The Federal Trade Commission will host a workshop on December 4, 2013 in Washington, DC to examine the practice of blending advertisements with news, entertainment, and other content in digital media, referred to as “native advertising” or “sponsored content.” Increasingly, advertisements that more closely resemble the content in which they are embedded are replacing banner […]
Monthly Archives: September 2013
FTC Cracks Down On Bogus Medical Discount Scam Targeting Seniors
The Federal Trade Commission has moved to shut down a medical discount scheme that scammed seniors across the country by offering phony discounts on prescription drugs and pretending to be affiliated with Medicare, Social Security, or medical insurance providers. In a complaint filed against the operators of the scam in the United States and Canada, […]
FTC Seeks Public Comment on kidSAFE’s Proposed Safe Harbor Program Under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule
The Federal Trade Commission is seeking public comment on a proposed safe harbor program that the kidSAFE Seal Program has submitted for Commission approval under the agency’s Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule. The Rule includes a “safe harbor” provision designed to encourage increased industry self-regulation in this area. Under this provision, industry groups and others […]
FTC Proposes Changes to Wool Products Labeling Rules
The Federal Trade Commission is seeking public comment on proposed changes to its Wool Products Labeling Rules as part of its systematic review of all current FTC rules and guides. The Wool Products Labeling Rules require that labels on wool products disclose the manufacturer’s or marketer’s name, the country where the product was processed or […]
Deceptive Robocallers Permanently Shut Down In FTC Settlements
The Federal Trade Commission has continued its crackdown on illegal robocallers, with two more companies agreeing to settle charges that they used prerecorded calls to trick consumers into deceptive credit card interest rate reduction scams. Under separate proposed settlements, the defendants behind Treasure Your Success and Ambrosia Web Design will be banned from telemarketing and […]
FTC Puts Conditions on Honeywell’s Acquisition of Scan Engine Manufacturer Intermec
The Federal Trade Commission will require Honeywell International Inc. to license patents critical to the manufacture of two-dimensional (2D) bar code scanners, under a settlement resolving FTC charges that Honeywell’s acquisition of rival scan engine manufacturer Intermec Inc. would be anticompetitive. The proposed FTC consent order preserves competition in the market for 2D scan engines […]
FTC Sends Refund Checks to Consumers Who Bought Dietary Supplements
An administrator working for the Federal Trade Commission is mailing 2,546 checks averaging $71.71 each to consumers who bought Accelis, nanoSLIM, and any Cold MD, Germ MD, or Allergy MD dietary supplements between January 2006 and July 2010. The FTC charged Iovate Health Sciences U.S.A. and two affiliated Canadian companies with deceptively advertising that their […]
FTC Shuts Down Fraudulent Debt Relief Operation
The defendants behind an alleged credit card interest rate reduction scam are banned from selling debt relief services and from telemarketing any goods or services. A federal court judge in Florida approved and signed a stipulated order against Innovative Wealth Builders, Inc., (IWB) and its three Florida-based principals: Carly Janene Pelland (also known as Carly […]
FTC Settlement Bans Defendants from Engaging in Debt Collection and Interest Rate Reduction Schemes
Under settlements with the Federal Trade Commission, the defendants in two Tampa, Florida-area operations that allegedly bilked consumers of millions of dollars are banned from providing various types of financial services used in their schemes. In the spring of 2012, at the request of the FTC, a court shut down the two operations. According to […]
FTC Seeks Public Comment on Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc.’s Application to Divest Ameristar Casinos, Inc.’s Assets in Lake Charles, Louisiana to GNLC Holdings, Inc.
The Federal Trade Commission is seeking public comment on an application by Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. for approval to divest Ameristar Casinos, Inc.’s casino and hotel project under construction in Lake Charles, Louisiana to GNLC Holdings, Inc. In a proposed order, the FTC requires Pinnacle to divest these assets to a Commission-approved buyer to resolve charges […]