On Sept. 26, 2019, the Federal Trade Commission will hold a half-day public workshop in Washington, DC to consider “Made in USA” and other types of U.S.-origin claims made by domestic and foreign sellers, consumer perception of such claims, the need for any changes to the FTC’s existing guidance, and other relevant issues. Currently, the […]
Category Archives: Federal Trade Commission
Promoters of Deceptive Chain Referral Schemes Involving Cryptocurrencies Agree to Settlement with FTC
The promoters of recruitment-based cryptocurrency schemes are permanently banned from operating or participating in any multi-level marketing program, as part of a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC obtained a court order in March 2018 against Thomas Dluca, Eric Pinkston, Louis Gatto, and Scott Chandler that stopped their deceptive marketing practices and froze […]
FTC Refunds Consumers Who Bought FlexiPrin Joint Pain Supplement
The Federal Trade Commission is mailing 2,897 checks totaling more than $113,000 to fully refund consumers who bought FlexiPrin, a deceptively marketed joint pain supplement. The average check amount is $39.18. In February 2017, the FTC and the Maine Attorney General charged XXL Impressions LLC, Jeffrey R. Powlowsky, J2 Response LLP, Justin Bumann, Justin Steinle, […]
FTC Approves Final Order Imposing Conditions on UnitedHealth Group’s Proposed Acquisition of DaVita Medical Group
Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final order settling charges that UnitedHealth Group’s proposed $4.3 billion acquisition of DaVita Medical Group from DaVita, Inc. will likely harm competition in healthcare markets in Clark and Nye Counties, Nevada. The order requires United, no later than 40 days after the acquisition […]
FTC Approves Final Consent Order Settling Charges That Background Screening Company Falsely Claimed Compliance with EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Framework
Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final consent order settling charges that a background screening company falsely claimed to be in compliance with the EU-U.S. and Swiss-U.S. Privacy Shield frameworks. SecurTest, Inc. agreed in June to settle FTC charges that its website falsely claimed that it participated in the […]
FTC Refunds Consumers Who Bought Deceptively Marketed and Advertised “Nobetes” Diabetes Treatment Supplement
The Federal Trade Commission is mailing 398 checks totaling $60,791 to refund consumers nationwide who bought “Nobetes,” a dietary supplement pill deceptively advertised as an effective diabetes treatment. The average amount per check is $152.74, and consumers are getting back all of the money they spent on the product. According to the Commission’s December 2018 […]
FTC Returns an Additional $757,946 to DOTAuthority.com Customers in Second Distribution
The Federal Trade Commission is sending checks totaling $757,946 to 14,948 small businesses that paid DOTAuthority.com Inc. or related defendants service fees for commercial vehicle registrations based on allegedly deceptive advertising and practices. The average refund is just over $50 per check. According to the FTC’s October 2016 complaint, the DOTAuthority defendants sent thousands of […]
FTC Approves Final Consent Orders with Five Companies that Allegedly Violated the Consumer Review Fairness Act
Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved final orders settling charges that five companies violated the Consumer Review Fairness Act (CRFA) by including provisions in form contracts that bar their customers from posting negative reviews. According to the agency’s administrative complaints, the first three of which were announced in May 2019 […]
FTC Obtains Telemarketing Injunctions against Recidivist Do Not Call Violators Jasjit “Jay” Gotra and His Company, Alliance Security Inc.
The Federal Trade Commission obtained a stipulated final order that permanently bans Alliance Security Inc. from telemarketing. The FTC also obtained a preliminary injunction barring Alliance’s founder and CEO, Jasit “Jay” Gotra, from telemarketing until the final resolution of the case against him. Gotra is the sole remaining defendant in a 2018 FTC case against […]
Operator of Email Management Service Settles FTC Allegations that it Deceived Consumers About How it Accesses and Uses Emails
An email management company will be required to delete personal information it collected from consumers as part of a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission over allegations that the company deceived some consumers about how it accesses and uses their personal emails. In a complaint, the FTC alleges that Unrollme Inc., falsely told consumers that […]