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FTC Actions Posts
‘Get-Rich-Quick’ Systems Penalized by FTC to Tune of $478 Million
Sep 24, 2012
‘Get-Rich-Quick’ Systems Penalized by FTC to Tune of $478 Million
As part of the Federal Trade Commission’s ongoing efforts to shut down scams that target financially vulnerable consumers, a U.S. district judge has issued a $478 million judgment at the request of the FTC against the marketers of three get-rich-quick systems that the agency says are used for deceiving consumers. The order is the largest…
With $22.5 Million Google Settlement, FTC Sends a Clear Message
Aug 20, 2012
With $22.5 Million Google Settlement, FTC Sends a Clear Message
On August 9, 2012, the Federal Trade Commission announced that Google has agreed to pay a $22.5 million penalty to settle the FTC’s charges that it violated a consent order regarding consumer privacy. This is the largest civil penalty that the FTC has ever exacted for a violation of one of the agency’s orders, and…
‘Your Baby Can Read,’ Targeted for Dubious Ads, Closes Its Doors
Jul 25, 2012
‘Your Baby Can Read,’ Targeted for Dubious Ads, Closes Its Doors
After nearly a decade of persuading hundreds of thousands of parents that their babies were geniuses, the popular company, Your Baby Can Read, is shutting its doors. Its demise is the result of an FTC investigation prompted by the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood advocacy group, which challenged claims by the company that newborns have…
Why POM Wonderful Can Celebrate FTC Judge’s Ruling in Advertising Case
May 23, 2012
Why POM Wonderful Can Celebrate FTC Judge’s Ruling in Advertising Case
Pomegranate juice maker POM Wonderful has declared victory against the FTC . . . in spite of an administrative law judge’s ruling that upholds many claims in the agency’s complaint. But the California company has good reason to celebrate: certain FTC standards, the ones that POM cried foul on, were rejected by the court. The…
Should FTC Protect Gamers Against Unhappy Endings?
May 22, 2012
Should FTC Protect Gamers Against Unhappy Endings?
Whether you or not you are an avid gamer, you have probably realized that a significant segment of the general population takes gaming quite seriously. Probably a little too seriously sometimes. It seems that the ending to the popular game Mass Effect 3 (“ME3”), which is produced by BioWare, disappointed many devoted players so much…
FTC Obtains Injunction, Asset Freeze on Alleged Mortgage Scam
Apr 2, 2012
FTC Obtains Injunction, Asset Freeze on Alleged Mortgage Scam
The Federal Trade Commission has obtained an order from the federal court for the Central District of California for a preliminary injunction and asset freeze against all the defendants in an alleged mortgage modification scam. The complaint was filed against California-based Sameer Lakhany and a number of related corporate entities for violating the Federal Trade…
Identity Theft Continues to Top FTC’s List of Consumer Complaints
Mar 26, 2012
Identity Theft Continues to Top FTC’s List of Consumer Complaints
For more than a decade, the Federal Trade Commission has been releasing its list of the top ten categories of consumer complaints received by the agency in the previous year. This list always serves as a good indication of the areas toward which the FTC may choose to direct its resources and increase its scrutiny….
HCG Marketers Face Hot Pursuit by FDA, FTC
Jan 8, 2012
HCG Marketers Face Hot Pursuit by FDA, FTC
Putting a snag in New Year’s resolutions for pound-shedding, the FDA and the FTC recently sent out warning letters to several companies that sell HCG-based diet products online. (These companies include Nutri-Fusion Systems LLC, Natural Medical Supply, HCG Platinum, LLC, theoriginalhcgdrops.com, HCG Diet Direct, LLC, and Hcg-miracleweightloss.com.) The warning letters, which came at the outset…
Inside the Privacy Event Keynoted By FTC Chair Leibowitz
Oct 19, 2011
Inside the Privacy Event Keynoted By FTC Chair Leibowitz
Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz delivered the keynote speech at a forum on Internet privacy on Oct. 11, 2011. He was part of a panel that discussed the protection of consumer data and the tracking of online consumer behavior. The Stanford Law School Center for Internet and Society also released a study the same…
Is It a Real Breast Cancer Cause – Or ‘Pinkwashing’?
Oct 5, 2011
Is It a Real Breast Cancer Cause – Or ‘Pinkwashing’?
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. And pink is everywhere – all over the shelves of retail stores like Wal-Mart and adorning the backs of NFL linemen. We’ve been trained to know that the color pink represents a supporter of breast cancer awareness or research. So sporting a pink ribbon, jersey, or band should demonstrate…
