Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final consent order with AmeriFreight, an automobile shipment broker, which stops the company from touting its highly rated online reviews while failing to disclose that the company compensated consumers to write them. According to the FTC’s February 2015 complaint, AmeriFreight represented that its […]
Monthly Archives: April 2015
Cardinal Health Agrees to Pay $26.8 Million to Settle Charges It Monopolized 25 Markets for the Sale of Radiopharmaceuticals to Hospitals and Clinics
In its latest action to ensure competition in the nation’s healthcare markets, the FTC announced that Cardinal Health, Inc. has agreed to resolve charges that it illegally monopolized 25 local markets for the sale and distribution of low-energy radiopharmaceuticals and forced hospitals and clinics to pay inflated prices for these drugs. The proposed stipulated order […]
FDIC Announces Phase II of the Youth Savings Pilot Program
FIL-18-2015 April 20, 2015 FDIC Announces Phase II of the Youth Savings Pilot Program Summary: FDIC-insured institutions are invited to apply to participate in Phase II of the FDIC’s Youth Savings Pilot Program, which seeks to identify and highlight promising approaches to offering financial education tied to the opening of safe, low-cost savings accounts […]
Federal Appeals Court Upholds FTC Order that Found McWane, Inc. Unlawfully Maintained Monopoly in Domestic Pipe Fittings
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit upheld a Federal Trade Commission Decision and Order finding that McWane, Inc., the largest U.S. supplier of ductile iron pipe fittings used in municipal and regional water distribution systems, unlawfully maintained its monopoly in the domestic fittings market through exclusionary conduct. “The Eleventh Circuit’s decision affirms […]
FTC To Examine Competition, Consumer Protection, and Economic Issues Raised by the Sharing Economy at June Workshop
On June 9, 2015, the Federal Trade Commission will host a workshop to examine competition, consumer protection, and economic issues raised by the proliferation of online and mobile peer-to peer business platforms in certain sectors of the economy, often referred to as the “sharing economy.” The workshop will take place in Washington, D.C., at the […]
Industry Call Regarding Guidance on Identifying, Accepting, and Reporting Brokered Deposits
FIL-17-2015 April 17, 2015 Revised April 21, 2015 Industry Call Regarding Guidance on Identifying, Accepting, and Reporting Brokered Deposits This FIL was updated on April 21, 2015, to include a new call-in number and passcode. Summary: The FDIC is hosting an informational call for FDIC-insured institutions on April 22, 2015, at 1:00 p.m. EDT […]
Industry Call Regarding Guidance on Identifying, Accepting, and Reporting Brokered Deposits
FIL-17-2015 April 17, 2015 Revised April 21, 2015 Industry Call Regarding Guidance on Identifying, Accepting, and Reporting Brokered Deposits This FIL was updated on April 21, 2015, to include a new call-in number and passcode. Summary: The FDIC is hosting an informational call for FDIC-insured institutions on April 22, 2015, at 1:00 p.m. EDT […]
FTC Chairwoman Releases 2014 Annual Highlights
Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Edith Ramirez released the agency’s 2014 Annual Highlights today, emphasizing the agency’s work to protect consumers and promote competition during the past calendar year. “With over 150 law enforcement actions taken and $640 million in consumer redress ordered, we marked the FTC’s centennial year with vigorous efforts to protect consumers and […]
FTC Testifies on Identity Theft, IRS Imposter Scams Before Senate Special Committee on Aging
In testimony before Congress today, the Federal Trade Commission detailed the agency’s ongoing education and outreach efforts to combat identity theft, including tax identity theft and Internal Revenue Service imposter scams. “Millions of consumers are victimized by identity thieves each year, collectively costing consumers and businesses billions of dollars and countless hours to repair the […]
FTC Approves Final Order Barring Misleading Claims about App’s Ability to Diagnose or Assess the Risk of Melanoma
Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final consent order barring Health Discovery Corporation from making deceptive or unsupported claims that its app, MelApp, could help diagnose or assess consumers’ melanoma risk. According to the FTC’s February 2015 complaint, MelApp instructed users to photograph a mole with a smartphone camera […]