National Consumer Protection Week 2017 Kicks Off Sunday, March 5

The Federal Trade Commission and more than 100 federal, state and local agencies, consumer groups and national advocacy organizations, will participate in the 19th Annual National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), held March 5-11, 2017. NCPW is a nationally coordinated campaign to inform Americans of their consumer rights while providing them access to free consumer-related resources. […]

FTC Announces Agenda for March 9 FinTech Forum on Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain Technology

The Federal Trade Commission today announced the agenda for its March 9, 2017, FinTech Forum focusing on the consumer implications of two rapidly developing technologies: artificial intelligence and blockchain. The forum, which is the third in an ongoing event series, will take place from 9:00 a.m. to approximately 12:30 p.m. Pacific Time in Berkeley, California. […]

FTC & NASCO Announce Preliminary Agenda for March 21 Conference Exploring Consumer Protection Issues and Charitable Solicitations

The Federal Trade Commission and the National Association of State Charities Officials have announced a preliminary agenda for the Give & Take: Consumers, Contributions, and Charity conference. The conference will examine issues related to ensuring that consumers are protected from fraud when they make donations and that they have confidence when making donations. Discussion topics […]

FTC Approves Final Order Preserving Competition in U.S. Markets for Animal Health Products

Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final order settling charges that Boehringer Ingelheim’s $13.53 billion asset swap with Paris-based Sanofi would likely be anticompetitive. First announced in December 2016, the FTC’s complaint alleged that as proposed, the swap would likely harm competition in the U.S. markets for various vaccines […]

Final Defendant in Alleged Mortgage Relief Scam Settles FTC Charges

The final defendant in an alleged mortgage relief scam that preyed upon distressed homeowners will be banned from selling mortgage or debt relief services under a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission. The settlement resolves FTC charges against Gabriel D. Stewart in a scheme that operated under the fictitious names “2Apply” and “UW Solutions.” The […]

FTC Approves Final Order Preserving Competition in U.S. Markets for Medical Devices Used in Cardiac and Vascular Catheterization

Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final order settling charges that Abbott Laboratories’ $25 billion acquisition of St. Jude Medical, Inc. would likely be anticompetitive. First announced in December 2016, the FTC’s complaint alleged that as proposed, the acquisition would likely harm competition in the U.S. markets for vascular […]

Three Companies Settle FTC Charges that They Deceived Consumers About Participation in International Privacy Program

Three U.S. companies have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that they deceived consumers about their participation in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Cross-Border Privacy Rules (CBPR) system. In separate but similar complaints, the FTC charged that Sentinel Labs, Inc., which provides endpoint protection software to enterprise customers; SpyChatter, Inc., marketer of the SpyChatter […]

FTC, Maine Attorney General Shut Down Web of Deceptive Supplement Sellers

The Federal Trade Commission and the Maine Office of the Attorney General today announced a complaint and three settlements with dietary supplement marketers who allegedly used radio infomercials deceptively formatted as talk shows and print ads featuring fictitious endorsers to advertise supplements purporting to improve memory and to reduce back and joint pain. The three […]

FTC, States Put Remaining Defendants in Massive Caribbean Cruise Lines Robocall Operation in Permanent Dry Dock

The Federal Trade Commission and 10 states have closed the book on the remaining defendants who assisted a Florida-based cruise line company in running an illegal telemarketing campaign that flooded consumers with billions of unwanted robocalls. In settling the charges, Fred Accuardi and his companies are barred from robocalling and illegal telemarketing, as well as […]

FTC Obtains Court Order Against Fake Prize Scheme Defendant

One of the defendants in a fake prize scheme has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that he provided services for a direct mail scheme that tricked people into thinking they had won $1 million or more if they paid $25 to collect the fake prize. But those who paid received nothing. The operation […]