Announcements Bogus Medical Discount Cards: FTC Crack Down on Bogus "Medical Discount Plans With so many Americans struggling to deal with the costs of health care, these medical discount benefit plans sound appealing because they masquerade as health insurance,” said David Vladeck, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “But they are not insurance. Aug 12, 2010 - 4:30:41 AM
Law Enforcement Actions BlueHippo: FTC Lodges Contempt Charge Against BlueHippo The Federal Trade Commission has asked a federal court to issue a contempt
order against BlueHippo, a company that collected more than $15 million from
consumers based on claims that it would finance their purchases of new
computers, but delivered neither the financing nor the financed computers, in
violation of a 2008 court order. Nov 13, 2009 - 7:54:26 AM
Law Enforcement Actions Tracking an Online Threat: The FBI Reports Tip number 2136079 flashed on one of our Submit a Crime
Tip computer screens January 12, 2009, eight days before the
inauguration of Barack Obama: "I'm going to assassinate the new
president of the United States of America,” the message said in all
capital letters, followed by hundreds of exclamation marks. And there
was a P.S.: "YOU HAVE 48 HOURS TO STOP IT FROM HAPPENING…."
Jun 26, 2009 - 12:18:24 PM
Announcements Payday Loan Lead Generators Settle FTC Charges Two payday loan lead generators have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that their Internet advertising stated payday loan costs and repayment periods without disclosing annual percentage rate (APR) information as federal law requires. Jun 24, 2008 - 9:08:24 AM
Announcements Nursing Home Violations: The Springs at Carlotta In Riverside County Receives The Springs at the Carlotta in Riverside County has received a "AA" citation, the most severe penalty under state law, and a $100,000 fine, the highest fine under state law, from the state of California after an investigation concluded that inadequate care led to the death of a resident, announced Dr. Mark Horton, director of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).
Apr 23, 2008 - 7:49:10 AM
Announcements DMV Indictes Car Sales Representatives on Fraud Charges Felony criminal charges were disclosed Wednesday against former sales representatives of Power Toyota of Cerritos, as indictments were unsealed in Los Angeles Superior Court. Bail has been set at $80,000 sales representatives . Apr 12, 2008 - 1:31:46 PM
Announcements Dillard’s To Pay Half Million To Settle EEOC Class Sexual Harassment Suit The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today announced it has settled its class sexual harassment lawsuit against the Dillard’s department store chain for $500,000 and substantial remedial relief on behalf of a class of 12 female former employees who were sexually harassed by an assistant store manager in two states. Apr 2, 2008 - 1:13:12 PM
Announcements ValueClick to Pay $2.9 Million to Settle FTC Charges - Online advertiser ValueClick, Inc., will pay a record $2.9 million to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that its advertising claims and e-mails were deceptive and violated federal law. The agency also charged that ValueClick and its subsidiaries, Hi-Speed Media and E-Babylon failed to secure consumers’ sensitive financial information, despite their claims to do so. The settlement, filed by the Department of Justice on behalf of the FTC, requires ValueClick to clearly and conspicuously disclose the costs and obligations consumers must incur to receive the products it touts as “free” and bars future violations of the CAN-SPAM Act. The settlement also bars deceptive claims about the security of the consumer information collected at its e-commerce Web sites. Mar 18, 2008 - 8:49:50 AM
Law Enforcement Actions Major Child Porn Ring Busted: The FBI Reports Thanks to a global law enforcement operation spanning five countries, three continents, and 11 U.S. states. As part of the continuing investigation, a total of 22 men have been arrested, including 14 in America, four in Germany, and two each in Australia and the U.K. Mar 13, 2008 - 7:13:33 AM
Announcements Corporate Hijackings: SEC Suspends Trading of 26 Companies to Combat Corporate Hijackings Washington, D.C., March 13, 2008 - The Securities and Exchange Commission today suspended trading in the securities of 26 companies that appear to have usurped the identity of defunct or inactive publicly-traded corporations using a tactic known as corporate hijacking. The Commission ordered the suspensions because of questions regarding the adequacy and accuracy of information pertaining to their status as publicly-traded companies. Mar 13, 2008 - 7:04:24 AM
An X-rated Web operation that paid affiliates who used illegal e-mail to drive customers to its Web sites will pay a $413,000 civil penalty under a settlement reached with the FTC and the Department of Justice. The settlement also bars the illegal marketing practices in the future and requires the operator to monitor its affiliates to ensure that they are complying with the law.
The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has voted to institute an investigation of certain noise cancelling headphones. The products at issue in this investigation are headphones that have features that reduce ambient noise, which are most often used to improve the experience of listening to an audio source. The investigation is based on a complaint filed by Bose Corporation of Framingham, MA, on November 29, 2007.
Dec 27, 2007 - 11:37:46 AM
Law Enforcement Actions Local Hunter Fined for Using Bait to Attract Ducks On Monday, United States Magistrate Judge Leonard P. Stark of the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware fined William Bryant of Nottingham, Pa., $1,000 after he pleaded guilty to baiting a pond to lure waterfowl for hunters. Bryant faced up to a year in jail and a $100,000 fine for the federal misdemeanor. Dec 13, 2007 - 7:59:13 AM
Announcements CVS Pharmacy Inc. agrees to pay more than $226,000 in penalties Woonsocket-based CVS Pharmacy Inc. has agreed to pay the U.S. Department of Labor civil money penalties totaling $226,598 and to pay 51 employees back wages totaling $38,151 following an investigation by the department that revealed violations of the wage and youth employment provisions of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Dec 13, 2007 - 7:53:36 AM
Announcements Retail Burglary Scheme Busted in San Diego California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced that two Texan shoplifters will be arraigned today on commercial burglary charges for buying and returning $375,000 in stolen goods at retailers including Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Victoria’s Secret and Gap across 34 states. Dec 11, 2007 - 7:04:42 AM
Law Enforcement Actions Do Not Call Violators: FTC Announces Law Enforcement Crackdown on Do Not Call Violators The Federal Trade Commission today announced a law enforcement crackdown on companies and individuals accused of violating the requirements of the National Do Not Call (DNC) Registry, resulting in six settlements collectively imposing nearly $7.7 million in civil penalties, along with an additional complaint that will be filed in federal district court. Nov 7, 2007 - 1:25:20 PM
Mayaguez, P.R. – On October 15, 2007, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers working the outbound operations at the Ferry terminal intercepted a vehicle with currency concealed in its tires.
Oct 17, 2007 - 7:02:22 PM
Announcements FTC Stops International Spamming Enterprise that Sold Bogus Hoodia and Human Growth Hormone Pills Spammers must stop sending unwanted and illegal e-mail messages about hoodia weight-loss products and human growth hormone anti-aging products that the Federal Trade Commission alleges don’t work. At the FTC’s request, a district court judge ordered a halt to the e-mails and to product claims that the FTC charges are false and unsubstantiated. The law enforcement action, announced today at an international meeting of government authorities and private industry about spam, spyware, and other online threats, is the first brought by the agency using the U.S. SAFE WEB Act to share information with foreign partners. Oct 10, 2007 - 8:35:08 AM
