A new staff report issued by the FTC finds that many mobile apps that help people shop don’t provide key information — like how the apps manage payment-related disputes or handle consumer data — prior to download. FTC staff looked at popular apps that allow users to compare prices across retailers, find deals and coupons, or pay for purchases while shopping in brick-and-mortar stores. The report recommends that companies that provide shopping apps clarify how they handle unauthorized purchases, explain how consumer information will be collected and shared, and ensure that their data security promises translate into sound data security practices. The FTC also released new tips for people who use shopping apps.

The FTC charged six companies with taking hundreds — sometimes thousands — of dollars for mortgage modifications, and then leaving homeowners worse off. According to the complaints, some companies pretended to be associated with the government; others guaranteed that they could get loan modifications regardless of the circumstances. The FTC’s actions are part of a joint federal and state enforcement sweep, Operation Mis-Modification. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau brought charges against three other mortgage relief operations, and state agencies announced 32 similar actions. Since 2008, the FTC has brought 48 lawsuits against companies peddling fraudulent mortgage relief schemes.

At the request of the FTC, a federal court temporarily halted a scheme that crammed more than $100 million in charges on people’s mobile phone bills without their permission. In its complaint, the FTC seeks to shut down the operation permanently and recover money consumers lost. The defendants allegedly used deceptive practices, including websites with bogus offers of “freebies” or gift cards, to trick people into providing their mobile phone numbers. In addition to law enforcement, the agency is using consumer education and policy discussions to combat mobile cramming. The agency recently released a new report with five recommendations for the industry and testified before Congress about the problem.

When possible, the FTC provides refunds to people affected by unfair or deceptive business practices. This month, the FTC sent checks totaling $9.3 million to nearly 200,000 people who bought Ab Circle Pro. The marketers allegedly claimed that exercising on the device for just three minutes a day would cause users to lose 10 pounds in two weeks. The FTC also sent refund checks totaling more than $16 million to 18,000 people who paid American Tax Relief to reduce their tax debts. In a separate case, $800,000 was returned to some 1,300 consumers who fell prey to mortgage relief scams.

Two internet resellers of UPC barcodes, used by retailers for price scanning and inventory purposes, have settled charges that they acted illegally by inviting competitors to join in a collusive scheme to raise the prices of barcodes sold online. The FTC charged executives from InstantUPCCodes.com and Nationwide Barcode with exchanging email messages proposing that the two companies — along with a third barcode seller — together raise their prices. The allegedly improper discussions stopped only after the FTC started its investigation.