An employment background screening company that provides consumer reports to companies nationwide will pay $2.6 million to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act by failing to use reasonable procedures to assure the maximum possible accuracy of information it provided, failing to give consumers copies of their reports, and […]
Monthly Archives: August 2012
FTC Sends Refunds to Consumers Who Paid to Collect Bogus Prize Money, Tricked by Scammers Posing as Government Agencies
The Federal Trade Commission mailed 503 refund checks to consumers who were allegedly tricked into paying a fee to collect a fake multi-million-dollar sweepstakes prize. The FTC alleged that operators of the scam, collectively known as Prize Information Bureau, sent personalized mailers, some with fictitious government agency names and official-looking seals, to hundreds of thousands […]
FTC Approves Final Order Settling Charges that Johnson & Johnson’s Proposed Acquisition of Synthes, Inc. was Anticompetitive in Market for Treating Traumatic Wrist Injuries
Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final order settling charges that Johnson & Johnson’s proposed acquisition of Synthes, Inc. would have been anticompetitive in the market for surgical systems used to treat traumatic distal radius wrist fractures. The final FTC order resolving the charges requires Johnson & Johnson to […]
Refunds Stemming From Reebok’s Settlement With FTC Mailed to Consumers Who Bought EasyTone and RunTone Shoes and EasyTone Apparel
In connection with the Federal Trade Commission’s settlement with Reebok International Ltd, a settlement administrator is mailing approximately 315,000 checks to consumers who bought allegedly deceptively advertised toning shoes and apparel from the company. Ads for Reebok’s toning shoes claimed that sole technology featuring pockets of moving air creates “micro instability” that tones and strengthens […]
FTC Order Will Restore Competition for Adult Cardiology Services in Reno, Nevada
Renown Health, the largest provider of acute care hospital services in northern Nevada, will release its staff cardiologists from “non-compete” contract clauses, allowing up to 10 of them to join competing cardiology practices. Renown Health has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that its recent acquisitions of two local cardiology groups reduced competition for […]
Scammers Exploit the FTC’s Good Name, Promise Phony Sweepstakes Prizes
Someone who claims to work for the Federal Trade Commission calls to inform you that you have won a lottery or sweepstakes. To receive the prize, all you have to do is pay the taxes and insurance. The caller asks you to wire money or send a check for an amount between $1,000 and $10,000. […]
FTC Seeks Comments on Additional Proposed Revisions to Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule
The Federal Trade Commission is publishing a Federal Register Notice seeking public comments on additional proposed modifications to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule. In updating the Rule to keep current with technology advances, in September 2011, the FTC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment on proposed changes to the Commission’s COPPA Rule. […]