At first glance, Ethan Duran appeared to be the kind of person social media was designed for: he was always surrounded by shiny sports vehicles, persistently fashionable, and driven. His writings, which were usually flawless, provided an alluring plan for escaping the 9–5 trap, building a personal brand, and renting expensive cars.
These vehicles now seem to be parked in the shadow of something much less picturesque: an expanding number of lawsuits alleging unpaid payments, unfulfilled promises, and incredibly inept mentorships cloaked in glamour.
A number of lawsuits that are dispersed around Florida and New York are building up to Duran’s name like a front of intense pressure. CPS Fee Company III LLC v. Ethan Gabriel Duran is the most well-known of these; it concerns $22,750 in overdue rent for a penthouse apartment in a building as svelte as his films with Lamborghini themes. However, the rent case is only the beginning.
When you look more closely, you discover investor complaints with much more significant ramifications. Alex Costa named Duran along with two Florida corporate organizations in a July 2025 commercial contract lawsuit filed in New York County. A breach of oral contract, misappropriation of investor funds, and an especially aggressive onboarding campaign for clients—many of whom thought they were joining high-value partnerships after learning they were bound into ambiguous deliverables and nearly hard return procedures—are all detailed in the lawsuit.
Ethan Duran – Profile Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ethan Duran |
| Known For | Exotic car rental business, social-media influencer ventures |
| Legal Status | Defendant in multiple lawsuits alleging fraud, breach of contract and unpaid judgments |
| Known Suits | Alex Costa vs Ethan Duran (July 7 2025), Victor Lavant vs Ethan Duran et al. (Case No. 2024-019795-CA-01) |
| Alleged Liabilities | Sums ranging from $180,000 to $735,000 plus asset seizures |
| Reference Site | ethanduranscam.com |
This was not your normal startup failure. Duran’s pitch combined authority and aspiration. He presented himself as someone who had cracked a code and was providing the solution, although at a high cost, through strategically placed social media postings and slick promotional material.
Additional financial strains are evident in Miami-Dade County public records. Victor Lavant is at the core of one instance, which involves $50,000 in refund requests, while Brandon Medford, another luxury rental businessman who has occasionally seen with Duran, is connected to another demand of $108,000. Arbitration agreements, inconsistent language, and marketing that exaggerated what clients could actually accomplish are also included in the filing.
Missed payments are not the only issue in these circumstances. They portray something more disturbing: a betrayal of confidence that seems more intimate when promoted with a mentorial tone and the promise of immediate success.
Now under fire for providing little more than PDFs, pre-recorded webinars, and inspirational soundbites, Duran’s Exotic Car Rental Academy made promises of insider leasing models and fast-track business tactics. The products, according to a number of litigants, are “copy-pasted playbooks” with little operational assistance, which is especially hilarious for a business model that depends on driving.
The term “luxury-laced investment traps,” which first appeared in a client’s legal case and swiftly gained traction on internet forums, is at the center of it all. Although the terms lack a legal definition, they have resonance. They depict the emotional roller coaster that occurs when you think you’ve entered elite circles only to discover you’ve entered a masterfully branded diversion.
Before even establishing a clientele, one investor recounted being persuaded to sign a car lease. Another said that there were no resources for follow-up and that their onboarding conversation lasted less than five minutes. Responses apparently slowed or stopped completely when refund demands started.
Duran is still defended by some. His most loyal fans claim on social media that the critics just didn’t use the tactics. The phrase “blame the student, not the teacher” is frequently used in digital coaching circles. However, court documents indicate that there may be more involved, including contradictory program rules that change suddenly, unfulfilled reimbursements, and missing documentation.
I once found one of his advertising films late at night and scrolled through it, half watching. With his eyes fixed on the camera, he stood next to a Ferrari, the wind cutting through his jacket. The pitch was unrelenting and aggressive, a call to rise above mediocrity. Now, that video seems strangely eerie.
Over three lawsuits had emerged by the end of 2025, and rumors of others started to circulate in Telegram groups where former customers shared screenshots and horror stories about their refunds. According to one thread, Duran’s staff pressured signups with psychological urgency—limited spots, early bird pricing, “this changes everything” promises, etc. Another claimed that most people gave up before formally complaining since the reimbursement procedure was so complicated.
The legal proceedings are still ongoing, and Duran has yet to provide a thorough public statement. Despite being slightly muted, his digital imprint is still active. There are now more introspection and less declarations. Though they now dwell in the dark shadow of ongoing litigation, inspirational messages are being made.
The extent to which this tension manifests itself on fantasy-focused platforms is particularly noteworthy. When the product is an image, any change to that image feels unstable. The lawsuits have broken the illusion, substituting court dockets and PDF exhibits for Lamborghini selfies.
The Ethan Duran lawsuit serves as a warning about the conflict between influencer marketing and actual accountability, not just about one particular business owner. Flash by itself is not a defense against contract violations. Arbitration clauses cannot be overridden by a blue checkmark. Additionally, if more investor-mentorship initiatives are examined, the legal system might change to accommodate this hybrid environment.
Optimism is still possible in this situation, especially for those who gain knowledge from it. Future business owners are posing more intelligent queries. Influencers that provide business advice should start to more thoroughly record their procedures. Policies regarding refunds will probably change. And hopefully, customers will start to view mentorship as an investment that is worth investigating and evaluating, just like any other.
