Consumer Alerts

Keep data secure. Safely dispose after use. Tell people the truth. We’re not suggesting that the principles of sound data security can be boiled down to a haiku, but there are certain basics every

January 29th kicks off 2024’s Identity Theft Awareness Week, but consumer-conscious companies promote identity theft awareness – and prevention – 52 weeks a year. As the FTC, federal and state

When companies sow deception, they often reap law enforcement. That’s the lesson of a $2 million civil penalty that Kubota North America Corporation will pay for allegedly violating the Made in USA

It should come as no surprise that companies and individuals that knowingly possess documents and information that may be relevant to an antitrust investigation must maintain that information under

When consumers have questions about a company’s services, they often pick up the phone and call. It’s no different when consumers must select a funeral home to handle a loved one’s final arrangements

For consumers already underwater financially and desperate for just $50, cash advance company FloatMe’s services turned out to be more sink than swim. According to the FTC, the subscription-based

Decades ago, the FTC described the advertising claim “free” as “a lure,” “the bait,” and “a powerful magnet,” and its appeal continues to attract consumers. Need proof? Just look at how Intuit made

Do consumers attend a Christian church? Are they the parents of preschoolers? Would the description “wealthy and not healthy” apply to them? By tracking people’s mobile devices, Texas-based InMarket

The launch of OT coincided with another type of technology’s rapid growth: Artificial Intelligence. And, on January 25th, OT will hold the FTC Tech Summit on AI to lead discussions among individuals

The FTC announced proposed revisions to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) Rule on December 20, 2023. The online portal to file public comments is now open and the FTC welcomes your

Data is at the heart of AI development. Developing AI models can be a resource intensive process, requiring large amounts of data and compute, [1] and not all companies have the capacity to develop

SCENE: A crowded city or a dark street. (Cue ominous music) The camera focuses on the protagonist as they make their way to a location – maybe it’s a place of worship, a doctor’s office, or a

Thanks to improvements in text-to-speech AI, voice cloning holds promise for consumers, but scammers often find a way to twist tech advancements for their nefarious purposes – and voice cloning is no

Companies selling genetic testing products tout the benefits of DNA-based insights – learning more about health, lineage, family tree – so that consumers can seek medical attention, customize their

Buying a vehicle is a major financial commitment for consumers and price is a material consideration in most people’s purchase decision. That’s why deceptive double charges, illegal junk fees, and

Technically we can’t categorize these notable FTC staff publications of 2023 as “best sellers” because they’re available at no charge. But we can say that “best sellers” – our description of law

According to a five-count complaint filed against Grand Canyon Education, Inc., Grand Canyon University, and Brian E. Mueller, the FTC alleges the defendants misrepresented Grand Canyon University as

If you’ll be seeing college-age relatives over the holidays, warn them about a variation on the “job interview” scam that students looking for summer or permanent employment have reported to us. And

Rushing to file your public comment about the FTC’s proposed Junk Fees Rule by the impending deadline? Relax. The FTC has extended the comment period to February 7, 2024.

In the face of concerns about anticompetitive conduct, companies may claim privacy and security reasons as justifications for refusing to have their products and services interoperate with other