Social networking service Myspace has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it misrepresented its protection of users’ personal information. The settlement, part of the FTC’s ongoing efforts make sure companies live up to the privacy promises they make to consumers, bars Myspace from future privacy misrepresentations, requires it to implement a comprehensive privacy […]
Tag Archives: Consumer Protection
New York City Funeral Home Settles FTC Charges it Failed to Disclose Casket Prices
The operator of a New York City funeral home has agreed to settle a Federal Trade Commission enforcement action charging it with a violation of the Funeral Rule, an FTC consumer protection rule designed to give consumers itemized price information so they can buy only the funeral goods and services they want. This is the […]
FTC Wins Court Judgment Against Massive Get-Rich-Quick Infomercial Scam
The Federal Trade Commission won a court judgment against the marketers of three get-rich-quick systems who deceived nearly a million consumers. As part of its ongoing efforts to stop scams that prey upon financially distressed consumers, the FTC is seeking more than $450 million in monetary relief. On April 20, 2012, Federal District Judge Jacqueline […]
FTC Action Halts Alleged Scam That Dangled the False Promise of ‘Free Gas for Life’ Then Charged Consumers for Unwanted E-Magazine Subscriptions
The Federal Trade Commission put a stop to an online operation that allegedly lured consumers with a supposedly “free” book falsely promising that it would show them how to power their cars and homes at no cost, and then billed them for an online magazine they never ordered. The defendants behind the alleged scam have […]
FTC Announces Agenda, Panelists for Mobile Payments Workshop
April 26, 2012 8:00 A.M. Registration 8:30 Welcoming RemarksDavid Vladeck, Director, Bureau of Consumer Protection, FTC 8:45 Mobile Payments: The Present and the FutureCarol Coye Benson, Managing Partner, Glenbrook Partners 9:15 Panel 1 – Opportunities and Challenges for Businesses and Consumers Moderators: Andrew Hasty, Mobile Technology Program Specialist, Division of Financial Practices, FTCMalini Mithal, Assistant […]
FTC Action Leads to Court Order Banning Final “U.S. Homeowners Relief” Defendants from Debt and Mortgage Relief Business
At the request of the Federal Trade Commission, a federal court has imposed a court order with a $3.89 million judgment against defendant Samuel Paul Bain and three of his companies for their role in an allegedly fraudulent mortgage modification and foreclosure relief scheme. The court order also bans Bain and his firms from telemarketing, […]
FTC Action Results in Ban Against Couple from Telemarketing, Timeshare Resale Services
The Federal Trade Commission put the telemarketing and timeshare businesses off-limits to a south Florida couple who allegedly operated a deceptive telemarketing scheme that victimized property owners hoping to sell their timeshares. Pasquale Pappalardo and his wife, Lisa Tumminia-Pappalardo, agreed to settlements with the FTC that permanently ban them from telemarketing and engaging in timeshare […]
FTC Charges that Auto Loan Schemes Falsely Promised They Could Stop Consumers’ Cars from Being Repossessed
The Federal Trade Commission filed charges and requested that a U.S. district court put a stop to the allegedly deceptive tactics of two California-based auto loan modification operations. The FTC asserted that the two separate operations charged hundreds of dollars in up-front fees, based on bogus promises that they could reduce consumers’ monthly car loan […]
FTC Case Against Deceptive Robocallers Leads to Record $30 Million in Civil Penalties
In response to charges by the Federal Trade Commission, a federal judge has ordered the defendants behind a deceptive robocall scheme to pay a total of $30 million in civil penalties and give up more than $1.1 million in ill-gotten gains for violations of the FTC Act and the Telemarketing Sales Rule. The court order […]
FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz Confirmed for Second Term as Commissioner;Maureen Ohlhausen Confirmed as new FTC Commissioner
Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz and Maureen K. Ohlhausen were confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Thursday to serve as Commissioners of the FTC. Leibowitz was first appointed to the Commission in 2004 and was designated by President Barack Obama to serve as Chairman in 2009. As Chairman, he has worked to stop scams […]