Bureau of Consumer Protection
11 AM
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Room 432
Washington, DC
202-326-2180
Economic Stimulus Scams
Bureau of Consumer Protection
11 AM
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Room 432
Washington, DC
202-326-2180
Bureau of Consumer Protection
11 AM
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Room 432
Washington, DC
202-326-2180
Economic Stimulus Scams
Bureau of Consumer Protection
11 AM
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Room 432
Washington, DC
202-326-2180
FTC Approves Appointment of Interim Monitor and Interim Monitor Agreement in Matter of Getinge AB/Datascope Corporation
– The FTC has approved the appointment of Quantic Regulatory Services, LLC as the interim monitor in the matter concerning Getinge AB’s acquisition of Datascope Corporation, and also has approved the related interim monitor agreement. On January 29, 2009, the Commission voted to accept a consent order resolving the anticompetitive concerns related to the proposed acquisition. Under the terms of the decision and order, the Commission may appoint an interim monitor to ensure the respondents’ compliance with its terms. Through the action announced today, the Commission has exercised that option. Quantic’s president, R. Owen Richards, is a highly qualified expert on FDA regulatory matters who has successfully served as interim monitor in previous FTC matters.
The Commission vote approving the interim monitor and the related interim monitor agreement was 3-0, with Commissioner Pamela Jones Harbour recused. (FTC File No. 091-0000; the staff contact is Daniel P. Ducore, Bureau of Competition, 202-326-2526; see press release dated January 29, 2009, at http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/01/getinge.shtm.)
Copies of the documents mentioned in this release are available from the FTC’s Web site at http://www.ftc.gov and from the FTC’s Consumer Response Center, Room 130, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20580. Call toll-free: 1-877-FTC-HELP.
FTC Approves Appointment of Interim Monitor and Interim Monitor Agreement in Matter of Getinge AB/Datascope Corporation
– The FTC has approved the appointment of Quantic Regulatory Services, LLC as the interim monitor in the matter concerning Getinge AB’s acquisition of Datascope Corporation, and also has approved the related interim monitor agreement. On January 29, 2009, the Commission voted to accept a consent order resolving the anticompetitive concerns related to the proposed acquisition. Under the terms of the decision and order, the Commission may appoint an interim monitor to ensure the respondents’ compliance with its terms. Through the action announced today, the Commission has exercised that option. Quantic’s president, R. Owen Richards, is a highly qualified expert on FDA regulatory matters who has successfully served as interim monitor in previous FTC matters.
The Commission vote approving the interim monitor and the related interim monitor agreement was 3-0, with Commissioner Pamela Jones Harbour recused. (FTC File No. 091-0000; the staff contact is Daniel P. Ducore, Bureau of Competition, 202-326-2526; see press release dated January 29, 2009, at http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/01/getinge.shtm.)
Copies of the documents mentioned in this release are available from the FTC’s Web site at http://www.ftc.gov and from the FTC’s Consumer Response Center, Room 130, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20580. Call toll-free: 1-877-FTC-HELP.
FTC Intervenes in Lubrizol’s Consummated Acquisition of Lockharts Oxidate Assets
The Federal Trade Commission has intervened in Lubrizol Corporation’s 2007 acquisition of the oxidate assets of rival firm The Lockhart Company, which the agency contends violated the antitrust laws and lessened competition in the U.S. market for these chemical rust inhibitors. Under a consent order settling the FTC’s charges, Lubrizol has agreed to transfer the oxidate assets it acquired from Lockhart to Additives International LLC (AI) and to eliminate a non-compete provision put in place with Lockhart as part of the original asset purchase agreement.
“Oxidates are used to help prevent rust and corrosion during the manufacture of various metal products in the U.S., such as automobiles, steel, and heavy equipment,” said David P. Wales, Acting Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition. “The Commission’s action announced today will restore the competition that was lost with this transaction and ensure that consumers do not pay higher prices for these products.”
Under an asset purchase agreement dated February 7, 2007, Lubrizol bought Lockhart’s product line of chemical additives that are used to make rust preventives. The agreement also included a non-competition provision prohibiting Lockhart from engaging in any business that would compete with the assets it sold to Lubrizol for five years. According to the Commission’s complaint, Lubrizol’s acquisition of the Lockhart assets violated the FTC Act and the Clayton Act by lessening competition in the market for rust preventives that contain oxidates.
