A friend of mine joked and said that Yeves Perez might be a “Mini-Madoff” (Bernie Madoff) and I am now beginning to think that could be a possibility……..
All of us have lessons to learn, that’s what life is all about. In May of 2010, I loaned a large amount of money to a friend/business colleague, and it taught me a lesson that was hard to swallow. Now, I chalked it up to a bad business/personal decision and moved on (I could not afford to waste anymore time dealing with his stories and blatant lies why he was unable to pay me back), UNTIL I came across other people in the business community that have been conned by the same individual. This is something that I could not just sit back and watch, as I feel it is bound to keep happening to other innocent, unsuspecting people.
His first company that he supposedly started back in 2003 on Myspace, no less, (http://www.myspace.com/ecoinvestmentclub) is now just a broken link: http://www.ecoinvestmentclub.com/ I have colleagues that actually paid dues to be a member of this “Investment Club”, yet never gained any benefits what-so-ever.
Here is a quote from someone who checked out one of the meetings, and has also had to deal with him in a bad business transaction: The “Eco Investment Club” is a joke. That’s how I met Yeves, at one of the meetings. I was pretty enchanted by the concept, being at the launch of a green business at the time, but quickly learned that there were no investments happening there, just talk. Still, I put faith in Yeves because he seemed so passionate – and I believe he is still. I think he has such a tunnel vision of growing his business that he isn’t careful about who he stomps on along the way, and doesn’t realize that what he’s doing ISN’T WORKING. If you are having to borrow money from colleagues, (especially being the “CEO” of an “investment club”), maybe it’s time to re-think strategy. -Local San Diego Business Owner
Yeves Perez was then the CEO and the “Face” of an exciting, new co-working and flex-space campus in San Diego designed to provide green entrepreneurs with a unique professional space to collaborate, grow and thrive. As an incubator for small green businesses, they anticipate playing an important role furthering San Diego’s position as a center for cleantech, water conservation, green building, and other sectors. I don’t want to mention the exact name since they have completely severed ties with Mr. Yeves Perez and are trying to recover from all of the damage he has caused in the past year with this new venture. It is an amazing concept and I am so very glad that they are able to move on and enjoy the success that they deserve. Yeves went long enough posing as this organization sole leader and Founder, only to find out that there are three brilliant guys behind the scenes that came up with the venture and funded everything.
***UPDATE: He “resigned” as CEO as of Mid-Feb after being arrested on Feb 16th, 2011 for the embezzlement charges.
As for the HARD FACTS…
MY STORY:
Yeves Perez was not just a business friend of mine, but a personal friend, so when he had asked to borrow a large amount of money (thousands) back on May 1st, I had full confidence that he would pay me back within three weeks, like he promised. (Looking back, it should have been suspicious that he called me the EXACT day I closed escrow on selling my company, I did not even have the money wired into my account yet!) He said he needed it for moving expenses for his new home that he was moving into that week and also for payroll (he only has one employee on his payroll that I am aware of).
So a full month went by and not a single payment or call from Yeves. When I finally reached out to call him the excuses started coming (and never stopped). To be honest, it became quite humorous to see if he was able to keep coming up with excuse-after-excuse for 45 days straight, as you will see in the following text messages. I even offered to let him make payments, but no response to that. Nearly 6 months later, and despite involving a lawyer and a collection agency, I have yet to see a single penny!!
Here is a link to the ACTUAL text messages (there were phone calls in between some of these):
http://yevesperez.com/texting-a-web-of-lies…..I turned him into a collection agency on Aug. 10th. He has yet to pay A DIME, but at least I know it will be reported on his credit.
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I recently came into contact with someone who had a similarly negative experience with Yeves Perez and she agreed to share her story. She is a local green designer who entrusted him with multiple items from her product line, with the promise of being paid via Paypal. After several attempts to collect the money, she was also bombarded with a long list of excuses as to why he was unable to pay her the $150 he owed this struggling business owner and single mom.
Among his excuses for taking about two months to fulfill his obligation to pay for the products he purchased were the following (real exchanges from Yeves Perez – name has been changed for designer’s protection): http://yevesperez.com/another-victim-sarah/
Gosh, my debt with him was much higher, but maybe if I was more persistent, I would have seen results. I am an overall nice person, so I know he had NO INTENTION of paying me back from the very start! How could he lie to my face when I handed him the check? How could he actually sign something say he was to pay me back (see exhibit “A”)?
