Last February he finally paid off the loan. It is a disappointment, but it is the nature of the industry. Mahaffey's case was not unusual. Consumers have to do their homework. She says that of the 5,324 clients the company represented from 1997 to 1999, only 11 had made more money than they invested.
Consumer advocates say even that number is inflated.
While no one questions the risks inherent in developing a new invention, experts say the odds shouldn't be that low. The firm is also facing a class action by former clients, charging the company regularly breached the contracts it signed and failed to live up to its promises. Darien Dash wants to help blacks in poor urban areas hop on the information superhighway.