April is Financial Literacy Month, and the Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, has information to help you make the most of your money whether you’re a student, young adult, parent, older person, or military service member. “There’s no time like the present to learn proven money-management skills,” said David C. Vladeck, Director […]
Tag Archives: Consumer Protection
Telemarketers Barred from Falsely Telling Consumers That Proceeds from the Sale of Household Goods Will Benefit Charities or the Disabled
An Arizona-based telemarketing operation that identified itself as “Helping Hands of Hope” has settled charges that it conned consumers into buying household items such as light bulbs and trash bags that were priced substantially higher than at retail, by falsely promising the proceeds would benefit charities or the disabled. The defendants will be permanently barred […]
New Jersey-Based Telephone Fundraisers Banned from Soliciting Donations; Will Pay $18.8 Million for Violating FTC Order
The operators of a New Jersey-based telemarketing scheme will pay a record $18.8 million and leave the charitable donation business to settle charges that they violated a Federal Trade Commission order by misleading consumers to believe that they were donating directly to legitimate charities serving police, firefighters, and veterans, when in fact only a small […]
Marketing Company Settles FTC Charges; Falsely Told Consumers They Were Pre-Approved for Auto Loans
A marketing company that solicits prospective customers for automobile dealers has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it falsely told low-income and “credit-challenged” consumers that they were pre-approved for auto loans and improperly obtained their names from a consumer reporting agency. According to the FTC, the company prepared sales solicitations for automobile dealers […]
Auto Warranty Robocallers To Pay Over $655,000 and Sell Assets For Consumer Redress
A deceptive robocall operation that allegedly used millions of pre-recorded telemarketing messages to fraudulently pitch extended auto warranties to U.S. consumers will pay more than $655,000 in consumer redress and will be permanently banned from telemarketing, as part of a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission. The company that arranged to blast out auto warranty […]
FTC Releases Agenda for Final Roundtable on Consumer Privacy
The Federal Trade Commission today released the agenda for its final roundtable on consumer privacy issues scheduled for March 17, 2010, at the FTC Conference Center, 601 New Jersey Ave,. NW Washington DC, 20001. The Roundtable is the last of three public events designed to explore the privacy challenges that are posed by technology and […]
FTC Proposes Requiring EnergyGuide Labels on TVs to Better Inform Consumers
The Federal Trade Commission today proposed requiring that EnergyGuide labels appear on televisions sold in the United States so consumers shopping for TVs will have more information about the energy use of different models. The familiar yellow-and-black rectangular labels currently are required on many consumer appliances, such as washing machines and refrigerators, and provide useful […]
FTC to Distribute $3 Million in Refunds to Consumers Who Bought Bogus Health Products
The Federal Trade Commission will distribute more than 5,700 refund checks totaling approximately $3 million to consumers who bought infrared saunas and dietary supplements from Roex, Inc., based on bogus claims that the products would treat, prevent, or cure a wide range of serious diseases. The amounts of the refund checks were determined by the […]
Payment Processing CEO Banned from the Business; Company Illegally Debited Millions from Consumers Bank Accounts
The chief executive officer of a payment processing company will be banned from the business as part of a settlement resolving Federal Trade Commission charges that the company illegally debited millions of dollars in bogus charges from consumers’ bank accounts. In 2007, the FTC charged the executive, Tarzenea Dixon, her company, and others with processing […]
FTC Returns $1.6 Million to Consumers Scammed by Bogus Debt Collector
The FTC will distribute $1.6 million to thousands of consumers who were scammed into paying money they did not owe by con artists who threatened, harassed and lied to them. In 2003, the FTC sued three companies, operating under the name National Check Control, charging them with harassing and abusing consumers, falsely threatening criminal prosecution, […]