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 robocalls, including Coronavirus-related scam calls, is illegal and may lead to federal law enforcement against them. The agencies sent a separate letter to USTelecom – […]
Category Archives: Federal Trade Commission
FTC Sues to Unwind Altria’s $12.8 Billion Investment in Competitor JUUL
Today, the Federal Trade Commission filed an administrative complaint (a public version of which will be available and linked to this news release as soon as possible) alleging that Altria Group, Inc. and JUUL Labs, Inc. entered a series of agreements, including Altria’s acquisition of a 35% stake in JUUL, that eliminated competition in violation […]
FTC Data Shows Jump in Coronavirus-related Complaints from Consumers
Consumer complaints to the Federal Trade Commission related to the coronavirus (also known as COVID-19) have surged in recent weeks. Since the beginning of the year, the FTC has received more than 7,800 coronavirus-related reports from consumers, double what they were about a week ago. The top categories of coronavirus-related fraud complaints include travel and […]
FTC Announces September 22 Workshop on Data Portability
The Federal Trade Commission will host a public workshop on September 22, 2020, to examine the potential benefits and challenges to consumers and competition raised by data portability. Data portability gives consumers more control over their data, allowing them to move data—such as emails, contacts, calendars, financial information, health information, favorites, friends, or content posted […]
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. Settles with FTC, Agrees to Stop Making Overly Broad and Misleading ‘Made in USA’ Claims about Houseware and Furniture Products
Home products and kitchen wares company Williams-Sonoma Inc. has agreed to stop making false, misleading, or unsubstantiated claims that all of its Goldtouch Bakeware products, its Rejuvenation-branded products, and Pottery Barn Teen and Pottery Barn Kids-branded upholstered furniture products are all or virtually all made in the United States. As part of the proposed settlement, […]
Student Loan Debt Relief Companies Agree to Settle FTC Charges They Falsely Promised to Lower or Eliminate Consumers’ Student Loans
Three California-based student loan debt relief companies and their owner have agreed to be permanently banned from the debt relief business in order to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that they falsely promised to lower or eliminate consumers’ student loans in return for an illegal upfront fee. The FTC also alleged that the companies and […]
FTC Sends More Than $1 Million in Refunds to Victims of Invention Promotion Scam
The Federal Trade Commission is sending refunds totaling more than $1 million to consumers targeted by a bogus invention promotion business that failed to deliver on the services it promised, and bullied consumers who tried to complain. According to the FTC, consumers paid Scott Cooper and his companies, World Patent Marketing Inc. and Desa Industries […]
FTC Extends Comment Deadline for Funeral Rule Review to June 15
Federal Trade CommissionHeadquarters:600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NWWashington, DC 20580Contact Us Related posts: FTC Seeks Public Comment as Part of its Review of the Funeral Rule FTC Releases Funeral Home Compliance Results, Offers New Business Guidance on Funeral Rule Requirements FTC To Examine Competition, Consumer Protection, and Economic Issues Raised by the Sharing Economy at June Workshop […]
Medical Diagnostic Device Maker Settles Allegations that it Misled Consumers about its Participation in the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield
A provider of medical diagnostic devices and services has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission allegations that the company misled consumers about its participation in the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield framework. In a complaint, the FTC alleges that New Jersey-based Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Inc. claimed that the company participated in the Privacy Shield framework and complied with […]
FTC to Resume Processing HSR Early Termination Requests on March 30
The Federal Trade Commission, in partnership with the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division, will resume the practice of granting early termination of the HSR Act’s waiting periods when both agencies have determined that no enforcement action will be taken during the waiting period, the agency announced in a blog posted today. On March 13, as […]