The Federal Trade Commission has obtained a settlement against the remaining defendants in an allegedly fraudulent mortgage modification scheme that will permanently ban them from the mortgage assistance business and force them to return ill-gotten gains to consumers. The settlement with Michael Kwasnik and his law firm is part of the FTC’s ongoing crackdown on […]
Monthly Archives: November 2011
FTC to Hold Third Roundtable to Address Consumer Issues in Motor Vehicle Sales, Financing and Leasing
Media Advisory November 16, 2011 On Thursday, the Federal Trade Commission will host the third in a series of roundtables around the country to gather information on consumers’ experiences in the leasing of motor vehicles at dealerships. The roundtable also will address what has been learned about auto sales, financing and leasing at all of […]
FTC to Hold Public Hearing on Fur Products Name Guide
The Federal Trade Commission will hold a public hearing on December 6, 2011, to obtain input on whether to amend the agency’s Name Guide that lists the common animal names that are allowed on fur labels. The hearing is part of a review of the Name Guide required by Congress under the Truth in Fur […]
Statement of Jon Leibowitz, Nomination for a Second Term as Commissioner, Federal Trade Commission
Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz delivered the following statement at a hearing today before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation to consider his nomination for a second term on the Commission: “Chairman Rockefeller, Ranking Member Hutchison, Members of the Committee:I am pleased to appear before you with Maureen Ohlhausen, a former FTC […]
FTC Welcomes a New Privacy System for the Movement of Consumer Data Between the United States and Other Economies in the Asia-Pacific Region
The Federal Trade Commission welcomed the approval by the forum on Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) of a new initiative to harmonize cross-border data privacy protection among members of APEC. The initiative is designed to enhance the protection of consumer data that moves between the United States and other APEC members, at a time when more […]
FTC Wins $29.8 Million Judgment in Bogus Government Grant Case
The Federal Trade Commission has won a $29.8 million judgment against the remaining defendants behind a deceptive marketing operation known as Grant Connect. The court’s order also permanently bans the defendants from promoting a variety of products and services similar to those they deceptively pitched to consumers around the country. The FTC charged the defendants […]
FTC Seeks Public Comment on Universal Health Services’ Application to Sell Las Vegas Psychiatric Facilities
Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) is seeking the approval of the Federal Trade Commission to sell its Las Vegas psychiatric facilities, including Montevista Hospital and Red Rock Behavioral Health Hospital, to Strategic Behavioral Health, LLC. UHS is required to sell the assets under an FTC order settling charges that its 2010 acquisition of Psychiatric Solutions, […]
FTC-Initiated Case Results in Contempt Order Against ‘Scam Recovery’ Kit Promoters
A federal judge has found a telemarketer and his company in contempt for violating a court order barring them from charging consumers in advance for a service that purportedly would help consumers recover money they lost in previous telemarketing scams. The contempt order stems from an action the FTC initiated in March 2011 as part […]
Operator of Social Networking Website for Kids Settles FTC Charges Site Collected Kids Personal Information Without Parental Consent
The operator of www.skidekids.com, a website that advertises itself as the “Facebook and Myspace for Kids,” has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that he collected personally information from approximately 5,600 children without obtaining prior parental consent, in violation of the Commission’s Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (“COPPA”) Rule. The FTC’s complaint also charges […]
Online Advertiser Settles FTC Charges ScanScout Deceptively Used Flash Cookies to Track Consumers Online
Online advertiser ScanScout has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it deceptively claimed that consumers could opt out of receiving targeted ads by changing their computer’s web browser settings to block cookies. In fact, ScanScout used Flash cookies, which browser settings could not block. The proposed settlement bars misrepresentations about the company’s data-collection […]