FTC Brings Two Actions Against Operators of Online ‘High Schools’

The Federal Trade Commission has filed charges against two operators of online “high schools” that claim to be legitimate but are alleged to be little more than diploma mills charging anywhere from $135 to $349 for a worthless certificate. In its federal court complaints, the FTC alleges that these two separate operations mislead consumers about […]

FTC Approves Final Order Preserving Competition in Three Pennsylvania Terminal Markets for Light Petroleum Products

Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final order settling charges that energy investor ArcLight Energy Partners Fund VI, L.P.’s acquisition of Gulf Oil Limited Partnership from its parent company, Cumberland Farms, Inc., would likely be anticompetitive. Under the order, first announced in December 2015, ArcLight and Gulf are required […]

FTC Announces Schedule for Reviewing Regulations

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 FTC reviews them on a 10-year schedule. The review schedule is published each […]

FTC Submits Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Request, Performance Plan, and Fiscal Year 2015 Performance Report to Congress

The Federal Trade Commission has submitted to Congress its Fiscal Year 2017 budget request, which includes the FY 2017 Budget Overview Statement, Performance Plan for FY 2016 and FY 2017, and Performance Report for FY 2015, as required under the Government Performance and Results and Modernization Act of 2010. The FTC’s formal budget request was […]

Court Settlement Bars Weight-Loss Pill Merchants from Deceptive Conduct

A Glendale, California-based operation known as Sale Slash will stop using spam emails and fake news websites with phony celebrity endorsements and unsupported efficacy claims to promote its supposed weight-loss products, under a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission. The court order resolving the FTC’s charges will result in Sale Slash LLC and five other […]

Portland, Maine Weight-Loss Supplement Sellers to Stop Deceptive Advertising, Illegal Billing Practices Following Joint FTC and Maine Attorney General Action

Two Maine-based marketers of weight-loss supplements and their owners will surrender substantial personal and business assets and will be prohibited from making deceptive claims about health products and engaging in deceptive marketing practices under a settlement reached with the Federal Trade Commission and the State of Maine’s Office of the Attorney General. The agencies’ joint […]

Tech Company Settles FTC Charges It Unfairly Installed Apps on Android Mobile Devices Without Users’ Permission

CORRECTEDThe quote in this release has been updated for clarification. Technology company Vulcun has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it unfairly replaced a popular web browser game with a program that installed applications on consumers’ mobile devices without their permission. In its complaint, the FTC alleges that Vulcun and its founders, Ali […]

Testimony on the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program

Stephen L. Cohen Associate Director, Division of Enforcement Feb. 2, 2016 Chairman Grassley, Ranking Member Leahy, and Members of the Committee: Thank you for inviting me to testify on behalf of the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding the SEC’s work related to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program (EB-5 […]

FTC Charges Manufacturer of Kwik Frame, Kwik Fix, and Krylex Glues with Making Misleading ‘Made in USA’ Claims

The Federal Trade Commission filed suit against Chemence, Inc., an Ohio corporation, alleging that the company is deceiving consumers by making Made in USA claims for their strong, fast-acting glues such as Kwik Frame, Kwik Fix, and Krylex, which are produced using a significant amount of imported chemicals. “For many shoppers, a claim that a […]