This is so funny. I loaned him $5k for a real estate deal that went bad. Later I found out he borrowed $25k from my boss. I had him sign a promisorry note and know my boss sued him. He had no money. He did make an effort to pay me back and sent me a check for $100 here and $200 there. That lasted for about 6 months and then stopped all together. Ran into him one day at the UTC mall…Apple Store…and asked if he was spending my money! At least he got caught and now you know.
I built the original Eco Investment Club website as a “Partner” with Yeves.
PARTNER mean’t “do all the work, while I get paid” ..
Yeves promised the moon and at one point was given 10K which he did not share with me, but used for his wedding. Multiple times I asked for my share and never got it. Times were tough then and it would have gone a long way. Lots of promises, no action ever taken to repay me.
I shut the site down shortly after my last demand for payment and considered it done.
I finally told him I never wanted to run into him again and suggested he not cross my path.
To this day I have received nothing other than promises, know nothing is coming, and that I was played by a con. I know better. Lesson learned.
All this court and conviction info here was a HUGE surprise. (and I’m not unhappy.)
By the way.. if any wants to be the proud owner of EcoInvestmentClub.com, it can be had for a song.
I still love green, but Yeves stained it a bit for me.
Perez was given 3 years probation and ordered to pay restitution to the SASC and the court. Unfortunately it sounds like he is working behind the scenes a bit at Eco Hub, which is disappointing since they assured us that he was out of the picture.
Does anyone know what happened to these fraud charges? I am so hoping that he spent some time in jail!
To answer the last poster it is said he is on several years probation. Including repaying the SASC, which I have heard he has not. You can find him on Twitter. He has been seen in San Diego, but when he spots a victim, he leaves the scene.
I can’t believe I just learned about this blog and extensive issue with Yeves. I was scammed by him back in 2008-09, when he was just launching Eco Investment Club. He got me involved to help with his communications, web content, making a podcast, keynote speaking at the meetings, etc. Basically, he never paid. So I stopped working until I got paid. After months and many email exchanges, unreturned calls, etc, we worked out a “payment plan.” He did pay the first $200 of the approximately $1800 he owed me, but that was it. He just dragged me along after that until I finally just gave up. I threatened to sue, but realized the hassle wasn’t worth it, though now it might be. I figured I’m better off having this scammer out of my life than pursuing him so aggressively. At this point, I want to go back after him. I have a bunch of emails from him, basically saying the same thing this forum says. At least I know I wasn’t alone. Let me know if you want more info. I’d love to know what happened at his sentencing.
Sorry to hear it ES. Yet another victim
comes forward. You can find him easily online on FB, Twitter and his extensive new Google profile. Many are concerned he is lining up next victims as he meets people online to affiliate with and calls them his mentor, as he did with Bob Noble and others. If anybody has any press contacts this story is a cautionary tale about Green Crooks in the community. It might save others from being conned. And don’t feel bad. Con artists study thier victims and make just the right approach, without remorse. It’s thier fault not yours ES.
unbelievable… I loaned him $5K for a business venture and have been trying to hunt him down. Would have LOVED to be at his sentencing. just finding out about this sight today. shame on me for trusting him… HARD lesson to swallow..
Update. I heard that Perez was given 3 years probation and ordered to pay restitution to the SASC and the court. What actually was said to him by the court I do not know.
You can follow his exciting rebirth-:) and hey, interact with him here on Twitter. https://mobile.twitter.com/#!/frshprnzcleantc
It’s something but I don’t hear about him making restituion or expressing regret, asking for forgiveness of all the victims.
Hope this info helps heal some wounds however.
does anyone know what his sentencing was that he had on Monday the 27th? It’d be great do know!
I thought so too, but it seems the SASC lawyer gave a compelling victims statement on May 23. It seems the judge was quite interested. The final sentencing seems to be some time in June now. Not sure when.
@GreenScamWatch….sorry, but I am confused. I thought he was sentenced on Monday, May 23rd? Is not not correct? And if that is not the day, can you be sure to post it on here so that we all know?
Thanks!
@ Nate, I think if you go back to the SASC statement on this website the contact for thier lawyer Ken Sobel is there. He may know the date. You can write to the Judge as so angry said above. May justice prevail.
@GreenScamWatch, thanks for the update and info. I’ll be watching, and I’ll be happy to talk to anyone who’s remotely involved with him to make sure everyone who talks to him knows how dirty he is. I wish I could have looked him in the eye. That would have been nice.
I’ll be curious to know the exact date and time of the sentencing, as I think I’d like to be there for that one to smile at him when he gets it.
