The Federal Trade Commission has new tips for consumers on what to look for when shopping for a virtual private network (VPN) app that can help secure information sent over a public Wi-Fi network. The FTC has long cautioned consumers about the potential risks of using free public Wi-Fi networks, which are often insecure. To […]
Monthly Archives: February 2018
New York-based Supplement Seller Barred from False and Unsupported Health Claims
A company and its CEO who allegedly advertised and sold two “anti-aging” products using false or unsubstantiated claims have agreed to stop making the claims under a Federal Trade Commission settlement order. The FTC charged Telomerase Activation Sciences, Inc. and Noel Patton (collectively, TA Sciences) with lacking the scientific evidence to support claims that their […]
FTC Report Finds Some Small Business Web Hosting Services Could Leave Small Businesses at Risk of Facilitating Phishing Scams
The Federal Trade Commission today released a staff report that examines 11 web-hosting services that market themselves to small businesses and finds that many do not provide by default certain email authentication and anti-phishing technologies, potentially leaving many small firms at risk of facilitating phishing scams. In a Staff Perspective, “Do Web Hosts Protect Their […]
FTC Approves Final Order Requiring Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. and Affiliate CrossAmerica Partners LP to Divest 10 Fuel Stations as a Condition of Acquiring Holiday Companies
Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final order settling charges that retail fuel station and convenience store operator Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc.’s acquisition of Holiday Companies would violate federal antitrust law. Under the terms of the acquisition, ACT will acquire from Holiday Companies approximately 380 retail fuel outlets with attached […]
FTC Returns Money to Consumers Harmed in Alleged Payday Loan Scheme
The Federal Trade Commission is mailing 72,836 checks totaling more than $2.9 million to people who lost money to an alleged scheme that trapped them into payday loans they never authorized or whose terms were deceptive. According to the FTC, CWB Services, LLC and related defendants used consumer information from online lead generators and data […]
Final Rule to Remove References to Credit Ratings from the FDIC’s International Banking Regulations
FIL-9-2018 February 15, 2018 Final Rule to Remove References to Credit Ratings from the FDIC’s International Banking Regulations Printable Format: FIL-9-2018 – PDF (PDF Help) Summary: On February 14, 2018, the FDIC Board of Directors adopted the attached final rule amending the FDIC’s international banking regulations related to permissible investment activities and the pledging of […]
Final Rule to Remove References to Credit Ratings from the FDIC’s International Banking Regulations
FIL-9-2018 February 15, 2018 Final Rule to Remove References to Credit Ratings from the FDIC’s International Banking Regulations Printable Format: FIL-9-2018 – PDF (PDF Help) Summary: On February 14, 2018, the FDIC Board of Directors adopted the attached final rule amending the FDIC’s international banking regulations related to permissible investment activities and the pledging of […]
FTC Returns Money to Consumers Harmed by Debt Relief Scheme
The Federal Trade Commission is mailing 5,745 checks totaling more than $480,000 to people who lost money to a debt relief scheme that misled its customers and charged illegal upfront fees. United Debt Counselors exaggerated how much money people would save using its services. Its direct mail ads looked like official documents from a bank […]
FTC Seeks Public Comments on Nursery Guides
The Federal Trade Commission is seeking public comments on its Guides for the Nursery Industry (Nursery Guides) as part of its systematic review of all current FTC rules and guides. Issued in 1979, the Guides address sales practices for outdoor plants, including deceptive advertising claims regarding quantity, size, grade, kind, species, age, maturity, condition, vigor, […]
FTC Staff Urges Washington Legislature to Consider Effects of Proposed Eye Care Measure on Competition and Consumers
Federal Trade Commission staff submitted a comment to the Washington State Legislature concerning proposed legislation that would, among other things, restrict the use of telehealth eye care in which a practitioner distant from a patient uses data received by telecommunications as the basis for a prescription for corrective lenses. The proposed legislation would require ophthalmologists […]