A Canadian company, RevenueWire, and its CEO, Roberta Leach, will pay $6.75 million to settle Federal Trade Commission charges they laundered credit card payments for, and assisted and facilitated, two tech support scams previously sued by the FTC. “Finding ways to get paid – without getting caught – is essential for scammers who steal money […]
Tag Archives: deceptive/misleading conduct Bureau of Consumer Protection Consumer Protection Advertising and Marketing
FTC Takes Action to Stop Direct Mail Pill Marketers’ Unproven Health Claims
The marketers of three supplements called Neurocet, Regenify, and Resetigen-D have settled a Federal Trade Commission compliant alleging they deceptively promoted their products to older Americans using false claims that their products could stop pain and treat age-related ailments. The proposed stipulated order would bar the defendants—five related companies called Mile High Madison Group, Inc., Nordic […]
Student Loan Debt Relief Companies Agree to Settle FTC Charges They Falsely Promised to Lower or Eliminate Consumers’ Student Loans
Three California-based student loan debt relief companies and their owner have agreed to be permanently banned from the debt relief business in order to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that they falsely promised to lower or eliminate consumers’ student loans in return for an illegal upfront fee. The FTC also alleged that the companies and […]
FTC Sends More Than $1 Million in Refunds to Victims of Invention Promotion Scam
The Federal Trade Commission is sending refunds totaling more than $1 million to consumers targeted by a bogus invention promotion business that failed to deliver on the services it promised, and bullied consumers who tried to complain. According to the FTC, consumers paid Scott Cooper and his companies, World Patent Marketing Inc. and Desa Industries […]
Three Defendants in Student Debt Relief Scheme Banned from Selling Debt Relief and Telemarketing
Three defendants in a student loan debt relief scheme have been banned from telemarketing and selling debt relief, and ordered to pay millions in resolution of Federal Trade Commission allegations that they deceived consumers by promising to reduce or eliminate consumers’ student loan debt. The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California found […]
Tea Marketer Misled Consumers, Didn’t Adequately Disclose Payments to Well-Known Influencers, FTC Alleges
Note: The FTC will host a conference call for media with Andrew Smith, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection:Date: March 6, 2020Time: 11:30 a.m., ETCall-in: 844-767-5651, confirmation number 2279256Call-in lines, which are for media only, will open 15 minutes prior to the start of the call. A marketer of teas and skincare products […]
Court Rules in Favor of FTC in Case Against Mortgage Relief Scammers
The U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada has ruled in favor of the Federal Trade Commission in a case against the operators of a scheme that deceived financially distressed homeowners by falsely promising to make their mortgages more affordable. The defendants also charged consumers illegal advance fees and unlawfully told consumers not to pay […]
FTC Announces Agenda for Workshop to Examine Changing Consumer Demographics
The Federal Trade Commission has announced the agenda and panelists for its upcoming workshop in Washington, DC, on December 6, 2016, to examine changing consumer demographics and how they will affect the FTC’s work in the years ahead. The event will feature opening remarks by FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez. Researchers, marketers, consumer groups, and law […]
FTC Action: International Scammers Banned from Business Directory Business
In an action brought by the Federal Trade Commission in 2013, a federal court has banned a Slovakia-based company and two of its executives from the business directory business, ending a scam that for years took millions of dollars from small businesses and non-profits in the United States and other countries. A default judgment entered […]
FTC Brings Two Actions Against Operators of Online ‘High Schools’
The Federal Trade Commission has filed charges against two operators of online “high schools” that claim to be legitimate but are alleged to be little more than diploma mills charging anywhere from $135 to $349 for a worthless certificate. In its federal court complaints, the FTC alleges that these two separate operations mislead consumers about […]