On July 28, the Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona against several merchants, an Independent Sales Organization (“ISO”), and their affiliated companies (a total of twelve defendants) alleging that they had engaged in credit card laundering in violation of Sec. 13(b) of the FTC
Join Us for the American Bar Association State and Local 2017 Annual Meeting
We are pleased to announce that Troutman Sanders Partner Ashley Taylor will be a featured speaker at the American Bar Association State and Local 2017 Annual Meeting taking place on August 10, 2017.
Ashley will participate in the State Attorneys General and Department of Justices Issues Committee meeting tomorrow to discuss state Attorneys General work
FTC and International Consumer Protection Agencies Announce Website Revamp
Partnering with the Federal Trade Commission, the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (“ICPEN”) recently unveiled significant enhancements to its online portal – www.icpen.org – designed to help members identify and respond to consumer challenges crossing international borders.
ICPEN is a network of consumer protection agencies from over 60 countries that strives to protect consumers
Federal and State Regulators Obtain Record Judgment Enforcing TCPA Violations Predicated Upon Insufficient Vendor Oversight
On June 5, 2017, an Illinois federal judge awarded $280 million to the federal government and the states of California, Illinois, North Carolina, and Ohio against Dish Network LLC over violations of numerous federal and state do-not-call laws. The district court’s $280 million penalty constitutes the largest ever for violations of telemarketing laws. In addition,
Acting FTC Chair Supports FCC Proposed Rulemaking; Says Will Restore the FTC’s Enforcement Abilities
The Acting Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Maureen Ohlhausen, has issued a statement that endorses a recent proposed rulemaking by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC rulemaking, proposed on May 18, is titled “Restoring Internet Freedom” and seeks to restore a “light-touch regulatory framework” by reversing a 2015 FCC decision that
NY AG Settles with IoT Company over Security Practices
On May 22, 2017, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced a settlement with Safetech Products LLC (“Safetech”) over allegations that the Internet of Things (IoT) company sold insecure wireless door and padlocks. According to the Attorney General, the settlement marks the first time a state Attorneys General has taken legal action against a wireless
FTC and Partners Announce Operation Tech Trap to Target Tech Support Scammers
The Federal Trade Commission recently announced the creation of Operation Tech Trap, a new joint effort among national and international partners to combat tech support scams that dupe consumers into believing their computers contain harmful computer viruses and malware and then trick these consumers into paying hundreds of dollars for unnecessary repairs to “fix” their
Memorandum of Understanding Signals Continued US-Canada Cooperation
The Federal Trade Commission has signed a memorandum of understanding (“MOU”) with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (“RCMP”) to strengthen cooperation regarding cross-border fraud matters. Acting FTC Chairman Maureen K. Ohlhausen signed the MOU on behalf of the United States, and Commissioner Bob Paulson signed on behalf of the RCMP and Canada.
The MOU concerns
FTC Releases Annual Summary of Consumer Complaints
The Federal Trade Commission has released its annual summary of consumer complaints for 2016, contained in the FTC’s latest Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book. The FTC compiles the report annually based on complaints received by the Consumer Sentinel Network. Complaints include those made directly by consumers to the FTC, as well as complaints received
FTC and NJ AG Announce Settlement with Vizio over Collecting Consumer Viewing Habits
On February 6, the FTC and the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General announced a $2.2 million settlement with Vizio, Inc. over allegations the TV manufacturer installed software on its TVs to collect viewing data on 11 million consumers without their knowledge or consent.
According to the complaint, Vizio manufactured smart