The market for oxidates is highly concentrated, with Lubrizol, and previously Lockhart, the only two significant providers in the U.S. While smaller firms exist, the FTC has determined that oxidate customers do not consider them suitable alternatives to Lubrizol and Lockhart. Accordingly, Lubrizol’s acquisition of the Lockhart assets removed Lubrizol’s last substantial competitor in the market. Previously, consumers benefitted from the rivalry between the two firms in the form of lower prices, product innovation, and better service and support, which was eliminated by the transaction. In addition, the FTC contends that the acquisition thwarted new entry into the market by restricting the use of Lockhart’s plant in Flint, Michigan through the non-compete agreement.
Finally, the Commission contends that new entry or fringe expansion into the U.S. market for oxidates is unlikely to be sufficient to counteract the effects of Lubrizol’s acquisition of the Lockhart assets. It is not likely that an entrant, without access to an existing plant like Lockhart’s Flint facility, would be able to achieve enough sales within the small size of the market to justify the significant sunk costs of investment required to enter the market.
The proposed consent agreement is designed to remedy the alleged anticompetitive impact of the consummated transaction. Under its terms, Lubrizol is required to transfer certain assets to AI, including a non-exclusive license to manufacture rust-preventive formulas acquired from Lockhart and the right to use Lockhart trademarks for two years. In addition, Lockhart must lease a portion of its Flint plant to AI and Lubrizol is required to waive its non-compete agreement with Lockhart in order to facilitate AI’s use of the plant.
The Commission vote to accept the complaint and proposed consent order and place copies on the public record was 4-0. The FTC will publish an announcement regarding the agreement in the Federal Register shortly. The complaint, proposed consent order, and an analysis to aid public comment can be found now on the Commission’s Web site at http://www.ftc.gov/os/caselist/0710230/index.shtm.
The agreement will be subject to public comment for 30 days, beginning today and continuing through March 27, 2009, after which the Commission will decide whether to make it final. Comments should be addressed to the FTC, Office of the Secretary, Room H-135, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20580. The FTC is requesting that, when possible, any comment filed in paper form near the end of the public comment period be sent by courier or overnight service because U.S. postal mail in the Washington area and at the Commission is subject to delay due to heightened security precautions.
NOTE: A consent agreement is for settlement purposes only and does not constitute an admission of a law violation. When the Commission issues a consent order on a final basis, it carries the force of law with respect to future actions. Each violation of such an order may result in a civil penalty of $16,000.
Copies of the documents related to this matter are available from the FTC’s web site at http://www.ftc.gov and the FTC’s Consumer Response Center, Room 130, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20580. The FTC’s Bureau of Competition works with the Bureau of Economics to investigate alleged anticompetitive business practices and, when appropriate, recommends that the Commission take law enforcement action. To inform the Bureau about particular business practices, call 202-326-3300, send an e-mail to [email protected], or write to the Office of Policy and Coordination, Room 383, Bureau of Competition, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave, N.W., Washington, DC 20580. To learn more about the Bureau of Competition, read “Competition Counts” at http://www.ftc.gov/competitioncounts.
(FTC File No. 071-0230)
FTC Intervenes in Lubrizol’s Consummated Acquisition of Lockharts Oxidate Assets
The Federal Trade Commission has intervened in Lubrizol Corporation’s 2007 acquisition of the oxidate assets of rival firm The Lockhart Company, which the agency contends violated the antitrust laws and lessened competition in the U.S. market for these chemical rust inhibitors. Under a consent order settling the FTC’s charges, Lubrizol has agreed to transfer the oxidate assets it acquired from Lockhart to Additives International LLC (AI) and to eliminate a non-compete provision put in place with Lockhart as part of the original asset purchase agreement.
“Oxidates are used to help prevent rust and corrosion during the manufacture of various metal products in the U.S., such as automobiles, steel, and heavy equipment,” said David P. Wales, Acting Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition. “The Commission’s action announced today will restore the competition that was lost with this transaction and ensure that consumers do not pay higher prices for these products.”
Under an asset purchase agreement dated February 7, 2007, Lubrizol bought Lockhart’s product line of chemical additives that are used to make rust preventives. The agreement also included a non-competition provision prohibiting Lockhart from engaging in any business that would compete with the assets it sold to Lubrizol for five years. According to the Commission’s complaint, Lubrizol’s acquisition of the Lockhart assets violated the FTC Act and the Clayton Act by lessening competition in the market for rust preventives that contain oxidates.
The market for oxidates is highly concentrated, with Lubrizol, and previously Lockhart, the only two significant providers in the U.S. While smaller firms exist, the FTC has determined that oxidate customers do not consider them suitable alternatives to Lubrizol and Lockhart. Accordingly, Lubrizol’s acquisition of the Lockhart assets removed Lubrizol’s last substantial competitor in the market. Previously, consumers benefitted from the rivalry between the two firms in the form of lower prices, product innovation, and better service and support, which was eliminated by the transaction. In addition, the FTC contends that the acquisition thwarted new entry into the market by restricting the use of Lockhart’s plant in Flint, Michigan through the non-compete agreement.
