FTC Provides Comment to Federal Communications Commission on Consumer Privacy and Data Security Issues and Broadband Internet Services

In a comment filed Friday with the Federal Communications Commission, the Federal Trade Commission provided information on its enforcement, policy and education work related to consumer privacy and data security as applied to residential broadband Internet services. The Commission comment highlights FTC efforts to promote consumer privacy and data security through rigorous enforcement of the […]

FTC Sends More Than $4.4 Million in Refunds to Consumers Harmed by Business Coaching Scam

The Federal Trade Commission is mailing more than $4.4 million in refund checks to 2,004 consumers harmed by the Ivy Capital business “coaching” scheme, which falsely claimed that it would help them develop their own Internet businesses. Ivy Capital Inc. and 29 co-defendants allegedly took more than $130 million from people who paid thousands of […]

FTC Mails More Than 400,000 Claim Forms to Possible Victims of Alleged LeanSpa Scam

The Federal Trade Commission, through an administrator, is mailing 449,044 claim forms to consumers who may have lost money after buying LeanSpa, a supplement whose marketers allegedly made deceptive weight loss claims. The claim forms are intended to help determine which consumers are eligible for refunds. The FTC and the state of Connecticut sued the […]

FTC Action Halts Online High School Diploma Mill That Made $11 Million Selling Worthless Diplomas to Students

At the Federal Trade Commission’s request, a U.S. district court in Florida has temporarily halted a diploma mill that allegedly grossed more than $11 million from marketing and selling fake high school diplomas online to consumers nationwide. The court imposed a temporary restraining order to halt the business operations of Diversified Educational Resources, LLC (DER), […]

FTC Approves Four SCI Applications to Divest Funeral and Cemetery Assets in Georgia and Tennessee

Following public comment periods, the Federal Trade Commission has approved four applications by Service Corporation International (SCI) to divest certain funeral and cemetery assets, as required under the FTC’s May 2014 order settling charges that SCI’s acquisition of Stewart Enterprises, Inc. would be anticompetitive.  In total, the order requires the combined SCI/Stewart to divest 53 […]

FTC Approves Final Order Preserving Future Competition in Generic Injectable Tuberculosis Drug Market

Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final order settling charges that Akorn, Inc.’s acquisition of VersaPharm Inc. and its parent company, VPI Holdings Corp., would have likely been anticompetitive. Under the order, first announced in August 2014, Akorn is required to divest its Abbreviated New Drug Application for generic […]

Marketers of the Pro-Form ab GLIDER™ Agree to Pay $3 Million in Civil Penalties for Violating 1997 FTC Order Prohibiting Deceptive Weight Loss Claims

ICON Health & Fitness, Inc. (ICON) and its related entities have agreed to pay $3 million in civil penalties to settle FTC charges that the companies violated the Commission’s 1997 consent order by advertising that use of their exercise equipment for just three minutes a day would result in significant weight loss. “The FTC is […]

FTC Sends More Than $1.79 Million in Refunds to Consumers Defrauded by AmeriDebt Scam

The Federal Trade Commission is mailing $1,792,759 in refund checks to 60,813 consumers allegedly defrauded by a credit counseling/debt management scam run by Andris Pukke and his companies, AmeriDebt Inc. and DebtWorks, Inc. The defendants allegedly deceived consumers about their fees, misrepresented that AmeriDebt was a non-profit, and falsely promised to teach consumers how to […]

Yelp, TinyCo Settle FTC Charges Their Apps Improperly Collected Children’s Personal Information

Online review site Yelp, Inc., and mobile app developer TinyCo, Inc., agreed to settle separate Federal Trade Commission charges that they improperly collected children’s information in violation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, or COPPA, Rule. Under the terms of the settlements, Yelp will pay a $450,000 civil penalty, while TinyCo will pay a […]

FTC Approves Final Order Settling Charges that Company’s Head Lice Protection Claims Were Deceptive

Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final order settling charges that personal care company Lornamead, Inc. deceived consumers with exaggerated claims that its “Lice Shield” shampoo, stick, and spray products will prevent or reduce the risk of getting head lice. According to the FTC’s complaint, Lornamead claimed in print […]