FTC Submits Comment on “Certified Sustainable Seafood” Label

The Federal Trade Commission, in response to a request for public comment from the Marine Stewardship Council, submitted a comment explaining factors the MSC should consider to ensure that its “Certified Sustainable Seafood” label complies with the FTC Act and the agency’s Environmental Marketing Guides, known as the “Green Guides.” As stated in the comment, […]

Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to Co-Host Roundtable on Data Integrity in Debt Collection

Life of a Debt: Data Integrity in Debt CollectionJune 6, 2013, at the Federal Trade Commission in Washington, D.C. 8:00-9:00 a.m. Registration 9:00-9:30 a.m. Welcoming RemarksJulie Brill, Commissioner, FTCSteven Antonakes, Acting Deputy Director, CFPB 9:30-10:10 a.m. Presentation: “Understanding the Model: The Life Cycle of a Debt”Presenter:  Bob Hunt, Vice President & Director, Payment Cards Center, […]

FTC Challenges Pinnacle Entertainments Proposed Acquisition of Rival Casino Operator Ameristar

The Federal Trade Commission challenged Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc.’s proposed $2.8 billion acquisition of rival casino operator Ameristar Casinos, Inc., alleging that the proposed deal would reduce competition and lead to higher prices and lower quality for customers in the St. Louis, Missouri and Lake Charles, Louisiana areas. The FTC issued an administrative complaint against the […]

FTC Announces Agenda, Panelists for Upcoming Mobile Security Forum

9:00    Opening Remarks   Edith Ramirez, Chairwoman, Federal Trade Commission 9:15 Overview   Steven M. Bellovin, Chief Technologist, Federal Trade Commission 9:25 Panel 1: Understanding Mobile Malware   Moderator: Emily Cope Burton, Staff Attorney, FTC Division of Marketing Practices   Panelists: Gareth Maclachlan, Chief Operating Officer, AdaptiveMobileDan Guido, Co-Founder and CEO, Trail of BitsOmar Khan, […]

FTC Warns Consumers: Charity Scams Often Follow Disasters

In the wake of the devastating Tornado that hit suburban Oklahoma City on Monday, the Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, reminds consumers that scams often follow disasters.  If you’re asked to make a charitable donation to help people in disaster-affected areas, before you give, be sure your donations are going to a […]

FTC Returns More than $700,000 to Victims of Operation that Allegedly Sold Bogus Health Insurance

The Federal Trade Commission is mailing 412 refund checks totaling more than $700,000 to consumers who were victimized by a telemarketing operation that allegedly tricked them into buying bogus health insurance.      In August 2010, the FTC and the Tennessee Attorney General sued United States Benefits, LLC, and its principals, Timothy Thomas and Kennan Dozier in […]

FTC Approves Universal Health Services, Inc.’s Application to Divest Peak Behavioral Assets to Strategic Behavioral Health, LLC

The Federal Trade Commission approved an application by Alan B. Miller and the hospital management company Universal Health Services, Inc. to sell an acute inpatient psychiatric facility in the El Paso, Texas/Santa Teresa, New Mexico area to Strategic Behavioral Health, LLC.The FTC required UHS to sell the facility, called Peak Behavorial Health, LLC, in an […]

FTC Seeks Public Comment on Proposal to Ban Payment Methods Favored in Fraudulent Telemarketing Transactions

In an ongoing effort to protect consumers from deceptive telemarketing, the Federal Trade Commission seeks public comment on proposed amendments to strengthen the Telemarketing Sales Rule’s protections against bogus charges and services.    The Commission’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking announced today would curtail the use of four payment methods favored by con artists and scammers.  […]

FTC Releases Reports on 2011 Cigarette and Smokeless Tobacco Advertising and Promotion

The amount spent on cigarette advertising and promotion by the largest cigarette companies in the United States rose from $8.05 billion in 2010 to $8.37 billion in 2011, due mainly to an increase in spending on price discounts, or discounts paid to cigarette retailers or wholesalers in order to reduce the price of cigarettes to […]

FTC Announces Schedule for Reviewing Regulations (2013)

As part of the Federal Trade Commission’s systematic review of all current FTC rules and guides, the agency is announcing a modified 10-year regulatory review schedule.  To ensure that its rules and industry guides stay relevant and are not overly burdensome, the Commission reviews them on a 10-year schedule.  The review schedule is published each […]