Finally, the Commission contends that new entry or fringe expansion into the U.S. market for oxidates is unlikely to be sufficient to counteract the effects of Lubrizol’s acquisition of the Lockhart assets. It is not likely that an entrant, without access to an existing plant like Lockhart’s Flint facility, would be able to achieve enough sales within the small size of the market to justify the significant sunk costs of investment required to enter the market.
The proposed consent agreement is designed to remedy the alleged anticompetitive impact of the consummated transaction. Under its terms, Lubrizol is required to transfer certain assets to AI, including a non-exclusive license to manufacture rust-preventive formulas acquired from Lockhart and the right to use Lockhart trademarks for two years. In addition, Lockhart must lease a portion of its Flint plant to AI and Lubrizol is required to waive its non-compete agreement with Lockhart in order to facilitate AI’s use of the plant.
The Commission vote to accept the complaint and proposed consent order and place copies on the public record was 4-0. The FTC will publish an announcement regarding the agreement in the Federal Register shortly. The complaint, proposed consent order, and an analysis to aid public comment can be found now on the Commission’s Web site at http://www.ftc.gov/os/caselist/0710230/index.shtm.
The agreement will be subject to public comment for 30 days, beginning today and continuing through March 27, 2009, after which the Commission will decide whether to make it final. Comments should be addressed to the FTC, Office of the Secretary, Room H-135, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20580. The FTC is requesting that, when possible, any comment filed in paper form near the end of the public comment period be sent by courier or overnight service because U.S. postal mail in the Washington area and at the Commission is subject to delay due to heightened security precautions.
NOTE: A consent agreement is for settlement purposes only and does not constitute an admission of a law violation. When the Commission issues a consent order on a final basis, it carries the force of law with respect to future actions. Each violation of such an order may result in a civil penalty of $16,000.
Copies of the documents related to this matter are available from the FTC’s web site at http://www.ftc.gov and the FTC’s Consumer Response Center, Room 130, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20580. The FTC’s Bureau of Competition works with the Bureau of Economics to investigate alleged anticompetitive business practices and, when appropriate, recommends that the Commission take law enforcement action. To inform the Bureau about particular business practices, call 202-326-3300, send an e-mail to [email protected], or write to the Office of Policy and Coordination, Room 383, Bureau of Competition, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave, N.W., Washington, DC 20580. To learn more about the Bureau of Competition, read “Competition Counts” at http://www.ftc.gov/competitioncounts.
(FTC File No. 071-0230)
FTC Testifies on Efforts to Protect Consumers in Financial Distress
The Federal Trade Commission testified today before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation about the agency’s increased focus on protecting consumers in financial distress. The testimony described the FTC’s stepped-up law enforcement and consumer education efforts addressing mortgage foreclosure rescue scams, bogus debt relief and credit repair services, and unlawful debt collection. The FTC also recommended legislative and other remedies to enhance the agency’s effectiveness.
Commission testimony, delivered by Commissioner Pamela Jones Harbour, stated that with so many Americans struggling financially the FTC has increased its focus on preventing harm to those who are already in debt. The FTC is engaged in efforts to thwart abusive debt collectors, deceptive credit repair and debt settlement firms, and mortgage foreclosure scam artists who target consumers who are delinquent or in default. The Commission testimony also discussed the agency’s efforts against brokers, lenders, and others who made deceptive credit offers, and creditors and loan servicers who misrepresent fees and amounts owed.
The testimony noted that today the Commission is issuing its debt collection workshop report, which takes a comprehensive look at how the debt collection industry has changed in the past 30 years and recommends changes in the law to modernize and reform the debt collection regulatory system.
To enhance the FTC’s ability to protect consumers in the financial services marketplace, the testimony made the following recommendations:
- Permit the FTC to employ notice and comment rulemaking procedures to declare acts and practices relating to financial services to be unfair or deceptive in violation of the FTC Act;
- Authorize the FTC to obtain civil penalties for unfair or deceptive acts and practices related to financial services, and authorize the agency to bring suit in federal court to obtain civil penalties;
- Authorize the FTC to issue rules to implement the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act; and
- Provide additional resources to assist the FTC in increasing its law enforcement activities related to consumer financial services and expanding its critical empirical work on the efficacy of disclosures.
The Commission vote authorizing presentation of the testimony and its inclusion in
the formal record was 4-0.
