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In this bulletin:
- FTC Testifies At an Oversight Hearing before the Senate Commerce Committee
- FTC Acts Against Online Sellers That Falsely Promised Fast Delivery of Facemasks and Other Personal Protective Equipment
- Scammy PPE sellers exploit COVID-19 fears
- Selling COVID-19 protective equipment? Honor your shipping promises
- Updated Coronavirus (COVID-19) consumer complaint data
FTC Testifies At an Oversight Hearing before the Senate Commerce Committee
The Federal Trade Commission testified today at an oversight hearing before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation about the agency’s work to protect consumers and promote competition, including its efforts to combat frauds designed to take advantage of consumers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
FTC Acts Against Online Sellers That Falsely Promised Fast Delivery of Facemasks and Other Personal Protective Equipment
The Federal Trade Commission filed suit against three online merchandisers for failing to deliver on promises that they could quickly ship products like face masks, sanitizer, and other personal protective equipment (PPE) related to the coronavirus pandemic.
Scammy PPE sellers exploit COVID-19 fears
Last month, the FTC filed its first case against an online seller that failed to ship next-day personal protective equipment (PPE) as promised. Today, we have an update: the FTC is filing three more cases as part of a continuing effort to address “online shopping” fraud that seeks to exploit high demand for PPE and other COVID-related products.
Selling COVID-19 protective equipment? Honor your shipping promises
Consumers and small businesses want personal protective equipment now. So when companies advertise those items online with promises of in-stock merchandise and fast shipping, those claims may be the difference between a big sale and no sale. The FTC just filed three cases alleging that marketers violated the Mail, Internet, and Telephone Order Rule and the FTC Act by – among other things – failing to have a reasonable basis to support their promises to ship masks, sanitizer, and other PPE within a specified timeframe. The FTC alleges one company also has made deceptive COVID-19 prevention or treatment claims.
Updated Coronavirus (COVID-19) consumer complaint data
Today, the FTC published its latest edition of Coronavirus (COVID-19) Consumer Complaint Data on its FTC COVID-19 and Stimulus Reports dashboard. Select a state from the map on the dashboard to view data by state.
As of August 4, 2020:
- 153,770 Overall Reports
- $98.37M Total Fraud Loss
- $273 Median Fraud Loss
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