Consumer protection

FTC, California DFPI Case Leads to Ban Against Operators of Mortgage Relief Scam Home Matters USA

Retrieved on:

Friday, February 16, 2024

Social media, FTC, News, Consumer protection, Fraud, California Department, Human, Blog, Federal Trade Commission, Veteran, Heart

The court found that the defendants falsely promised to reduce homeowners’ mortgage payments and prevent foreclosures, defrauding distressed homeowners out of millions of dollars.

Key Points:

The court found that the defendants falsely promised to reduce homeowners’ mortgage payments and prevent foreclosures, defrauding distressed homeowners out of millions of dollars.
“We look forward to more opportunities to partner with the California DFPI on behalf of consumers.”
“This case also demonstrates the value of the California Consumer Financial Protection Law as a tool to combat deceptive and predatory financial schemes.
Fraudsters everywhere should take note – DFPI will find you, expose you, and hold you accountable.
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FTC Staff Provides Annual Letter to CFPB On 2023 Equal Credit Opportunity Act Activities

Retrieved on:

Friday, February 16, 2024

The staff of the Federal Trade Commission has provided the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) an annual summary of its enforcement and related activities on the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA).

Key Points:

The staff of the Federal Trade Commission has provided the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) an annual summary of its enforcement and related activities on the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA).
The FTC is responsible for ECOA enforcement and education regarding most non-bank financial service providers.
The lead attorney on this matter for the FTC was Carole Reynolds in the Bureau of Consumer Protection.
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FTC, California DFPI Case Leads to Ban Against Operators of Mortgage Relief Scam Home Matters USA

Retrieved on:

Friday, February 16, 2024

Social media, FTC, News, Consumer protection, Fraud, California Department, Human, Blog, Federal Trade Commission, Veteran, Heart

The court found that the defendants falsely promised to reduce homeowners’ mortgage payments and prevent foreclosures, defrauding distressed homeowners out of millions of dollars.

Key Points:

The court found that the defendants falsely promised to reduce homeowners’ mortgage payments and prevent foreclosures, defrauding distressed homeowners out of millions of dollars.
“We look forward to more opportunities to partner with the California DFPI on behalf of consumers.”
“This case also demonstrates the value of the California Consumer Financial Protection Law as a tool to combat deceptive and predatory financial schemes.
Fraudsters everywhere should take note – DFPI will find you, expose you, and hold you accountable.
Follow the FTC on social media, read consumer alerts and the business blog, and sign up to get the latest FTC news and alerts.

FTC Order Will Ban California-based Company from COVID-19 Advertising Claims

Retrieved on:

Thursday, February 15, 2024

Social media, FTC, Dietary supplement, PPO, FDA, News, Consumer protection, Infection, District court, Learning, Food, Advertising, Blog, COVID, Federal Trade Commission, Science, Commission

“The order announced today bans PPO and its owner from making COVID-related health claims and unsubstantiated health claims generally” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.

Key Points:

“The order announced today bans PPO and its owner from making COVID-related health claims and unsubstantiated health claims generally” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.
Based on this conduct, the FTC alleged that the defendants violated the FTC Act by: 1) making unsubstantiated efficacy claims for their product and 2) falsely claiming to have scientific evidence to support their health claims.
The proposed order settling the complaint addresses each of the defendants’ alleged violations of the FTC Act.
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FTC Order Will Ban California-based Company from COVID-19 Advertising Claims

Retrieved on:

Thursday, February 15, 2024

Social media, FTC, Dietary supplement, PPO, FDA, News, Consumer protection, Infection, District court, Learning, Food, Advertising, Blog, COVID, Federal Trade Commission, Science, Commission

“The order announced today bans PPO and its owner from making COVID-related health claims and unsubstantiated health claims generally” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.

Key Points:

“The order announced today bans PPO and its owner from making COVID-related health claims and unsubstantiated health claims generally” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.
Based on this conduct, the FTC alleged that the defendants violated the FTC Act by: 1) making unsubstantiated efficacy claims for their product and 2) falsely claiming to have scientific evidence to support their health claims.
The proposed order settling the complaint addresses each of the defendants’ alleged violations of the FTC Act.
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Court Enters $20.3 Million Judgment in FTC Case Against Merchant Cash Advance Operator Jonathan Braun for Deceiving Small Businesses and Unlawfully Seizing Assets

Retrieved on:

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Social media, FTC, News, Consumer protection, Small business, Deception, Contempt, Blog, Judgement, Organization, Federal Trade Commission, Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act

As a result of a Federal Trade Commission lawsuit, a federal court has entered a judgment requiring merchant cash advance operator Jonathan Braun to pay $20.3 million in monetary relief and civil penalties.