The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC ’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 1,500 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s Web site provides free information on a variety of consumer topics.
(Financial Testimony)
FTC Report Urges Reform and Modernization of Federal Debt Collection Law; Agency Also Issues Annual FDCPA Report to Congress
The Federal Trade Commission issued a report today recommending that the debt collection legal system be reformed and modernized to reflect changes in consumer debt, the debt collection industry, and technology. The report describes the changes the FTC believes will provide better consumer protection without unduly burdening the debt collection industry. The Commission also issued its 31st annual report to Congress on the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, which summarizes its enforcement of the FDCPA during 2008.
The FDCPA was enacted in 1977 to protect consumers from abusive, unfair, and deceptive practices by third-party debt collectors. Its primary government enforcer is the FTC, which in October 2007 hosted a two-day workshop for consumer groups, industry, academia, and government agencies to explore how collection industry changes have affected consumers and businesses.
In the workshop report issued today, the Commission cites major problems in the flow of information within the collection system. The report recommends changes in the law to require that collectors have better information, making it more likely that their efforts will be for the right amount and be directed to the right consumer. It also recommends that they be required to provide consumers with better information explaining their rights under the FDCPA. To improve the flow of information, the report recommends these changes to the FDCPA:
- Requiring that the “validation notices” that collectors are required to send to consumers also disclose the name of the original creditor; break down the debt by principal, total interest, and total fees; and inform consumers of certain rights they already have under the FDCPA.
- Requiring collectors to conduct “reasonable” investigations responsive to the specific dispute the consumer raised.
According to the workshop report, debt collection laws should be modernized to reflect changes in technology. Recognizing that the law generally should allow debt collectors broad use of communication technology to contact consumers, the report recommends that the law prevent consumers from incurring charges for these contacts or otherwise being subject to unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts and practices. The report recommendations include:
- Prohibiting collectors from contacting consumers via their mobile phones, including by text messaging, without prior express consent; and
- Requiring collectors who use new payment technologies to obtain express verifiable authorization from consumers before accessing their accounts.
The workshop report recognizes that certain debt collection litigation and arbitration practices appear to raise substantial consumer protection issues. Because the workshop record lacks sufficient information for the FTC to determine the nature and extent of these issues, the report announces that the agency will convene regional roundtables this year with state court judges and officials, debt collectors, collection attorneys, consumer advocates, arbitration firms, and other interested stakeholders to learn more and develop possible solutions.
The workshop report also recommends that Congress give the Commission authority to issue rules under the FDCPA. This would help ensure that legal requirements keep pace with changes in the marketplace.
The report states that private actions, not FTC actions, were intended by Congress to be the primary means of promoting industry compliance with the FDCPA, and notes that the amounts of statutory damages that consumers can obtain in lawsuits under the FDCPA have not changed since 1977. To increase deterrence, the report recommends increasing the damage amounts to reflect inflation since then, and, in the future, to increase them periodically.
Emphasizing the agency’s intention to continue its aggressive enforcement of the FDCPA, the report notes that the FTC has modified its law enforcement approach in order to obtain tough permanent injunctive and equitable relief, including substantial monetary judgments and, for some defendants, bans on collecting debts. The Commission also has taken more actions against the individuals, and not just the companies, responsible for illegal collection practices.
Annual Report to Congress on the FDCPA
The Annual Report to Congress on the FDCPA summarizes the number and types of consumer complaints the Commission received about third-party debt collectors in 2008, and law enforcement actions the agency brought against debt collectors last year. The FTC received more than 78,000 complaints about third-party debt collectors in 2008. While this is a slight decrease as a percentage of all complaints received compared to 2007, the FTC continued to receive more complaints about debt collectors than any other industry.
The Commission votes to issue the reports were 4-0.
The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC ’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 1,500 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s Web site provides free information on a variety of consumer topics.
[FTC File Nos. P074805 (Workshop Report) & P094804 (Annual Report)]
(Debt Collection Reports)
FTC Releases List of Top Consumer Complaints in 2008
The Federal Trade Commission today released the list of top consumer complaints received by the agency in 2008. The list, contained in the publication “Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book for January-December 2008,” showed that for the ninth year in a row, identity theft was the number one consumer complaint category. Of 1,223,370 complaints received in 2008, 313,982 – or 26 percent – were related to identity theft.
The report breaks out complaint data on a state-by-state basis and also contains data about the 50 metropolitan areas reporting the highest per capita incidence of fraud and other complaints. In addition, the report sets forth the 50 metropolitan areas reporting the highest incidence of identity theft.
