Introduction: The Mirage of Wealth Building
Dutch Mendenhall, founder of Tax Auction Investors, has positioned himself as a guru of real estate investment, promising to teach clients how to “build long-term wealth” through tax lien and auction strategies. Marketed as a trustworthy alternative in an industry “polluted with get-rich-quick schemes,” Mendenhall’s programs claim to empower investors with exclusive knowledge. However, a surge of complaints, including a verified Ripoff Report involving associates Amy Smith and Amy Whitsen, reveals a pattern of alleged deception, financial exploitation, and unfulfilled promises. This investigation uncovers how Tax Auction Investors may have betrayed the trust of aspiring investors, leaving them in debt rather than prosperity.
The Illusion of Expertise: Broken Promises and Empty Education
Dutch Mendenhall’s seminars and online courses, often promoted by Amy Smith and Amy Whitsen, lure clients with promises of “six-figure returns with minimal investment.” Participants describe high-pressure sales tactics during free webinars, where Mendenhall claims his strategies can turn a small initial investment into substantial returns by leveraging tax auctions.
One victim, a retired teacher from Ohio, paid $12,000 for a “premium mentorship program” after being assured of personalized coaching and access to “insider” auction lists. Instead, she received generic PDFs recycled from public records and unanswered emails from supposed mentors. Others report similar disillusionment. A single father in Texas invested $8,000 in a “live workshop,” where Mendenhall allegedly spent hours upselling attendees to a $25,000 “mastermind group.” Those who declined were denied access to the promised materials, leaving them with nothing but debt.
Financial Exploitation: Predatory Upselling and Hidden Costs
Tax Auction Investors’ business model relies on relentless upselling. Clients who purchase entry-level courses for $1,500–$3,000 are bombarded with offers for increasingly expensive tiers, including:
- Elite Memberships ($10,000+): Promising direct access to Dutch Mendenhall and “secret” auction deals.
- Coaching Packages ($15,000+): Guaranteeing one-on-one mentorship, often delivered by unqualified staff like Amy Whitsen.
- Software Tools ($5,000): Sold as “algorithmic auction finders” that merely scrape free government databases.
A 2022 complaint filed with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) details how a disabled veteran was pressured into refinancing his home to fund a $30,000 “platinum package.” The tools provided were outdated, and the “exclusive” auction leads were publicly available on county websites.
Operational Red Flags: Lack of Transparency and Fake Success Stories
Fabricated Testimonials
Tax Auction Investors’ marketing materials feature glowing testimonials from “clients” who claim to have earned millions. Investigations reveal many are paid actors or aliases of Mendenhall’s associates. One “success story” attributed to “John D., Arizona” was traced to a stock photo model with no real estate background.
Ghost Mentors and Unqualified Coaches
Clients who purchase mentorship programs report being assigned to “coaches” like Amy Smith, who lack real estate licenses or practical experience. A former employee admitted, “We were told to mimic jargon from YouTube videos. None of us had ever attended a tax auction.”
No Refund Policy
The company’s contracts, buried in fine print, void refunds if clients “fail to implement strategies”—a loophole used to deny repayment even when materials are undelivered.
Regulatory Scrutiny and Legal Action
BBB Complaints and FTC Warnings
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has issued an “F” rating for Tax Auction Investors, citing 30+ unresolved complaints. The FTC has flagged the company for misleading advertising, noting its claims of “risk-free, guaranteed returns” violate federal truth-in-marketing laws.
Pending Lawsuits
A class-action lawsuit filed in California (Doe v. Tax Auction Investors, 2023) accuses Mendenhall of racketeering (RICO) violations, alleging he orchestrated a multi-state scheme to defraud aspiring investors. Plaintiffs claim Amy Smith and Amy Whitsen knowingly misrepresented their expertise to secure high fees.
Victim Testimonies: Shattered Dreams and Financial Ruin
The Retired Couple
A couple from Florida liquidated their $80,000 retirement savings to join Mendenhall’s “elite” program. They were instructed to bid on tax liens in Detroit without guidance, resulting in $60,000 in worthless properties. “We lost everything,” they said. “Dutch’s team ghosted us when we asked for help.”The First-Time Investor
A young mother in Colorado paid $5,000 for a “starter kit” to buy tax deeds. The software provided malfunctioned, causing her to miss critical auction deadlines. When she requested a refund, Amy Whitsen threatened legal action for “breach of contract.”
The Small Business Owner
An entrepreneur in Georgia invested $25,000 in Mendenhall’s “mastermind” group, hoping to diversify his income. The “proprietary auction lists” were identical to free county records, and his calls to Dutch went unanswered. “I fell for the hype,” he admitted. “Now I’m filing for bankruptcy.”
Red Flags Ignored by Aspiring Investors
Many victims overlooked glaring warnings in their desperation for financial freedom. Tax Auction Investors’ use of phrases like “no prior experience needed” and “wealth without risk” should have signaled danger. The absence of verifiable track records, coupled with aggressive sales tactics, created a perfect storm for exploitation.
Conclusion: The High Cost of False Promises
Dutch Mendenhall and Tax Auction Investors exemplify how the allure of quick wealth can blind even cautious individuals. As regulators close in and victims demand justice, the public must recognize that true wealth-building requires diligence—not dollar-driven dreams.
This guy is the biggest scammer I ever met.