FTC Business Blog - Economy

If you’re deceiving consumers, the FTC means business: exploring the recent settlement with MediaAlpha | Federal Trade Commission

Are you a collector of lead data, a seller of leads, or a purchaser of leads? There’s something for you in today’s FTC settlement with MediaAlpha. The FTC alleges that the online lead generation company misled consumers interested in health insurance into sharing personal information MediaAlpha then sold to telemarketers. As a result, consumers were allegedly bombarded with millions of illegal robocalls, live telemarketing calls, and other unlawful sales tactics.

Does your business offer subscription services? Learn about the FTC’s settlement with Chegg | Federal Trade Commission

Nowadays people can use subscription services for almost all areas of life: entertainment, food, gifts, fitness, education. These (often monthly) charges can add up, so if someone decides they want to cancel a subscription they should, well, be able to cancel it. Too often, consumers must navigate confusing and difficult cancellation processes to stop their subscriptions — which wastes time and costs them money. The FTC is committed to stopping unlawful subscription billing and cancellation practices. For a recent example, check out today’s settlement with the education technology company, Chegg.

Auto Dealer? Interested in the Safeguards Rule? The FTC has some FAQs for you | Federal Trade Commission

If you’re a regular reader of this blog, or you’re someone tuned in to how financial institutions are required to maintain safeguards to protect their customers’ information, you might already know about the FTC’s Safeguards Rule and what businesses need to know. Those in the know know that the Safeguards Rule generally applies to any financial institutions under the FTC’s jurisdiction. But auto dealers are the only financial institutions who also fall under the FTC’s Privacy Rule. The FTC recently released a set of Frequently Asked Questions to help auto dealers comply with the FTC’s amended Safeguards Rule.

Enforcing the Opioid Addiction Recovery Fraud Prevention Act: The FTC’s settlement with Evoke Wellness and what it means for businesses | Federal Trade Commission

The FTC is cracking down on companies attempting to deceive people seeking treatment for addiction. An example of this effort is the FTC’s recently filed settlement to resolve allegations that Evoke Wellness and two of its executives used illegal tactics to trick people seeking substance use disorder treatment services.

Mark your calendars, telemarketers and sellers! October 15 is the Telemarketing Sales Rule’s Record Store Day. | Federal Trade Commission

Get ready. It’s almost Store Your Records Day for telemarketers everywhere.

Is that really the United States Patent and Trademark Office? | Federal Trade Commission

You already know how important trademarks and patents are to protecting your intellectual property. But do you know how to tell the difference between the real United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and scammers pretending to be the USPTO? Here’s how the scam is playing out for businesses.

Don’t waste your energy on a solar scam | Federal Trade Commission

Solar energy and other high efficiency home improvements can help reduce energy consumption and lower utility costs for homeowners.

Just what the doctor didn’t order | Federal Trade Commission

There’s a scam targeting doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals, but you could be a part of the cure.

This National Preparedness Month, make a plan for your business | Federal Trade Commission

How will your business operate if important systems are down due to a natural disaster or weather emergency? Do you have backup files of critical data? And do your communications, IT, and operations staff know what to do during an emergency?

Cancelling a gym (or other) membership shouldn’t be a heavy lift: what businesses can learn from the FTC’s case against LA Fitness | Federal Trade Commission

It’s a common trope that joining a gym is easy, going to the gym is hard, and cancelling a gym membership is often…well, not easy. According to the FTC’s recent case against the operators of LA Fitness, “not easy” is an understatement for consumers seeking to cancel their LA Fitness memberships or related services.

FTC takes on unproven health claims and “own-dorsements” | Federal Trade Commission

It’s a disturbing trend. Companies are targeting older consumers, claiming to have easy answers for serious diseases for which there may not be a proven cure.

When all is said and dun: Record-setting penalty for debt collection violations | Federal Trade Commission

"You’ve reached the FTC.  Sorry we’re not able to take your call right now.  But if you’re Expert Global Solutions — the biggest debt collection operation in the world — please pay a $3.2

Made in USA claims: Three cheers for the said right and true | Federal Trade Commission

Two products sit side by side on the store shelf, but only one says “Made in USA.” For many consumers, that’s an important consideration in deciding what to buy.

District court rules on redress, ROSCA, and disclosures | Federal Trade Commission

The scheme started with a Craigslist ad for a rental property and ended with a

Stick with Security: Put procedures in place to keep your security current and address vulnerabilities that may arise | Federal Trade Commission

FTC sues marketers of student loan “debt relief” – and financer who helped it happen | Federal Trade Commission

Every spring at colleges across the country, many graduates receive a diploma in their hand – and an albatross around their neck.

