they are taken to a landing page for Home Advisor, the suit alleges.

The suit, filed in U.S. District Court on Sept. 14, says Martino runs a "referral list" paid membership program and website for local contractors who have met his performance standards. Membership averages $4,800, the suit says. Martin also charges up to $250,000 for endorsements of products and contractors.

Martino describes himself and his trademark as having "achieved fame under the moniker 'Tom Martino' for his ongoing work in the field of consumer advocacy."

Martino has worked in Colorado-area radio for 30 years and has appeared on KVDR Fox 31. He formerly wrote consumer advice columns for the Rocky Mountain News. The Tom Martino Referral List has been around since 2000.

“It’s being implied that Mr. Martino is working together with HomeAdvisor, that they’ve teamed up, when they have not,” attorney Thomas P. Howard told BusinessDen.

Read the complaint here.

Read BusinessDen's coverage here.

Related: HomeAdvisor Suit: Drugs, Sex Harassment At Colo. Sales Offices

Image via Shutterstock

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