The Federal Trade Commission will extend until September 24, 2012, the deadline for commenting on additional proposed modifications to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule, which gives parents control over what information websites and online services may collect from children under 13. On August 1, 2012, the Commission published a Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking […]
Tag Archives: Consumer Protection
California Man Previously Sued by FTC Is Indicted on Criminal Charges for Phony Debt Collection Scam
A federal grand jury has charged a Tracy, California-based man with 21 criminal counts of wire fraud and mail fraud for a fake debt collection scheme. The Federal Trade Commission previously filed civil charges against the man, Kirit Patel, and two companies he controlled, Broadway Global Master Inc. and In-Arabia Solutions Inc. The grand jury […]
FTC Sends Refunds to Consumers Harmed by Scheme Charged with Falsely Promising Federal Jobs
The Federal Trade Commission is mailing 1,897 refund checks to consumers who allegedly were deceived by false promises that they could get federal jobs if they paid for study materials or counseling services to help them pass an exam, even though often there were no exams or jobs. Under settlements reached in December 2010 and […]
Consumers Asked DISH Network to Leave Them Alone, But FTC Says Calls Kept Coming
DISH Network, one of the nation’s largest providers of satellite television service, faces a Federal Trade Commission lawsuit alleging that it illegally called millions of consumers who had previously asked telemarketers from the company or its affiliates not to call them again. The calls allegedly violated provisions of the FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule that state […]
At FTC’s Request, U.S. Court Hands Down Record $478 Million Judgment Against Marketers of Massive Get-Rich-Quick Infomercial Scams
At the request of the Federal Trade Commission, a U.S. district court ordered the marketers of three get-rich-quick systems, including “John Beck’s Free & Clear Real Estate System,” to pay a record $478 million for deceiving close to one million consumers with phony claims that they could make easy money using their programs. The Order […]
FTC Updates Telemarketer Fees for the Do Not Call Registry as of October 1, 2012
The Federal Trade Commission has announced updated fees starting on October 1, 2012, for telemarketers accessing phone numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry. All telemarketers calling consumers in the United States are required to download the numbers on the Do Not Call Registry to ensure they do not call those who have registered […]
Settlement with FTC Prohibits Marketer Brain-Pad, Inc. from Claiming that Its Mouthguards Can Reduce Risk of Concussions
In a settlement reached with the Federal Trade Commission, mouthguard marketer Brain-Pad, Inc. and its President Joseph Manzo are barred from making unsupported claims that their mouthguards reduce the risk of concussions from lower jaw impacts, reduce the risk of concussions generally, or have been clinically proven to do either. As part of the FTC’s […]
FTC Extends Deadline for Public Input on Jewelry Industry Marketing Guides
Do you have something to say about jewelry and how it’s marketed? If so, the Federal Trade Commission wants to hear from you, and is extending the deadline for filing public comments on the agency’s Jewelry Guides. The Guides (formally, the “Guides for the Jewelry, Precious Metals, and Pewter Industries”) explain to businesses how to […]
FTC Tells Consumers They May Be Due a Refund If They Purchased Disney- or Marvel Hero-themed Children’s Vitamins
Have you purchased Disney- or Marvel Hero-themed vitamins for your kids during the last few years – vitamins that featured characters such as the Disney Princesses, Winnie the Pooh, Finding Nemo, and Spider-Man? If so, the Federal Trade Commission wants you to know that you may be due a refund. The FTC is providing these […]
FTC Sends Refunds to Consumers Lured by Money-Making Scam
The Federal Trade Commission is mailing 9,282 refund checks to consumers who were deceived by false promises that they could earn substantial income if they bought and followed the “Stefanchik Program” to buy and sell privately held promissory notes and mortgages. The FTC alleged that claims made by John Stefanchik and his company, Beringer Corporation, […]