Key Points:

As a result of a Federal Trade Commission lawsuit, a federal court has entered a judgment requiring merchant cash advance operator Jonathan Braun to pay $20.3 million in monetary relief and civil penalties.
The court entered a judgment of $3,421,067 to redress the harm that Braun’s misconduct caused to small businesses.
The injunction included a permanent ban from the merchant cash advance and debt collection industries.
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Court Enters $20.3 Million Judgment in FTC Case Against Merchant Cash Advance Operator Jonathan Braun for Deceiving Small Businesses and Unlawfully Seizing Assets

Retrieved on:

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Social media, FTC, News, Consumer protection, Small business, Deception, Contempt, Blog, Judgement, Organization, Federal Trade Commission, Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act

As a result of a Federal Trade Commission lawsuit, a federal court has entered a judgment requiring merchant cash advance operator Jonathan Braun to pay $20.3 million in monetary relief and civil penalties.

Key Points:

As a result of a Federal Trade Commission lawsuit, a federal court has entered a judgment requiring merchant cash advance operator Jonathan Braun to pay $20.3 million in monetary relief and civil penalties.
The court entered a judgment of $3,421,067 to redress the harm that Braun’s misconduct caused to small businesses.
The injunction included a permanent ban from the merchant cash advance and debt collection industries.
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FTC Obtains $195 Million Judgment, Permanent Ban on Telemarketing and Selling Healthcare Products Against Simple Health Over Charges It Sold Sham Health Insurance

Retrieved on:

Friday, February 9, 2024

FTC, Health, Thought, Social media, News, Blog, Consumer protection, Federal Trade Commission, Sale, United States district court, Marketing, Plasma protein binding

In granting the FTC’s motion for summary judgment, the Federal District Court in the Southern District of Florida also banned Simple Health, five related entities and Dorfman from telemarketing and from marketing, promoting, selling or offering any healthcare products.

Key Points:

In granting the FTC’s motion for summary judgment, the Federal District Court in the Southern District of Florida also banned Simple Health, five related entities and Dorfman from telemarketing and from marketing, promoting, selling or offering any healthcare products.
“Simple Health preyed on consumers by selling them bogus health care insurance that cost them thousands of dollars for ‘benefits’ that in fact left consumers unprotected,” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.
The court found that Dorfman and Simple Health, along with Health Benefits One LLC, Health Center Management LLC, Innovative Customer Care LLC, Simple Insurance Leads LLC, and Senior Benefits One LLC violated the FTC Act and the agency’s Telemarketing Sales Rule.
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FTC Obtains $195 Million Judgment, Permanent Ban on Telemarketing and Selling Healthcare Products Against Simple Health Over Charges It Sold Sham Health Insurance

Retrieved on:

Friday, February 9, 2024

FTC, Health, Thought, Social media, News, Blog, Consumer protection, Federal Trade Commission, Sale, United States district court, Marketing, Plasma protein binding

In granting the FTC’s motion for summary judgment, the Federal District Court in the Southern District of Florida also banned Simple Health, five related entities and Dorfman from telemarketing and from marketing, promoting, selling or offering any healthcare products.

Key Points:

In granting the FTC’s motion for summary judgment, the Federal District Court in the Southern District of Florida also banned Simple Health, five related entities and Dorfman from telemarketing and from marketing, promoting, selling or offering any healthcare products.
“Simple Health preyed on consumers by selling them bogus health care insurance that cost them thousands of dollars for ‘benefits’ that in fact left consumers unprotected,” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.
The court found that Dorfman and Simple Health, along with Health Benefits One LLC, Health Center Management LLC, Innovative Customer Care LLC, Simple Insurance Leads LLC, and Senior Benefits One LLC violated the FTC Act and the agency’s Telemarketing Sales Rule.
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FTC Action Leads to Permanent Ban for Scammers Who Charged Students Seeking Debt Relief with Junk Fees

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, February 6, 2024

Education, Blog, Henry Kissinger, News, Federal Trade Commission, Consumer protection, District court, Social media, FTC, Commission

A group of student loan debt relief scammers will be permanently banned from the debt relief industry and is required to turn over their assets as part of a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission.

Key Points:

A group of student loan debt relief scammers will be permanently banned from the debt relief industry and is required to turn over their assets as part of a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission.
The FTC charged that the scheme’s operators collected approximately $8.8 million in junk fees in exchange for student loan debt relief services that did not exist.
The FTC has resources on how to avoid student loan debt relief scams at ftc.gov/StudentLoans.
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