Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final consent order settling its first-ever case against a company making “organic” product claims. According to the FTC’s September 28, 2017 complaint, in marketing and advertising its baby mattresses, Moonlight Slumber, LLC misrepresented a range of claims on its website and packaging. The […]
Monthly Archives: December 2017
FTC Seeks Public Input in Review of the Recycled Oil Rule
As part of the Federal Trade Commission’s systematic review of all current FTC rules and guides, the FTC is seeking public comment on the costs, benefits, and regulatory and economic impact of its rule specifying Test Procedures and Labeling Standards for Recycled Oil (“Recycled Oil Rule”). The Rule, issued in 1995, allows manufacturers to represent […]
FTC to Host December 12 Workshop on Informational Injury to Consumers Resulting from Misuse of Their Information
WHAT: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Informational Injury workshop will examine questions about the injuries consumers suffer when information about them is misused. WHEN: Tuesday, December 12, 9:15 a.m.-5:00 pm ET WHERE: Constitution Center400 7th St SWWashington, DC 20024 WHO: Acting FTC Chairman Maureen K. Ohlhausen, as well as privacy advocates, industry representatives, academics and […]
FTC, FCC Outline Agreement to Coordinate Online Consumer Protection Efforts Following Adoption of The Restoring Internet Freedom Order
The Federal Trade Commission and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced their intent to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) under which the two agencies would coordinate online consumer protection efforts following the adoption of the Restoring Internet Freedom Order. “The Memorandum of Understanding will be a critical benefit for online consumers because it outlines […]
FTC Sending Refund Checks Totaling More Than $8 Million to Consumers Who Bought Deceptively Marketed Weight-loss Supplements
The Federal Trade Commission is mailing 442,898 refund checks totaling more than $8 million to people who bought weight-loss supplements that were deceptively marketed using illegal spam email, baseless weight-loss claims, and fake celebrity endorsements. Consumers who bought products marketed by Sale Slash, LLC and related defendants will receive checks averaging $18.24. In 2015, the […]
FTC Wins Summary Judgment Against Fraudulent Gold, Silver Investment Scheme
At the Federal Trade Commission’s request, a federal judge has banned the operators of a fraudulent investment scheme from selling investments and ordered them to pay more than $6.5 million for return to consumers. According to an FTC complaint filed in June 2016, many people lost thousands of dollars to the Discount Gold Brokers scheme, […]
FTC Obtains Court Order Banning Debt Collectors from Debt Collection Business
Three defendants who allegedly posed as lawyers and falsely threatened to sue people or have them arrested for failing to pay on debts they did not owe are banned from the debt collection business under a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission. The settlement resolves an FTC complaint filed in July 2017, alleging that the […]
FTC Challenges Proposed Merger of Major Titanium Dioxide Companies
The Federal Trade Commission issued an administrative complaint challenging the merger of two top suppliers of chloride process titanium dioxide (“TiO2”), a white pigment used in a wide variety of products including paint, industrial coatings, plastic, and paper. The FTC’s administrative complaint charged that Tronox Limited’s proposed acquisition of competitor Cristal, for $1.67 billion and a […]
FTC Seeks Order to Stop Copycat Scam Pitching Bogus Credit Card Interest-Rate Reduction Services
The Federal Trade Commission has filed a complaint in federal district court in Orlando to halt an alleged credit card interest-rate reduction scam that, the FTC alleges, deceived numerous consumers struggling with credit card debt. The Commission alleges that the individuals charged in this case, who previously worked for a nearly identical telemarketing operation shut […]
FTC Proposes Updates to R-Value Rule for Home Insulation Products
The Federal Trade Commission has proposed amendments to the R-value Rule, which governs ratings for home insulation, as part of its systematic review of all current FTC rules and guides. Issued in 1979, the R-value Rule requires home insulation manufacturers, professional installers, new home sellers, and retailers to provide R-value information, based on the results […]