Medical device company Boston Scientific Corp. has agreed to divest certain assets to Varian Medical Systems to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that Boston Scientific’s proposed $4.2 billion acquisition of medical equipment and pharmaceutical supplier BTG plc would violate federal antitrust law. The FTC alleges that, as proposed, Boston Scientific’s acquisition of BTG would harm […]
Category Archives: Federal Trade Commission
FTC to Host Workshop on Consumer Issues Related to Loot Boxes
WHAT: The Federal Trade Commission will host a public workshop to examine consumer protection issues related to video game “loot boxes”—in-game rewards players can buy or earn while playing a video game. WHEN: Wednesday, August 7, 10 a.m. – 4:15 p.m. ET (Doors open at 8:45 a.m. ET) WHERE: Constitution Center400 Seventh St., SWWashington, DC […]
FTC Challenges Proposed Merger of Two Hydrogen Peroxide Producers
The Federal Trade Commission today authorized an action to block Evonik Industries AG’s proposed $625 million acquisition of PeroxyChem Holding Company, alleging the merger of the chemical companies would substantially reduce competition in the Pacific Northwest and the Southern and Central United States for the production and sale of hydrogen peroxide, a commodity chemical used […]
FTC Sending Refunds to Victims of Tech Support Scam
The Federal Trade Commission is sending refund checks and PayPal payments totaling more than $802,000 to 12,140 consumers as part of a settlement with the operators of a St. Louis-based scam that tricked consumers into buying unnecessary technical support services. Eligible consumers paid for tech support products and services from Global Access Technical Support, which […]
Additional Defendants in Student Debt Relief Schemes Agree to Settle FTC Charges
Additional defendants involved with student loan debt relief schemes have been permanently banned from selling debt relief services pursuant to settlements with the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC alleged that they tricked consumers into paying illegal upfront fees in hopes of reducing or eliminating their student loan debt. One of the defendants, Brenda Avitia-Pena, has […]
FTC Encourages Consumers to Opt for Free Credit Monitoring, as part of Equifax Settlement
The Federal Trade Commission is urging consumers affected by Equifax’s 2017 data breach to consider signing up for the free credit monitoring offered as part of the settlement. A new FTC blog post notes that because of high interest in the alternative cash payment under the settlement, consumers who choose this option might end up getting […]
FTC Returns More than $748,000 to Consumers Who Signed Up for a “Free” Internet Auction Kit with Hidden Charges
The Federal Trade Commission is mailing 53,595 refund checks totaling $748,070 to consumers nationwide who signed up for an online auction kit that was supposed to be free, but wasn’t. The kit actually cost consumers up to $59.95 per month if they failed to cancel a trial membership in a business opportunity program called Online […]
FTC and Ohio Stop Rogue Payment Processor and a Credit Card Interest-Reduction Telemarketing Scheme that Allegedly Worked Together to Scam Consumers
At the request of the Federal Trade Commission and the State of Ohio, a federal court in El Paso, Texas shut down two schemes that allegedly bilked millions of dollars from consumers struggling with credit card debt. The court issued temporary restraining orders against Madera Merchant Services and B&P Enterprises and Educare Centre Services and Prolink, […]
FTC Announces New Public Web Page with Interactive Do Not Call and Robocall Data
As part of its continued efforts to help make the Do Not Call (DNC) data it collects more transparent and easier for consumers to use, the Federal Trade Commission today announced the debut of a new interactive public web page containing a wealth of information about the National DNC Registry and unwanted telemarketing robocalls. The […]
FTC Releases Agenda for Loot Box Workshop on August 7
The FTC has released the final agenda for its August 7, 2019 workshop that will examine consumer protection issues related to video game “loot boxes,” in-game rewards players can buy while playing a video game. Andrew Smith, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, will provide opening remarks at the workshop, which will focus […]