Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a modified final order settling charges that CoStar Group, Inc.’s $860 million acquisition of Loopnet would have been anticompetitive in the market for commercial real estate information services in the United States. The modified final order resolving the charges preserves competition that otherwise would […]
Monthly Archives: August 2012
FTC Warns Replacement Window Marketers to Review Marketing Materials; Energy Savings Claims Must Be Backed by Scientific Evidence
The Federal Trade Commission warned 14 window manufacturers and one window glass manufacturer that they may be making unsupported energy savings claims for replacement windows. The warning letters are part of an FTC effort to ensure that environmental marketing is truthful and based on solid scientific evidence. Each letter states that the FTC reviewed the […]
Ads Touting “Your Baby Can Read” Were Deceptive, FTC Complaint Alleges
As part of its ongoing efforts to stop over-hyped advertising claims, the Federal Trade Commission has filed false advertising charges against the marketers of Your Baby Can Read! – a program that was widely touted in infomercials and on the Internet. The program uses videos, flash cards, and pop-up books that supposedly teach children as […]
FTC Refunds $6 Million to Consumers Who Bought Deceptively Advertised Supplements that Were Supposed to Cause Weight Loss and Treat Erectile Dysfunction
The Federal Trade Commission is mailing 153,109 checks for $40.45 each to consumers who were deceived by supplement marketers National Urological Group and Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals. A federal district court ruled in favor of the FTC in 2008, ordering the defendants to provide money for refunds. The marketer made false advertising claims that two supposed weight-loss […]
FTC Sends Refunds to Consumers Harmed by Scheme Charged with Falsely Promising Federal Jobs
The Federal Trade Commission is mailing 1,897 refund checks to consumers who allegedly were deceived by false promises that they could get federal jobs if they paid for study materials or counseling services to help them pass an exam, even though often there were no exams or jobs. Under settlements reached in December 2010 and […]
California Man Previously Sued by FTC Is Indicted on Criminal Charges for Phony Debt Collection Scam
A federal grand jury has charged a Tracy, California-based man with 21 criminal counts of wire fraud and mail fraud for a fake debt collection scheme. The Federal Trade Commission previously filed civil charges against the man, Kirit Patel, and two companies he controlled, Broadway Global Master Inc. and In-Arabia Solutions Inc. The grand jury […]
FTC Extends Deadline to Comment on Proposed Modifications to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule Until September 24, 2012
The Federal Trade Commission will extend until September 24, 2012, the deadline for commenting on additional proposed modifications to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule, which gives parents control over what information websites and online services may collect from children under 13. On August 1, 2012, the Commission published a Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking […]
Marketers of ‘Ab Circle Pro’ Device to Pay as Much as $25 Million in Refunds to Settle FTC Charges
As part of its ongoing efforts to stop over-hyped health claims, the Federal Trade Commission has filed deceptive advertising charges against the marketers of the Ab Circle Pro – an abdominal exercise device – who promised consumers that exercising on the device for just three minutes a day would cause them to lose 10 pounds […]
At FTC’s Request, U.S. Court Hands Down Record $478 Million Judgment Against Marketers of Massive Get-Rich-Quick Infomercial Scams
At the request of the Federal Trade Commission, a U.S. district court ordered the marketers of three get-rich-quick systems, including “John Beck’s Free & Clear Real Estate System,” to pay a record $478 million for deceiving close to one million consumers with phony claims that they could make easy money using their programs. The Order […]
Consumers Asked DISH Network to Leave Them Alone, But FTC Says Calls Kept Coming
DISH Network, one of the nation’s largest providers of satellite television service, faces a Federal Trade Commission lawsuit alleging that it illegally called millions of consumers who had previously asked telemarketers from the company or its affiliates not to call them again. The calls allegedly violated provisions of the FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule that state […]