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Business Blog

Top frauds of 2018

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Every year, millions of consumers tell us – and our partners – about the frauds they spotted. In 2018, we heard from 3 million people and learned a lot from the reports entered into our Consumer...
Business Blog

FTC to law violators: Don’t bank on bankruptcy

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A recent ruling by a Florida Bankruptcy Judge sheds light on a tenacious team within the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. But first, let’s set the time machine to 2008 when the FTC entered into a...
Business Blog

They give love a bad name

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Just in time for Valentine’s Day, the FTC staff released a Data Spotlight highlighting the category of scam with the highest amount of reported financial loss among complaint categories the FTC uses...
Business Blog

The Masked Ringer

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Some forms of masquerading are just good clean fun. Consider The Masked Singer , a surprise TV hit in which a panel of celebrities tries to guess the identity of other celebrities who sing karaoke...
Business Blog

Talking turkey

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Whether it’s a spare can of cranberry sauce or an extra turkey platter, thoughtful Thanksgiving hosts make contingency plans for the holiday. This year, if the dinner discussion veers into...
Business Blog

FTC and New York AG miffed by overbiffing

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If you aren’t familiar with the word “overbiffing,” there’s no need to add it to your vocabulary. But if you know what overbiffing is and engage in it, a case just filed by the FTC and the New York...
Business Blog

Three films not on our Top 10 list

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In the annals of film, Citizen Kane , The Godfather , and Casablanca are among our top picks. But don’t expect our list to include TBX-FREE, Eupepsia Thin, or Prolongz, dissolving strips of film the...
Business Blog

The gift of data – and a few words about gift cards

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When people take a moment to report fraud, identity theft, or questionable business practices to the FTC, they’re giving consumers everywhere a “gift” of sorts. We use those reports – we get millions...
Business Blog

Anti-scammy Sammy

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There’s former Van Halen front man Sammy Hagar, NFL legend Slingin’ Sammy Baugh, and the incomparable Sammy Davis, Jr. All notable in their own right, but did they win back $586 million for defrauded...
Business Blog

Phantom debt collectors jump on the banned wagon

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Court orders against 13 related corporate and individual defendants involved in a Georgia-based debt collection operation bring to mind the 1980s chart-topping group from Australia, Crowded House...
Business Blog

A lease on a leash? Pet stores are leasing pets

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When the legendary Patti Page sang, “How much is that doggie in the window?” she couldn’t have guessed that six decades later, the answer might depend on whether a consumer buys or leases a pet. Today...
Business Blog

District court rules on redress, ROSCA, and disclosures

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The scheme started with a Craigslist ad for a rental property and ended with a $5.2 million judgment for violations of the FTC Act, the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act, the Fair Credit...