NYC Bagel Scam Reveals Franchising’s Dark & Dangerous Secret

Two enterprising franchise sellers have discovered the franchise industry’s deepest, darkest secret… and made millions of dollars in the process. The franchise sellers are named Joseph Smith and Dennis Mason.

The franchise opportunity they’ve promoted since 2007 is now named NYC Bagel & Sandwich Shop, formerly NY Bagel Cafe & Deli.

Over the years, they have learned that they are free to say or do whatever makes them the most money without regard for franchise, civil or criminal penalties.

So they provide prospective franchisees with disclosure documents that state they have never had a store closed (they’ve had dozens), never had a lawsuit or civil judgement (the list is long), and that they’ve never had a state franchise agency issue an enforcement order for fraudulent sales practices (they’ve had 3).

They promise a full refund of the franchise fee if the franchisee fails to obtain financing (no refund is ever given).

They market, sell, open and close franchises in franchise registration states without ever registering.

They break the law flagrantly and openly and no one can (or will) stop them.

They have learned (and it appears they are correct) that they are invincible.

 

NY Bagel Scam Overview Video

 

The Secret Even Most Franchise Experts Don’t Know (or Admit)

If you find this hard to believe, you’re in good and plentiful company.

For years, I and dozens of victims have been reporting this scam to the agencies.

Over the past several years, NYC Bagel & Sandwich Shop (formerly NY Bagel Cafe & Deli) franchise sellers Joseph Smith and Dennis Mason have realized that the law can’t (or won’t) touch them.

They learned that as long as they duck process servers, ignore correspondence from state franchise regulators, and toss anything regarding civil lawsuits or judgements in the trash unopened, they are invincible.

And it appears that they are correct.

Some years ago, they believed, like most of us, that lawsuits meant something and court judgements must be paid.

They fought their first lawsuit conventionally, lost, and made monthly payments to the franchisee they had defrauded.

When they were served with the next lawsuit filing, they decided not to respond. They ignored the summons. They didn’t show up to court. A default judgement was rendered in favor of the franchisee. And then… nothing.

Joe and Dennis continued to defraud prospective franchisees and disregard franchise laws.  They received threatening legal letters, refund demands, lawsuit filings… which they ignored.

The learned the weary victims will eventually storm off, angrily waving the worthless judgements which they have no way of collecting.

Emboldened, Joe Smith & Dennis Mason harvested a steady stream of franchise fees by furnishing fictitious “disclosure documents” and promising whatever necessary to get victims to overnight a checks of $19,500, $24,500, or $29,500.

The so-called disclosure documents stated that NY Bagel was a fresh new franchise chain that had never had a closed store or nor litigation.  They contained no mention of Dennis Mason or his bankruptcies, no mention of the long list of civil lawsuits and judgements against Dennis and Joe Smith, no mention of the dozens of franchises that had open and closed, and no mention of the dozens of franchisees who had paid franchise fees but never opened a store.

State Franchise Regulators Will Stop Them… Right?

Flouting state franchise registration laws, Joe Smith & Dennis Mason advertised, sold, opened and closed franchises in several registration states, including New York, California, Maryland, and Virginia, without being registered.

The Maryland Attorney General opened an investigation and contacted Joe Smith.  He did not respond.  The Maryland AG determined that Joe and Dennis violated Maryland franchise law in selling an unregistered franchise and issued a cease & desist order.  According to Dale Cantone, that was the extent of his authority.  He could not order them to repay the franchisee. 

NY Bagel Maryland Order to Cease & Desist

Virginia investigated the sale of multiple unregistered franchises to VA residents by NY Bagel.  Joe Smith did not respond.  Virginia determined that Dennis & Joe had violated Virginia franchise law and issued fines that could be reduced if they repaid the franchise fees to the VA victims.  I don’t believe either Joe, or Dennis responded, nor has a dime been paid on the fines or refunds ordered (I am awaiting final confirmation of this).

Commonwealth of Virginia Judgement Order Against NY Bagel Café, Joe Smith & Dennis Mason (PDF)

The State of Washington investigated and issued this order.  Note the long list of undisclosed lawsuits, judgements, and enforcement orders.

NY BAGEL SCAM Washington Enforcement Order

Surely the SBA isn’t Guaranteeing NYC Bagel Scam Loans… Right?

I have written and published close to 100 posts on UnhappyFranchisee.Com and a victim’s site NYBagelScam.com.

For years, I and numerous victims have been filing complaints to the FTC, the FBI, state attorney generals, the U.S. Postal Service, Craig’s List, and franchise advertising sites.

I have a dedicated Twitter account, a Facebook page, and two dedicated YouTube channels documenting the illegal activity of Joe Smith, Dennis Mason and their NY Bagel Scam.

And yet… NYC Bagel is listed in the Entrepreneur Franchise 500 for 2017.

New York Bagel Sandwich Shop & Deli is listed as “Active” on the Franchise Registry, which helps fast-track SBA loans for 8,000 lenders.

According to SBA loan data, an SBA-guaranteed loan for $190,000 was approved 9/25/2017 and disbursed by Centric Bank for a NY Bagel Cafe franchise in Harrisburg.

New stories indicate that the NY Bagel Cafe & Deli opened in January, 2018 and closed less than six months later.  The franchise owner has filed for bankruptcy and the loan is in default.

According to a reliable source, both the bank and the franchisee were furnished fraudulent documents by Dennis Mason masquerading as “Brian Scofield.”

Here's the FDD given to the franchisee who received an SBA loan and closed in less than 6 months:  NY BAGEL CAFE & DELI FDD (SMS INC)

Franchising’s Dark & Dangerous Secret:  Franchise Compliance is Strictly Voluntary

If anyone is still under the illusion that franchising is a “highly regulated” industry, I invite you to go to SearchTempest.Com and search the term “NYC Bagel” or “Bagel Franchise.”

It will likely pull up hundreds of NY Bagel Scam ads being allowed to run wild (as well as some warning ads financed by GoFundMe.Com/NYBagelScam)

Sadly, Joe Smith & Dennis Mason may be right.  They may be untouchable.

PS I am hoping others will take up the cause and write and publish about the NYC Bagel Scam, or otherwise spread the word. My research and documentation is posted on UnhappyFranchisee.Com and NYBagelScam.com. Feel free to contact me at UnhappyFranchisee[at]Gmail.com