All posts tagged online scams

The Facts of (Your) Life Spokeo, Inc., a data broker that compiles and sells detailed information profiles on millions of people, will pay $800,000 to settle FTC charges that it marketed the profiles to human resources professionals, job recruiters, and others as an employment screening tool without taking the appropriate steps. Those steps, required under…

Speaking of Spokeo: Part 3 By Lesley Fair June 15, 2012 – 11:02am The terms of the FTC’s Spokeo settlement apply just to Spokeo, but that case and other recent law enforcement actions offer insights for a much broader audience. Consumer reporting agencies. Sure, people usually think of a few specific companies when the topic…

Speaking of Spokeo: Part 2 — The company’s allegedly bogus endorsements By Lesley Fair June 13, 2012 – 12:25pm The lawsuit against data broker Spokeo is the FTC’s first Fair Credit Reporting Act case addressing the collection of online info — including data from social networking sites — when used in the context of employment…

From the Bureau of Consumer Protection Business Center Speaking of Spokeo: Part 1 By Lesley Fair June 12, 2012 – 10:28am Like chicken and waffles or ham and pineapple on pizza, some combos don’t sound like they’d go together, but make sense once you find out more. Put the FTC’s settlement with Spokeo on that…

From the Bureau of Consumer Protection Business Cente Collection deception By Lesley Fair May 31, 2012 – 10:35am On classic episodes of the Tonight Show, affable sidekick Ed McMahon sought guidance from Johnny Carson’s all-knowing Carnac character.  But as demonstrated by a recent FTC law enforcement action — which involved a company’s misleading reference to…

Skechers Ads to Shape Up Skechers shoe Skechers USA, Inc. has agreed to pay $40 million to settle charges that it deceived people with ads claiming its Shape-ups and other “toning shoes” would help them lose weight and strengthen muscles. Ads challenged by the FTC include one that aired during the 2011 Super Bowl showing…

FTC to Skechers: Shape up your ad claims By Lesley Fair May 16, 2012 – 11:05am It’s usually Skechers promising to help people shape up. But this time, the shoe’s on the other foot. In a $40 million settlement announced by the FTC — part of a broader agreement that also resolves charges by state…

Promotion commotion By Lesley Fair April 27, 2012 – 12:11pm This one took some chutzpah — with a capital –CHHH.  But there’s a message, too, for companies that want to keep their promotions on the up-and-up. International Award Advisors, Prize Registry Bureau, National Awards Service Advisory, and others sent out millions of personalized mailers identifying people…

From the Bureau of Consumer Protection Business Center: Nightmare on Main Street By Lesley Fair April 13, 2012 – 11:20am With a company name like Broadway Global Master, you might expect high kicks and jazz hands. The defendants told a dramatic story, all right — but according to the FTC, it was a harrowing tale…

From the Bureau of Consumer Protection Business Center of the FTC   Auto loan modifications? Take note. * By Lesley Fair * April 6, 2012 – 11:13am http://business.ftc.gov/blog/2012/04/auto-loan-modifications-take-note Tough federal and state law enforcement has turned up the heat on mortgage foreclosure rescue scams. So some operators are turning to auto loan modifications to make…