The Federal Trade Commission today announced its Opinion and Final Order against Ohio-based ECM BioFilms, Inc., finding that the company acted deceptively by making false and unsubstantiated environmental claims about its product, a chemical additive that supposedly would make treated plastics biodegrade in a landfill within nine months to five years or within a reasonably […]
Tag Archives: deceptive/misleading conduct Bureau of Consumer Protection Consumer Protection Advertising and Marketing
FTC Approves Final Order Barring Misleading Claims about App’s Ability to Diagnose or Assess the Risk of Melanoma
Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final consent order barring Health Discovery Corporation from making deceptive or unsupported claims that its app, MelApp, could help diagnose or assess consumers’ melanoma risk. According to the FTC’s February 2015 complaint, MelApp instructed users to photograph a mole with a smartphone camera […]
FTC Cracks Down on Marketers of “Melanoma Detection” Apps
The Federal Trade Commission has challenged marketers for deceptively claiming their mobile apps could detect symptoms of melanoma, even in its early stages. In two separate cases, marketers of MelApp and Mole Detective have agreed to settlements that bar them from continuing to make such unsupported claims. The agency is pursuing charges against two additional […]
FTC Action Leads to Court Order Barring Misleading Light Bulb Claims
At the request of the Federal Trade Commission, a federal court has ordered a light bulb manufacturer and its owners to pay more than $21 million for misleading consumers by exaggerating the performance of their Light Emitting Diode (LED) light bulbs. In September 2010, the FTC charged Lights of America Inc., Usman Vakil and Farooq […]
Companies Pitching Genetically Customized Nutritional Supplements Will Drop Misleading Disease Claims
Two marketers of genetically customized nutritional supplements have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges of deceptive advertising for claims that their personalized nutritional supplements treat diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, insomnia, and other ailments. The proposed settlements also resolve charges that the companies engaged in lax information security practices. Through a network of individual affiliates, […]
At FTC’s Request, Telemarketer Ordered to Pay $5.1 Million to Reimburse Victims of Car-Buying Scam
At the Federal Trade Commission’s request, a federal court has ordered a Canadian telemarketer and four companies he owns to pay more than $5.1 million to American and Canadian consumers who were duped into paying hundreds of dollars based on false claims that the defendants had buyers lined up for their cars, and that refunds […]
FTC Seeks Contempt Ruling Against Suntasia Telemarketing Defendants
The Federal Trade Commission is seeking a contempt order in federal court against defendants previously involved in a massive, Florida-based marketing scheme, alleging that they violated the terms of a court-ordered permanent injunction by engaging in some of the same deceptive tactics that led to the FTC’s prior charges against them. In 2007, the FTC […]
FTC Stops Foreign Operation That Scammed Many Small Businesses and Nonprofits Into Paying Millions of Dollars for Bogus Online Directory
At the Federal Trade Commission’s request, a federal judge has temporarily halted a Slovakia-based operation that allegedly tricked small businesses and non-profits into collectively paying millions of dollars to be listed in an online directory in which they had no interest in being listed and for which they did not understand they would be charged. […]
FTC Warns Internet Peddlers that Potentially Bogus H1N1 Influenza Products May Violate Federal Law
The Federal Trade Commission has warned Web site operators who made claims that their products can prevent, treat, or cure the Influenza A/H1N1 virus, commonly known as swine flu, that they must have scientific proof to support their claims. The FTC told the companies, whose products include dietary supplements, air filtration devices, and cleaning agents, […]