FTC and Colorado AG: Infomercial pitchman's promissory promises not premised on truth | Federal Trade Commission

According to the ubiquitous infomercials, to rake in the big bucks with Russell Dalbey’s “wealth-building” programs, all you had to do was “Find ‘Em,” “List ‘Em,” and “Make Money" — the “‘Em” being

Office Depot and Support.com to pay $35 million for falsely claiming scan detected signs of malware on consumers’ computers | Federal Trade Commission

It’s an illegal practice the FTC has challenged for decades: companies convincing consumers to pay for “repairs” on products that don’t really need fixing.

New FTC warning letters cite unsupported Coronavirus-related health and earnings claims | Federal Trade Commission

The FTC is not the pen pal you want if you operate a multi-level marketing company but aren’t closely monitoring your distributors.

The Reebok settlement: What the FTC order means for advertisers and retailers | Federal Trade Commission

The FTC’s settlement with Reebok requires the company to get their ad claims in shape and works out a $25 million refund program for people who bought E

Lights out on unsubstantiated pain relief claims and deceptive native advertising | Federal Trade Commission

For consumers struggling with severe or chronic pain, ads for a product called Willow Curve appeared to offer light at the end of the tunnel.

FTC says DIRECTV wasn’t so direct about fees and negative options | Federal Trade Commission

Have you seen the ads where a popular celebrity touts DIRECTV on his own behalf and as the Painfully Awkward, Overly Paranoid, or Crazy Hairy version of himself?

FTC and New York AG miffed by overbiffing | Federal Trade Commission

If you aren’t familiar with the word “overbiffing,” there’s no need to add it to your vocabulary.

i-Dressup and a data security mess-up | Federal Trade Commission

Kids love to play dress-up, but parents wouldn’t want them rummaging through the attic or climbing to the top shelf of the wardrobe without permission and proper supervision.

You had me at aloe? FTC challenges disease treatment claims for aloe and cranberry products | Federal Trade Commission

Aloe and cranberry: a useful plant and a nutritious fruit.

Null and VoIP: FTC reminds service providers of the letter of the law | Federal Trade Commission

We usually wouldn’t suggest you read someone else’s mail, but

Hide and sneak | Federal Trade Commission

When playing hide and seek as a child, remember those kids who always seemed to find that hidden crawl space or cranny?  Whatever happened to them?

Online Trading Academy settles charges it made deceptive money-making claims and tried to gag consumers | Federal Trade Commission

In a lawsuit filed earlier this year, the FTC alleged that Online Trading Academy made unsubstantiated mega-bucks promises about their purported investment training programs.

FTC's record-setting Do Not Call settlement: 4 tips for business and one candid suggestion | Federal Trade Commission

Yesterday’s 10th anniversary of the National Do Not Call Registry was a good time to reflect on a decade of

Stick with Security: Secure paper, physical media, and devices | Federal Trade Commission

Student loan debt and COVID: FTC sends warning letter to Frank Financial Aid | Federal Trade Commission

For people dealing with student loan debt – your employees, a family member, or maybe you – the CARES Act gives emergency grants to qualifying borrowers.

First FTC ROSCA case challenges bogus BOGO and "free" claims | Federal Trade Commission

It’s called ROSCA – the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act – and it prohibits marketers from charging consumers for an online transaction unless the marketer has clearly disclosed all material

Screen regs and spam? | Federal Trade Commission

Do you like them on the screen Of your mobile phone machine? I do not like text message spam. I do not like them, Sam I am.

Zooming in on Zoom’s unfair and deceptive security practices: More about the FTC settlement | Federal Trade Commission

This time last year, “zoom” was just a word related to speed.

$40.2 million reminder about the importance of due diligence and monitoring | Federal Trade Commission

Companies that deceive consumers often don’t act alone. Pull back the curtain and you may find behind-the-scenes businesses that lend a hand.

FTC issues 6(b) orders to social media and video streaming services | Federal Trade Commission

One digit can make a lot of difference. Would the Proclaimers have walked 501 miles? How effective was Love Potion #10?

Stick with Security: Require secure passwords and authentication | Federal Trade Commission

FTC says Bronx Honda discriminated against African-American and Hispanic consumers | Federal Trade Commission

The FTC’s complaint against Bronx Honda alleges the company jacked up what c

FTC alleges deception in “unbiased” review site’s ratings and rankings | Federal Trade Commission

Top picks, star ratings, in-depth reviews. Many consumers don’t buy anything without consulting third-party review sites or checking out the opinions of other customers.

In-app and unapproved: FTC says Amazon charged parents' accounts without their OK | Federal Trade Commission

If there’s one theme that runs through decades of FTC law, it’s that companies need consumers’ informed consent to bill their accounts. That was true in the early days of mail order.