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The FTC and the Office of the New Jersey Attorney
General took action against two software app developers, Equiliv Investments and Ryan
Ramminger, alleging
their mobile app, called “Prized,” hijacked people’s phones to mine for virtual
currencies. Users thought they could earn prizes by playing games and taking
surveys through the app. But the FTC alleges the app had malware that sapped
the phone’s computing power, made phones run slower, drained battery life, and
used up data plans – all so the developers could secretly make money mining
virtual currencies. |
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The FTC issued a complaint against AuraVie, Dellure, LéOR and
Miracle Face Kit for deceiving people about their “risk-free” trials for skin
care products. The companies told people to give their credit or debit card
information to pay a small shipping fee for a trial offer. But then, said the
FTC, people ended up with close to $100 in charges. According to the FTC, the
companies also illegally signed people up for recurring product shipments
without consent. The FTC says the companies made it hard for people to cancel
their memberships, avoid charges, and get refunds. |
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The FTC and the Florida Attorney General filed a
complaint against Payless Solutions for making robocalls that tricked older people into
giving their personal information – and then charging them $300-$3499 for
supposedly lowering their credit card interest rate. According to the
complaint, Payless Solutions lied about lowering people’s interest rates, lied
about working for consumers’ banks, and unfairly charged consumers’ credit
cards without authorization. And those annoying robocalls? They violated the Do
Not Call rules. |
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Planet Nissan and Planet
Hyundai agreed to settle FTC charges that they misrepresented the
cost of buying or leasing a vehicle. According to the complaint, the auto
dealers advertised car sales, leasing or financing options that seemed
attractive, but were cancelled out by fine-print disclaimers. The FTC alleges
that some of the company’s disclaimers left out relevant terms – like the total
amount due at signing; other ads said leases were available for zero money
down, even though thousands of dollars were due at signing. |
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The
FTC and the Florida Attorney General have filed a complaint against Lifewatch
for allegedly making illegal robocalls to pitch a “free” medical alert
system to older people. The FTC alleges that Lifewatch tricked people into
signing up for the system by telling them it had already been paid for by
friends or family. According to the FTC, Lifewatch got people’s credit card or
bank account information, charged a monthly monitoring fee, refused to let
people cancel, and lied about being endorsed by major organizations like the
American Heart Association or AARP. |
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The FTC successfully
blocked the $8.2 billion merger of competing national foodservice distributors,
Sysco and
US Foods. “This proposed merger
between the country’s two largest foodservice distributors would have likely
increased prices paid by restaurants, hotels, cafeterias, and hospitals across
the country for food products and related services, and ultimately the prices
paid by people eating at those establishments,” said FTC Chairwoman Edith
Ramirez. After a federal court granted the FTC’s request for a preliminary
injunction, Sysco and US Foods abandoned their merger plans, and the Commission
dismissed its administrative complaint. |
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Thinking about using
solar power at home? The FTC has new information to help you sort through the
options. Solar Power for Your Home explains the
costs and benefits of buying or leasing a system, as well as signing a power
purchase agreement. It also has tips to help you evaluate companies and
products, and advice about what to know before you sign a contract. For more
consumer tips, visit consumer.ftc.gov. |
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"The sellers of AuraVie tricked people into paying a lot of extra money
for skin care products. Companies need to give clear, honest information about
charges. If a company advertises a ‘risk free trial,’ then that’s what it
must provide."
— Jessica Rich, Director
of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection
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The FTC
is mailing 95,000 checks, totaling almost $4
million, to people who lost money to a debt collection scam. According to the
FTC, Asset
Capital and Management Group illegally threatened people until they made payments for credit card debt.
People who receive checks from the FTC’s refund administrator, Analytics
Consulting LLC, should deposit or cash them within 60 days of the mailing date.
Information about the FTC’s refund program
is available at FTC.gov/refunds.
Brain Research Labs, KeyView
Labs, and MedHealth Direct agreed to settle FTC charges that they misled
people by saying their product, Procera AVH, was a clinically-proven solution
to reverse memory loss, and improve focus and mood. The FTC alleges the
companies made false claims when they used ads to play on the fears of older
people – warning that, by age 50, people
lose over half their brainpower. The FTC says the companies didn’t back up their
claims with proven science.
The FTC is mailing 52,099
checks, totaling almost $1.9 million, to consumers who lost money to a pyramid scheme.
According to the FTC, BurnLounge
pretended to be a multi-level marketing program selling people opportunities to
operate online digital music stores. People receiving checks from the FTC’s
refund administrator, Gilardi & Co. LLC, have 60 days from the mailing date
to deposit or cash them.
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IN OTHER NEWS:
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SHARE THIS:
- Wi-Fi hotspots
are often unsecure. Reduce your risk and protect your personal information
online with these tips: http://go.usa.gov/3wATU
- Buying a car? The FTC has tips to help you learn the signs of vehicles that
have been damaged by floods. http://go.usa.gov/3wAKk
- Fortunetellers are not financial advisors. If a fortuneteller gives you
investment advice, walk away. Find real advice here: http://go.usa.gov/3wAZw
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