@Nate, sure. I believe he is hyping Environmental Radio, as I know his style and friends say this is a project of the founders of the last company he was with. While he is departed from that place of business some wonder about his connections there. I believe if you google Yeves Perez you will
see he was present at or trying to become connected to San Diego Tech Awards. This is born out again by watching some posts on FB. Are these groups in any way responsible for his actions? No.
I heard that Ken Sobel gave an eloquent Victims statement with SASC, the victims here and others in mind. The judge took copious notes and Yeves was present to hear what he had done and how dastardly his actions were. So I hope this helps heal. Final sentence is in a month.
@GreenScamWatch – mind sharing the details of the radio program and tech awards? Could you be more specific. I’d love to be everywhere he is and tell everyone he talks to about him. Share the info you have please.
I too have been informed that Perez sentencing is tomorrow Monday!
The district attorney has informed me that the sentencing hearing will be tomorrow, Monday, May 23,at 1:30PM, in Dept 29 at the downtown courthouse.
I see online it appears he is ramping up
and getting next to a new green radio program, a San Diego tech awards effort and more. Those of us here who know his M.O. can see he is using his new gig to tee up and create a new image with unsuspecting folks.
Yeves is going to be sentenced on May 23. I am (fairly sure) that the address is 330 W Broadway # 1100 San Diego, CA 92101-3827, in Department 29 at 1:30. If you want to write a letter to the court, make it out to Honorable Eugenia Eyherabide. You can email the letter to alaina.ybarra@sdcda.org, who is the District Attorney.
I think it is extremely important that anyone with a claim/grievance against Yeves should write a letter to the judge. It shows that his behavior is a pattern so that the judge will have all the evidence when he sentences him. Can we possibly make a new update on this site, so that more people can find out about this?
Where do we send the letter? What judge? I’ll be happy to.
Wanted to let everyone know that Yeves Perez will be going to court for sentencing on May 23. If you have any type of grievance against this awful person, please write a letter to the judge, it will show that he has a pattern of taking advantage of others.
PS. this a-hole called into “These Days” on KPBS two days ago to speak about sustainability. He is still out there trying to act like an authority!!!! Help spread the word on his dubious behavior.
Word around town is that the DA prosecuted and Perez pleaded guilty to felony grand theft. He will be sentenced in May.
Greetings,
I’ve seen this guy around and attended a few meetings for the Eco Investment Group. Always seemed like a scammer rambling on and on about all the great things that were happening and how friggin green he was and on the cutting edge of everything.
PALEASE – (not a typo). Seriously and then when the co working space thing launches he sends out a youtube video about all the incredible things that are happening which if you know anything about YEVES you know they are nothing but BS.
Stay away from creepy mc creepster and his green cronies.
Funny. I just was forwarded the link to this site by a colleague of mine who knows our frustration with Yeves.
We took him to court for an outstanding $3k invoice and he didn’t even bother to show, even though he was served the papers for the lawsuit right in front of everyone in his beloved venture. So by default, we also have a judgement against him too. I’d be happy to retell our story to anyone who wanted to hear it, and we’ll definitely be talking to the police and the attorney for the SASC considering they’re getting legal on him too.
I’d love to take this guy down and visit him in jail sometime, just to take a photo… although, he’d probably have an excuse as to why he couldn’t make it to the visitation.
Wow, I just stumbled onto this website, I wanted to see if the EIC was still failing. I’m very happy to see it it.
I too once worked for Yeves Perez. The guy is a total JERK.
At the beginning it was OK, and I got paid (just once). But after that he stopped paying me and demanded more work. I thought that the company was going through a hard time and decided to work a little more. He promised he would make it up to me. Then after a while I put my foot down and said I would not work any more until he paid me everything he owed me. At this point I met the REAL Yeves Perez. Since at that point his business was rather dependent on me things stated falling apart and he started sending me messages like the ones above, but he would always find an excuse or blame his failures on me.
I am glad to see this site up to warn others. And I know that there are quite a few people he ripped off. I know that I was not the only one working with him on the EIC who never got paid, and was treated like scum.
This guy is the biggest con artist, d bag I’ve had the pleasure of meeting. Watching him talk ad nauseum about absolutely nothing was somewhat entertaining. What was even more astounding was the amount of people who bought into his bull shit.
Sounds like this guy is a piece of work. Thanks for sharing your painful story. I wish you continued success in your business. You might think it was an expensive lesson, but if you can overcome it, you’ll be a safer entrepreneur after it. Take care.
Why would anyone loan any money to this guy?
Thats why in Accounting 101 you always have two people handle the money. 1 to do the books, and 1 to count it.
Also, he don’t even look trustworthy anyway. Try learning Chinese Face Reading