To help Spanish-speaking consumers recover money lost to a scam that promised to stop foreclosure or obtain mortgage loan modifications, the Federal Trade Commission mailed claim forms this week, that must be submitted no later than January 14, 2013. Consumers who paid defendants Dinamica Financiera LLC, Soluciones Dinamicas Inc., Valentin Benitez, or Jose Mario Esquer […]
Tag Archives: Consumer Protection
FTC Tells Consumers They May Be Due a Refund If They Purchased Walgreens “Wal-Born” Cold and Flu Supplements
If you purchased “Wal-Born” – a Walgreens’ brand dietary supplement, the Federal Trade Commission wants you to know that you may be eligible for a refund. National pharmacy chain Walgreens agreed to pay nearly $6 million in 2010, to settle FTC charges that it deceptively advertised that its “Wal-Born” line could effectively prevent colds, fight […]
Sherwin-Williams and PPG Settle FTC Charges That They Misled Consumers to Believe Their Paints Were Free of Potentially Harmful Volatile Organic Compounds
Two of the nation’s leading paint companies, The Sherwin-Williams Company and PPG Architectural Finishes, Inc., have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that they misled consumers to believe that some of their paints are free of potentially harmful chemicals known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The two companies agreed to settlements with the FTC […]
FTC Videos Remind Consumers to Check AnnualCreditReport.com
Consumers shopping for a car, looking for a job or just getting their financial house in order should check their free annual credit reports. The FTC is offering new videos, in English and Spanish, explaining why, and advising them what to do if a report contains inaccurate information. During the fall, when people turn back […]
Fake News Site Operator to Surrender Assets Totaling More than $2 Million
An operation that allegedly used fake news websites to deceptively market acai berry weight-loss products will pay more than $2 million to settle Federal Trade Commission charges. Last year, the FTC charged defendants Circa Direct LLC and Andrew Davidson with running internet advertisements designed to look like news websites, with misleading titles such as “News […]
FTC Announces Forum on Protecting Consumers Through Cross-Border Codes of Conduct
The Federal Trade Commission will host a forum on Thursday, November 29, 2012, on using enforceable industry codes of conduct to protect consumers in cross-border commerce. Such systems, where government entities, businesses, consumer groups and other organizations develop and administer voluntary procedures that govern areas falling outside of traditional government oversight, are becoming increasingly important […]
Promoters of Phony Debt Reduction Schemes Settle FTC Charges
The Federal Trade Commission charged an Ohio-based company and its owner with fraudulently claiming on 17 websites they operated that consumers could quickly get out of debt by working with one of several debt settlement companies. The company owner, Ryan Golembiewski, has agreed to a settlement barring the deceptive claims, and to a judgment requiring […]
FTC to Host Workshop to Explore Practices and Privacy Implications of Comprehensive Collection of Internet Users Data
The Federal Trade Commission will host a workshop on December 6, 2012, to explore the practices and privacy implications of comprehensive collection of data about consumers’ online activities. Entities such as Internet Service Providers (ISPs), operating systems, browsers, social media, and mobile carriers have the capability to collect data about computer users across the Internet, beyond […]
FTC Staff Sends Warning Letters to Online Marketers Claiming to Offer Legitimate Substitutes for International Driving Permits
Nineteen online marketers received letters from the Federal Trade Commission staff warning that they may be breaking the law by selling documents that they are falsely promoting as legitimate substitutes for International Driving Permits. The staff letters say the marketers’ ads may make deceptive claims that violate the FTC Act. Consumer groups and state and […]
FTC Settlement Bans Marketer from Timeshare Business, Telemarketing
The owner of a telemarketing operation that deceived consumers who were trying to sell their timeshare properties is permanently banned from the timeshare resale and rental business, and from all telemarketing, under a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission. The settlement followed a court ruling that the company violated the FTC Act and Telemarketing Sales […]