FTC Returns Refunds to Small Businesses Defrauded in Debit/Credit Card Processing Scheme

The Federal Trade Commission is mailing refunds to 100 merchants throughout the country who were defrauded by an operation that provided debit and credit card processing services. The FTC alleged that Aaron Lee Rian, Karely McCarthy, aka Karly Speelman, Merchant Processing Inc., Direct Merchant Processing Inc., Vequity Financial Group Inc., and PPI Services Inc. falsely […]

At FTC’s Request, Court Orders Debt Collector to Stop Deceiving Clients and Abusing Consumers

At the request of the Federal Trade Commission, a U.S. district court has halted an operation that allegedly subjected consumers to abusive debt-collection practices and deceived the small-business clients for whom it collects.  The order also freezes the operation’s assets and appoints a permanent receiver to run it while the FTC moves forward with the […]

FTC Unveils Educational Materials for Small Businesses Explaining New Electronic Payment Rules

Provisions Take Effect Oct. 1, Will Lower Some Merchants Costs For Release September 30, 2011 For businesses that accept payment by credit or debit card, some new rules of the road are going into effect on October 1 that may help lower their cost of doing business. The Federal Trade Commission, one of the federal […]

FTC Seeks Public Comment on BASFs application to extend manufacturing agreement related to 2009 Acquisition of Ciba

The Federal Trade Commission is seeking public comment on an application by global chemical company BASF SE to extend a manufacturing agreement, entered into in compliance with a 2009 settlement order, which imposed certain requirements on BASF’s acquisition of rival Ciba Holding, Inc. BASF is requesting FTC approval to extend an agreement with Dominion Colour […]

FTC Settlement Bans Alleged Spammer from Sending Unsolicited Text Messages

An operator who allegedly sent millions of illegal spam text messages to consumers is banned from sending any unsolicited text messages, under a settlement agreement with the Federal Trade Commission entered by a federal court. According to the FTC complaint filed in February 2011, the marketer sent a “mind-boggling” number of unsolicited commercial text messages […]

Reebok to Pay $25 Million in Customer Refunds To Settle FTC Charges of Deceptive Advertising of EasyTone and RunTone Shoes

In its ongoing effort to stem overhyped advertising claims, the Federal Trade Commission announced that Reebok International Ltd. has agreed to resolve charges that the company deceptively advertised “toning shoes,” which it claimed would provide extra tone and strength to leg and buttock muscles. Reebok will pay $25 million as part of the settlement agreement.  […]

FTC Approves 90-Day Extension for Trustee in Tops Markets Matter to Sell Former Penn Traffic Supermarket in Bath, New York

The Federal Trade Commission has approved a divestiture trustee’s request for a 90-day extension of the deadline for selling a former Penn Traffic supermarket in Bath, New York. Tops Markets is required to divest the Bath store following its acquisition of Penn Traffic last year. Tops is required to divest a total of seven supermarkets […]

Universal Health Services Withdraws Application to Sell Las Vegas Psychiatric Facilities

Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) has withdrawn its application seeking Federal Trade Commission approval to sell its Las Vegas psychiatric facilities, including Montevista Hospital and Red Rock Behavioral Health Hospital, to Dr. Soon Kim through Signature Health Services, LLC, which does business as Aurora Behavioral Healthcare. UHS continues to be required to sell the Las […]

FTC Asks Court To Halt Defendant from Impersonating Federal Agencies While Steering Consumers to Mortgage, Tax, and Debt Relief Services

The Federal Trade Commission has filed a complaint in U.S. District Court to halt the misleading claims of a defendant who allegedly deceived consumers by using multiple websites to impersonate federal consumer assistance agencies or pretend to be affiliated with them.  Through the websites, the defendant solicited indebted consumers and referred them to companies selling […]

FTC Stops Online Marketing Scheme That Allegedly Scammed Consumers Out of Hundreds of Millions of Dollars Using ‘Free’ Trial Offers

At the Federal Trade Commission’s request, a federal court halted an online operation that allegedly took in more than $450 million from consumers in the United States and several other countries, and froze the alleged ringleader’s assets, pending trial. The scheme allegedly lured consumers into “free” or “risk-free” offers for weight-loss pills and tooth whiteners, […]