Federal Trade Commission
FTC Halts Deceptive Mortgage Loan Modification Scheme
The Federal Trade Commission has charged a mortgage loan modification operation with deceiving financially distressed homeowners by falsely promising to prevent foreclosure and make their mortgages more affordable. A federal court temporarily halted the scheme and froze the defendants’ assets at the FTC’s request.
Solar Panel Lead Generation Robocallers Who Pitched Energy Savings Settle FTC Charges
Two brothers and the companies they ran have settled a federal district court complaint brought by the Federal Trade Commission and litigated by the Department of Justice, that charged them with running a telemarketing operation that made millions of illegal robocalls promising consumers energy savings in order to generate leads to sell to solar panel installation companies
FTC Obtains Court Order against Deceptive Marketers Who Tricked Consumers with Ads for Non-existent...
The Federal Trade Commission has obtained a court order against two men for their roles in an alleged scheme that lured consumers with fake rental property ads and deceptive promises of “free” credit reports into signing up for a costly credit monitoring service. The two settling defendants will pay a total of $762,000 to resolve the agency’s claims.
Court Finds Defendants Lied to Consumers When Selling Legal Services for Mortgage Relief
A federal court has found that Jeremy Foti and Charles Marshall, acting through Brookstone Law and Advantis Law, “made numerous false and/or misleading material statements to consumers” when selling legal services for purported mortgage relief.
FTC Announces Winner of its Internet of Things Home Device Security Contest
The Federal Trade Commission announced that a mobile app developed by a New Hampshire software developer was awarded the top prize in the agency’s competition seeking tools to help consumers protect the security of their Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
FTC Office and Bureau Directors Comment on State Legislative Proposal Affecting Compensation for North...
In response to a request from North Carolina Assistant Attorney General Roberta A. Ouellette, the directors of the Federal Trade Commission’s Office of Policy Planning, Bureau of Competition and Bureau of Economics have issued a comment on the competitive impact of proposed legislation affecting compensation for real estate appraisers in North Carolina.
FTC Challenges Louisiana Real Estate Appraisal Board Regulations that Restrict Competition
The Federal Trade Commission has filed a complaint against the Louisiana Real Estate Appraisal Board, alleging that the group is unreasonably restraining price competition for appraisal services in Louisiana, contrary to federal antitrust law.
FTC Obtains Court Order Requiring Owner of Precious Metals Investment Scam To Surrender Florida...
A federal court has granted the Federal Trade Commission’s request fo
FTC Staff Submits Comment to FERC on Helping New Electricity Generators Connect to the...
The Federal Trade Commission staff has submitted a comment to the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The staff comment responds to FERC’s request for comments on its proposal to improve the rules governing how electricity generation facilities connect to the transmission grid. These reforms are designed to allow wholesale power producers to connect to the transmission grid more quickly and cost-effectively
Final Defendant in Alleged Mortgage Relief Scam Settles FTC Charges
The final defendant in an alleged mortgage relief scam that preyed upon distressed homeowners will be banned from selling mortgage or debt relief services under a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission.
FTC Preserves Competition in Merger of Enbridge Inc. and Spectra Energy Corp
Energy infrastructure companies Enbridge Inc. and Spectra Energy Corp have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that the proposed merger of Enbridge and Spectra likely would harm competition in the market for pipeline transportation of natural gas in three production areas off the coast of Louisiana.
FTC Undercover Inspections of Funeral Homes in Nine States Prompt Compliance with Funeral Rule...
Federal Trade Commission investigators working undercover in nine states found failures to disclose pricing information to consumers, as required by the FTC’s Funeral Rule, in 31 of the 133 funeral homes they visited during 2015 and 2016.
Marketer of Water Filtration Systems Settles with FTC, Agrees to Drop Misleading ‘Made in...
A Georgia-based distributor of water filtration systems will stop making misleading unqualified claims that its products are made in the United States, under a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission.
FTC Halts Scheme That Advertised Phony Rental Properties and ‘Free’ Credit Reports to Enroll...
The Federal Trade Commission has charged Credit Bureau Center LLC and three individuals with luring consumers with fake rental property ads and deceptive promises of “free” credit reports into signing up for a costly credit monitoring service.
Mortgage Relief Defendant Banned from Debt Relief Business
Damian Kutzner, one of the operators of a mortgage relief scheme that bilked millions of dollars from financially distressed homeowners, has agreed to a court order banning him from the debt relief business
FTC Announces Internet of Things Challenge to Combat Security Vulnerabilities in Home Devices
The Federal Trade Commission announced today that it is challenging the public to create an innovative tool that will help protect consumers from security vulnerabilities in the software of home devices connected to the Internet of Things. The agency is offering a cash prize of up to $25,000 for the best technical solution, with up to $3,000 available for up to three honorable mention winner(s)
FTC and Department of Justice Submit Comment to FERC on Need for Careful Market...
The Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division have submitted a comment to the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regarding market power in wholesale electricity markets. The comment responds to a FERC request for comments on how it assesses market power with respect to mergers and electricity sales at market-based rates, which it evaluates under the Federal Power Act (FPA).
FTC Action: Court Bans Mortgage Relief Scammers from Debt Relief Business
The operators of an alleged mortgage relief scam that preyed upon distressed homeowners are banned from the mortgage loan modification and debt relief business under a court order obtained by the Federal Trade Commission.
FTC Action: Court Orders Ban Mortgage Relief Scammers from Mortgage Modification and Debt Relief...
The principals of a mortgage relief operation and their companies are banned from the mortgage loan modification and debt relief business under court orders obtained by the Federal Trade Commission. The orders resolve charges that the scheme falsely promised financially distressed homeowners they would receive legal representation to prevent foreclosure or lower their mortgage payments and interest rates, and illegally charged thousands of dollars in advance
FTC Consumer Tips for Homeowners and People Affected by Louisiana Floods
In the wake of the flooding in Louisiana, the Federal Trade Commission has developed a series of blog posts with useful information for homeowners and people affected by the floods, and for those who want to help victims with charitable donations
