The Federal Trade Commission has given final approval to a settlement with a Canadian company related to allegations it falsely claimed that its Internet-connected smart locks were designed to be “unbreakable” and that it took reasonable steps to secure the data it collected from users. Tapplock, Inc. sells fingerprint-enabled, Internet-connected padlocks that interact with a […]
Category Archives: Federal Trade Commission
FTC Expands Its Case Against Zurixx Real Estate Seminar Scheme
The Federal Trade Commission and the state of Utah have amended their complaint against the operators of the Zurixx real estate seminar scheme, adding new charges that the defendants violated the Telemarketing Sales Rule on top of previous charges that they violated the FTC Act and Utah law. Zurixx used celebrity endorsements and promises of […]
FTC and FCC Send Joint Letters to Additional VoIP Providers Warning against ‘Routing and Transmitting’ Illegal Coronavirus-related Robocalls
The Federal Trade Commission today sent joint letters with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to three companies providing Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services, warning them that routing and transmitting illegal coronavirus-related scam robocalls is itself illegal and may lead to federal law enforcement against them. The agencies allege that two of the providers are […]
FTC Sending Refund Checks Totaling More Than $8.5 Million to Consumers Defrauded by Misleading Claims for Dietary Supplements
The Federal Trade Commission is mailing 143,636 refund checks totaling more than $8.5 million to consumers who bought three dietary supplements deceptively marketed by National Urological Group, Inc. (NUG) and several related companies. The mailing announced today is the largest distribution to consumers who bought the defendants’ deceptively marketed products. Previous distributions in this case […]
Worldwide Payment Processor and Payments Industry Executive to Pay $40.2 Million to Settle FTC Charges of Assisting Fraudulent Schemes and Credit Card Laundering
One of the biggest payment processing companies and its former executive will pay more than $40.2 million to settle Federal Trade Commission charges they knowingly processed payments and laundered, or assisted laundering of, credit card transactions for scams that targeted hundreds of thousands of consumers. According to the FTC’s complaint, Atlanta-based First Data Merchant Services, […]
Swiss Digital Game Developer Settles FTC Allegations that it Falsely Claimed it was a Member of COPPA Safe Harbor Program
A digital game maker has settled Federal Trade Commission allegations that it misled consumers about its membership in a program aimed at ensuring companies adhere to requirements of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). In a complaint, the FTC alleges that Miniclip, S.A., a Swiss-based company that makes mobile and online digital games, falsely […]
FTC Sends More Than $12 Million in Full Refunds to Victims of Online Billing Scam
The Federal Trade Commission is sending full refunds—totaling more than $12 million—to individuals who lost money to a company called I Works, which operated deceptive “trial” memberships and bogus government-grant and money-making schemes in 2010. Utah-based I Works ran numerous online marketing campaigns, which falsely advertised that federal grants for personal needs were generally available […]
FTC Seeks Public Comment as Part of its Review of the Prohibition of Energy Market Manipulation Rule
The Federal Trade Commission is seeking public comment on whether to make changes to its Prohibition of Energy Market Manipulation Rule, as part of the agency’s systematic review of all current FTC rules and guides. As authorized by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, in 2009, the Commission issued the Prohibition of Energy […]
FTC Obtains Final Order against Do Not Call Violator, Banning Him From Nearly All Outbound Telemarketing
At the Federal Trade Commission’s request, a federal court has approved a final order against Jasjit “Jay” Gotra, the founder and CEO of Alliance Security Inc. (Alliance), which the agency charged in 2018 with causing more than one million calls to numbers on the National Do Not Call (DNC) Registry. The complaint also alleged that […]
FTC and SBA Warn Operator of SBA.com and Lead Generator Lendio to Stop Potentially Misleading Coronavirus Relief Loan Marketing
The Federal Trade Commission and Small Business Administration (SBA) sent warning letters to two companies that may be misleading small businesses seeking SBA loans as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The letters are being sent to ITMedia Solutions, LLC (IT Media) and Lendio, Inc. (Lendio), whose marketing could lead consumers to believe they are […]