The operators of a work-from-home scheme and the CEO of their main affiliate marketing network will pay nearly $1.5 million to settle Federal Trade Commission allegations that they used misleading spam emails to lure consumers into buying work-from-home services. In its complaint, the FTC alleges that Nevada-based Effen Ads, LLC and its owners, Jason Brailow […]
Category Archives: Federal Trade Commission
Chairman Simons Announces Departure of Economics Bureau Director Kobayashi, Appointment of Sweeting
Federal Trade Commission Chairman Joe Simons announced that FTC Bureau of Economics Director Bruce H. Kobayashi is departing the agency to return to George Mason University. Chairman Simons has named University of Maryland Economics Professor Andrew Sweeting as Kobayashi’s successor. “Bruce has been a valuable part of the FTC team, bringing rigorous economic reasoning and […]
FTC Alleges Fuel Card Marketer FleetCor Charged Hundreds of Millions in Hidden Fees
The Federal Trade Commission filed suit against a company that sells fuel card services to businesses, alleging that it has charged customers at least hundreds of millions of dollars in hidden fees after making false promises about helping customers save on fuel costs. FleetCor is a publicly traded company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia and reported $2.4 […]
FTC, CFPB Extend the Deadline to Submit Comments on Accuracy in Consumer Reporting until January 31
The Federal Trade Commission and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) have extended the deadline to submit comments on issues affecting the accuracy of consumer reports until January 31, 2020. The FTC and CFPB sought comment on issues affecting the accuracy of both traditional credit reports and employment and tenant background screening reports in conjunction […]
FTC Alleges Post Holdings, Inc.’s Proposed Acquisition of TreeHouse Foods, Inc.’s Private Label Ready-to-Eat Cereal Business Will Harm Competition
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) challenging Post Holdings, Inc.’s proposed acquisition of TreeHouse Foods, Inc.’s private label ready-to-eat cereal business. Post and TreeHouse are two of only three significant manufacturers and distributors of […]
FTC Chairman Simons Announces Senior Appointments in Bureau of Competition
Federal Trade Commission Chairman Joseph Simons has made two appointments to the Bureau of Competition’s senior leadership team. Simons announced that, with the approval of the Federal Trade Commission, Ian Conner will assume the position of Bureau Director effective December 20, 2019. Simons also announced that Daniel Francis will be appointed Deputy Director and will […]
FTC Grants Final Approval to Settlement with Former Cambridge Analytica CEO, App Developer over Allegations they Deceived Consumers over Collection of Facebook Data
The Federal Trade Commission has granted final approval to a settlement with the former CEO of Cambridge Analytica, LLC and an app developer who worked with the company to resolve allegations they used deceptive tactics to collect personal information from tens of millions of Facebook users for voter profiling and targeting. In its complaint, the […]
FTC, State of Maine File Contempt Action against Dietary Supplement Marketers
The Federal Trade Commission and the State of Maine are seeking a civil contempt order against two companies that market dietary supplements, alleging they have continued to promote their products using unproven claims that they can treat and cure diseases, in violation of a 2018 FTC settlement order. The agencies’ contempt motion states that Health Research […]
FTC Challenges Illumina’s Proposed Acquisition of PacBio
The Federal Trade Commission has authorized an action to block Illumina Inc.’s proposed $1.2 billion acquisition of Pacific Biosciences of California (PacBio). The Commission alleges in an administrative complaint (a public version of which will be available and linked to this news release as soon as possible) that Illumina is seeking to unlawfully maintain its […]
FTC Again Named One of the Best Places to Work in the Federal Government
The FTC ranked second overall out of 25 mid-sized agencies surveyed by the non-profit, non-partisan Partnership for Public Service, maintaining its position among the top-rated places to work in the federal government for 2019. The Commission earned the top spot in six categories: effective leadership; employee skills-mission match; strategic management; teamwork; innovation; and performance-based rewards […]