The Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) and Florida have settled charges against Vast Tech Support LLC, OMG Tech Help, their founder and COO Mark Donohue, and related companies regarding claims of deceptive marketing of computer software and tech support services. The settlement continues the FTC’s trend of enforcement actions that target scammers who scare consumers into
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
FTC Hosts FinTech Forum on Marketplace Lending
On June 10, Troutman Sanders attended the Federal Trade Commission’s FinTech Forum on marketplace lending. The event marked the first in the FTC’s FinTech Forum series, which is part of the FTC’s ongoing efforts to examine marketplace lending and its impact on consumers. The topics discussed during the forum included adequate …
Henry Schein Practice Solutions, Inc. to Pay $250,000 Under Final FTC Order
On May 20, the FTC approved its final order resolving its Complaint against Henry Schein Practice Solutions, Inc. (“Schein”), which came after the expiration of a public comment period. Schein is a provider of office management software for dental practices.
The FTC’s Complaint alleged that Schein misrepresented the encryption capabilities of its Dentrix G5 …
FTC Adds Three New Defendants in Tech Support Scam Case
The Federal Trade Commission, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania have added three new defendants and new charges in a case pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, alleging that the defendants deceived consumers into buying unneeded tech support services. According to the amended complaint, the defendants allegedly pretended to represent…
Debt Collector Pays $72,000 to Settle FCRA Charges
On May 9, the Federal Trade Commission announced that the debt collection agency Credit Protection Association will pay $72,000 to settle charges that the company violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”). This case is part of “Operation Collection Protection,” a program the FTC describes as “an ongoing federal, state and …
FTC and Phone Billing Companies Settle Contempt Charges for Unauthorized Billing
The Federal Trade Commission and several telephone billing companies submitted a proposed stipulated order to the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas to resolve allegations that the billing companies violated a 1999 court order and permanent injunction concerning charges of phone bill cramming. The billing companies have agreed to pay $5.2 …
FTC Joins CFPB in Expanding Oversight of “Deceptive” Practices
On May 4, the Federal Trade Commission announced that it had reached a settlement with Very Incognito Technologies, Inc., d/b/a Vipvape, a hand-held vaporizer manufacturer. The settlement resulted from the FTC’s allegations that Vipvape violated the FTC Act by representing on its website that it was a participant in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Cross-Border Privacy …
FCC Releases Proposed Rule Requiring Internet Service Providers to Comply with New Privacy Obligations
On April 1, the Federal Communications Commission issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (“NPRM”) that would require Internet service providers (“ISPs”) to clearly disclose how customer data is being used, take reasonable steps to protect that information, and notify affected customers within 10 days of discovering a data breach. The NPRM — formally approved by…
FTC Commissioner Brill to Resign
Commissioner Julie Brill with the Federal Trade Commission recently announced that she will step down at the end of this month to enter private practice.
Brill was appointed by President Obama and sworn in on April 6, 2010. Prior to joining the FTC, Brill was the Senior Deputy Attorney General and Chief of Consumer Protection …
Join Us at the National Association of Professional Background Screeners 2016 Mid-Year Legislative & Regulatory Conference
Join Troutman Sanders partners David Anthony and Ashley Taylor at the upcoming National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS) Mid-Year Legislative & Regulatory Conference at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park in Washington, DC on April 3-5.
The NAPBS Mid-Year Conference focuses on regulation, legislation, education, and compliance related to the background screening industry and, …