Attorney General James Secures Refunds for Seniors Misled by Free Book Scheme

NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today secured refunds for consumers and $23,500 in penalties from Frank W. Cawood & Associates, Inc. (FC&A), a Georgia-based company that publishes and sells self-help books geared toward seniors, for misleading consumers with a “free no-risk preview” program for their books. An investigation by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) found that FC&A deceived New York seniors and their caregivers by billing them for books that they believed they were receiving for free. FC&A sent thousands of deceptive offers through the mail to New Yorkers, claiming that consumers could preview a book for free with “no risk,” while obscuring the actual terms of the trial program in fine print. As a result of OAG’s investigation, FC&A will end its misleading free trial program in New York, provide full refunds to New Yorkers who were misled and paid for books they believed they would receive for free, and pay $23,500 in penalties.

“New Yorkers were led to believe they were receiving a free book but were instead met with a bait-and-switch that led to confusing bills,” said Attorney General James. “FC&A tricked vulnerable seniors and their caregivers into paying for products they neither ordered nor wanted. These deceptive business practices are illegal, and we are ensuring those who were wronged get their money back.”

FC&A publishes titles targeted at seniors such as “The Ageless Brain for Seniors: 1,001 Secrets to Keep Your Brain Young, Your Memory Sharp, and Your Mind Healthy” and “Keep Your Cash, Save Your Social Security, and Live Worry-Free! The Smart Senior's Financial Answer Book.” FC&A’s books are priced at $36 per hardcover copy.

FC&A sends mailers to consumers advertising a “free, no-strings-attached” opportunity to experience their books for a trial period. “Free trial” and “no risk” appear in large, bold print throughout its mail advertisements while the preview’s payment terms are printed in significantly smaller font on the card the customer must return to accept the free trial. The program also advertises and includes a free booklet, which is gifted with the trial book and often leads consumers to believe the book they are receiving is also free.

Consumers who choose to receive a trial book also receive an accompanying invoice for their “order,” which includes charges for shipping and taxes, bringing the total for a $36 book to $49.68. Customers who choose to return their trial book must cover the cost of shipping it back to FC&A. If FC&A does not receive payment or the book in return, it sends a series of escalating invoices and demands for payment marked “Overdue Account” and “PAST DUE!” with additional late fees added. None of the materials FC&A sends consumers who sign up for a free trial mention the free trial program or give any instructions about how a consumer can exit the free trial without payment.

FC&A’s order form came with a box pre-checked for a “no-risk” free trial “without any obligation”

A form letter FC&A customers received demanding payment for a free trial book

The OAG’s investigation found that FC&A’s free trial program caused consumers significant confusion. FC&A received over 650 calls between 2018 and 2024 from caregivers of customers who did not understand FC&A’s terms and received bills for products they did not remember ordering. FC&A’s customer service line logged complaints from consumers who were confused about invoices because they believed the book they received was free. FC&A was also aware that many recipients may suffer from age-related conditions like memory loss or dementia that made them more susceptible to forgetting the trial terms and misunderstanding that they needed to return the book, or that they were not obligated to purchase the book they received at all.

Under a settlement with OAG, FC&A will end its free trial program in New York. FC&A will also have to pay $23,500 in penalties and provide full refunds to eligible consumers who paid for a book sent by the company to a New York address on a trial basis within the last six years. FC&A will also review internal records to identify and refund consumers who have requested but did not receive a full refund, as well as consumers who previously contacted the company and said they did not understand the bill or remember ordering a book. Consumers who believe they are eligible for a refund should contact FC&A before April 23, 2027.  

This settlement is the latest in Attorney General James’ efforts to stop businesses from deceiving consumers with misleading offers and recurring fees. In July 2026, Attorney General James secured $320,000 from 1-800-Flowers for deceiving customers about subscription renewals. In December 2025, Attorney General James also sued Uber for misleading customers into recurring subscriptions to its Uber One service. In May 2025, Attorney General James secured $600,000 from Equinox for trapping customers in hard-to-cancel memberships. In December 2023, Attorney General James sued SiriusXM for keeping customers in unwanted subscriptions, with a court following up a year later and finding that SiriusXM was violating the law by forcing customers to undergo a long and burdensome process to cancel their subscriptions.

This matter was handled by Assistant Attorney General Nora Van Horn under the supervision of Deputy Bureau Chief Laura Levine and Bureau Chief Jane Azia of the Bureau of Consumer Frauds and Protection. The Bureau of Consumer Frauds and Protection is a part of the Division for Economic Justice, which is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General Chris D’Angelo and overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Meghan Faux.