FTC Issues The FY 2011 National Do Not Call Registry Data Book; Nearly 210 Million Phone Numbers on Do Not Call List

The Federal Trade Commission today issued the National Do Not Call Registry Data Book for Fiscal Year 2011. The FTC’s National Do Not Call Registry provides consumers with an easy way to stop unwanted telemarketing calls. In its third year of publication, the Data Book contains a wealth of information about the Registry for FY […]

Facebook Settles FTC Charges That It Deceived Consumers By Failing To Keep Privacy Promises

The social networking service Facebook has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it deceived consumers by telling them they could keep their information on Facebook private, and then repeatedly allowing it to be shared and made public. The proposed settlement requires Facebook to take several steps to make sure it lives up to […]

FTC Seeks Second Round of Public Comments for Follow-up Study of Alcohol Industry’s Voluntary Guidelines for Reducing Advertising and Marketing to Underage Audiences

The Federal Trade Commission is seeking public comments on a proposal to require information from alcoholic beverage manufacturers for a follow-up study of the self-regulatory efforts of the alcoholic beverage industry.  The information collected will be used in the FTC’s fourth major report on the effectiveness of voluntary industry guidelines for reducing advertising and marketing […]

Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice Meet With Chinese Ministry of Commerce on Merger Enforcement Matters

Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz and Acting Assistant Attorney General Sharis Pozen of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division today met with a delegation from China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) to discuss antitrust merger enforcement. The delegation was led by China International Trade Representative and MOFCOM Vice Minister Gao Hucheng. MOFCOM is responsible for […]

FTC to Host Media Call-in to Field Questions About Privacy Settlement

WHAT: Telephone press conference for media members Reporters who wish to participate can dial 1-800-288-9626 in the U.S., and 612-332-0107 for international calls.   The confirmation number is 226657 and the host is Bruce Jennings.  This call is for reporters only, and FTC staff will be taking questions only from only members of the media. WHO: […]

FTC Sending Refunds to Victims of Debt Management Services Company That Violated Prior Court Order

This week the Federal Trade Commission is mailing refund checks to more than 2,900 consumers nationwide who were victims of a company that allegedly pitched worthless debt management services, and later was found in contempt for violating a court order barring its illegal activities. Consumers who were victims of the prohibited conduct will receive a […]

FTC Requires Three Internet Marketers to Stop Selling “Circle” Cosmetic Contact Lenses without Prescriptions as Part of Settlement

Three Internet marketers of cosmetic, “circle” contact lenses have agreed to resolve Federal Trade Commission charges by entering into settlements that will put a stop to their alleged illegal practice of selling lenses to consumers without prescriptions. Circle lenses are a type of decorative contact lens that covers not just the iris of the eye, […]

FTC Staff: Maine Dental Board’s Proposed Rules Could Undermine Pilot Project to Expand Access to Dental Care in Underserved Areas

Federal Trade Commission staff, in comments to the Maine Board of Dental Examiners, stated that dental hygienist rules proposed by the Board, designed to implement a pilot project to test expanded access to dental care in underserved areas of Maine, contain restrictions that could undermine the project’s purpose and deny consumers the benefits of competition […]

FTC Charges Telemarketers with Enabling Illegal Robocalling

As part of its ongoing efforts to crack down on illegal pre-recorded robocalls, the Federal Trade Commission is taking action against an operation that allegedly helped clients make illegal robocalls, call phone numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry, and mask Caller ID information, in violation of the FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule. This conduct […]

FTC Sends Refunds to Consumers Defrauded by Counterfeit Check and Prize Scam

The Federal Trade Commission is mailing hundreds of refund checks to consumers who were defrauded by an operation that allegedly sent them counterfeit cashier’s checks and made false promises of large cash prizes. According to the FTC’s complaint, the defendants – Canadian companies Cash Corner Services, Inc., Family Choice Store, Inc., and their principals — […]