The report states that credit card fraud was the most common form of reported identity theft at 20 percent, followed by government documents/benefits fraud at 15 percent, employment fraud at 15 percent, phone or utilities fraud at 13 percent, bank fraud at 11 percent and loan fraud at four percent.
The top 20 complaint categories were:
| Rank | Category | Complaints | % |
| 1 | Identity Theft | 313,982 | 26 |
| 2 | Third Party and Creditor Debt Collection | 104,642 | 9 |
| 3 | Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales | 52,615 | 4 |
| 4 | Internet Services | 52,102 | 4 |
| 5 | Foreign Money Offers and Counterfeit Check Scams | 38,505 | 3 |
| 6 | Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers and Report Users | 34,940 | 3 |
| 7 | Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries | 33,340 | 3 |
| 8 | Television and Electronic Media | 25,930 | 2 |
| 9 | Banks and Lenders | 22,890 | 2 |
| 10 | Telecom Equipment and Mobile Services | 22,387 | 2 |
| 11 | Computer Equipment and Software | 21,442 | 2 |
| 12 | Business Opportunities, Employment Agencies and Work-at-Home | 20,286 | 2 |
| 13 | Internet Auction | 17,294 | 1 |
| 14 | Advance-Fee Loans and Credit Protection/Repair | 17,263 | 1 |
| 15 | Health Care | 16,275 | 1 |
| 16 | Auto Related Complaints | 14,278 | 1 |
| 17 | Travel, Vacations and Timeshare Plans | 13,200 | 1 |
| 18 | Credit Cards | 13,196 | 1 |
| 19 | Magazines and Buyers Clubs | 10,188 | 1 |
| 20 | Telephone Services | 9,300 | 1 |
The FTC collects consumer complaints from more than 125 other organizations and makes them available to more than 1,600 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad via Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database. Copies of the “Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book” can be found at http://www.ftc.gov/sentinel.
The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC ’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 1,500 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s Web site provides free information on a variety of consumer topics.
FTC Releases List of Top Consumer Complaints in 2008
The Federal Trade Commission today released the list of top consumer complaints received by the agency in 2008. The list, contained in the publication “Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book for January-December 2008,” showed that for the ninth year in a row, identity theft was the number one consumer complaint category. Of 1,223,370 complaints received in 2008, 313,982 – or 26 percent – were related to identity theft.
The report breaks out complaint data on a state-by-state basis and also contains data about the 50 metropolitan areas reporting the highest per capita incidence of fraud and other complaints. In addition, the report sets forth the 50 metropolitan areas reporting the highest incidence of identity theft.
The report states that credit card fraud was the most common form of reported identity theft at 20 percent, followed by government documents/benefits fraud at 15 percent, employment fraud at 15 percent, phone or utilities fraud at 13 percent, bank fraud at 11 percent and loan fraud at four percent.
The top 20 complaint categories were:
| Rank | Category | Complaints | % |
| 1 | Identity Theft | 313,982 | 26 |
| 2 | Third Party and Creditor Debt Collection | 104,642 | 9 |
| 3 | Shop-at-Home and Catalog Sales | 52,615 | 4 |
| 4 | Internet Services | 52,102 | 4 |
| 5 | Foreign Money Offers and Counterfeit Check Scams | 38,505 | 3 |
| 6 | Credit Bureaus, Information Furnishers and Report Users | 34,940 | 3 |
| 7 | Prizes, Sweepstakes and Lotteries | 33,340 | 3 |
| 8 | Television and Electronic Media | 25,930 | 2 |
| 9 | Banks and Lenders | 22,890 | 2 |
| 10 | Telecom Equipment and Mobile Services | 22,387 | 2 |
| 11 | Computer Equipment and Software | 21,442 | 2 |
| 12 | Business Opportunities, Employment Agencies and Work-at-Home | 20,286 | 2 |
| 13 | Internet Auction | 17,294 | 1 |
| 14 | Advance-Fee Loans and Credit Protection/Repair | 17,263 | 1 |
| 15 | Health Care | 16,275 | 1 |
| 16 | Auto Related Complaints | 14,278 | 1 |
| 17 | Travel, Vacations and Timeshare Plans | 13,200 | 1 |
| 18 | Credit Cards | 13,196 | 1 |
| 19 | Magazines and Buyers Clubs | 10,188 | 1 |
| 20 | Telephone Services | 9,300 | 1 |
The FTC collects consumer complaints from more than 125 other organizations and makes them available to more than 1,600 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad via Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database. Copies of the “Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book” can be found at http://www.ftc.gov/sentinel.
The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC ’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 1,500 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s Web site provides free information on a variety of consumer topics.