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FTC Sends More Than $527,000 in Refunds to Bountiful Consumers Deceived By “Review Hijacking” on Amazon.com
The Bountiful Company
In February 2023, the FTC took action against a marketer of vitamins and other supplements called The Bountiful Company for abusing a feature of Amazon.com to deceive consumers into thinking that its newly introduced supplements had more product ratings and reviews, higher average ratings, and “#1 Best Seller” and “Amazon’s Choice” badges. The case against Bountiful marks the FTC’s first law enforcement challenging “review hijacking,” in which a marketer steals or repurposes reviews of another product. The company agreed to pay $600,000 in consumer redress to settle the FTC’s complaint. In March 2024, the Commission announced it was sending more than $527,000 to impacted consumers.
SuperGoodDeals.com, Inc.
The FTC filed a complaint against SuperGoodDeals.com, Inc. and its owner, Kevin J. Lipsitz, alleging that the defendants falsely promised consumers next-day shipping of facemasks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. In addition, the FTC alleged that some of the other merchandise sold through the SuperGoodDeals website were falsely advertised as “authentic” or “certified.”
Kevin Lipsitz, who defrauded consumers by falsely promising “next day” shipping of facemasks and respirators to consumers at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, will be banned from selling personal protective equipment (PPE) and be required to turn over more than $145,000 to the FTC.
FTC Action Leads to Ban for Company and Its Owner Who Failed to Ship PPE ‘Next Day’ at Height of Pandemic
FTC Challenges More Than 100 Patents as Improperly Listed in the FDA’s Orange Book
FTC Staff Comment to Department of Labor on Proposed Amendments to Regulations Implementing the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act
Federal Trade Commission Statement Concerning Brand Drug Manufacturers' Improper Listing of Patents in the Orange Book
American Screening, LLC
The Federal Trade Commission filed suit against American Screening for failing to deliver on promises that it could quickly ship products like face masks, sanitizer, and other personal protective equipment (PPE) related to the coronavirus pandemic.
The lawsuits allege that the companies violated the FTC’s Mail, Internet and Telephone Order Rule (Mail Order Rule), which requires that companies notify consumers of shipping delays in a timely manner and give consumers the chance to cancel orders and receive prompt refunds.
FTC Votes to Issue Statement Withdrawing Prior Pharmacy Benefit Manager Advocacy
At FTC’s Request, Florida District Court Permanently Bars Deceptive COVID-19 PPE Marketer from Selling Any Protective Goods or Services to Consumers
FTC Approves Final Order against The Bountiful Company in First Case Alleging Hijacking of Online Product Reviews
FTC Charges Supplement Marketer with Hijacking Ratings and Reviews on Amazon.com and Using Them to Deceive Consumers
FTC Order to Bar ZyCal Bioceuticals from Deceptive Health Marketing
ZyCal Bioceuticals Healthcare Company, Inc.
In February 2020, the FTC filed a complaint in federal district court against ZyCal Bioceuticals, a company that manufactured and sold the ingredient Cyplexinol to trade customers for use in making pain relief products for joint ailments, such as arthritis. Zycal also marketed a line of Cyplexinol-based pain relief products to chiropractors and directly to consumers under the brand name Ostinol. The same complaint includes allegations against another company, Excellent Marketing Results, Inc. (EMR), which was one of ZyCal's trade customers. EMR marketed a Cyplexinol-based formulation called StimTein via infomercials and online, and claimed it was clinically proven to stimulate cells to grow bone tissue and cartilage. EMR and its president agreed to a settlement that resolves charges against them in the FTC’s complaint, and prohibits them from making such health-related product claims unless they are supported by competent and reliable scientific evidence. In September 2020, the FTC announced it was returning more than $110,000 to consumers who bought EMR’s StimTein. In February 2023, the FTC announced a proposed order barring the ZyCal defendants from the deceptive conduct alleged in the complaint.
FTC Announces New Business Guidance for Marketers and Sellers of Health Products
Health Research Laboratories, LLC, In the Matter of
In March 2022, the FTC announced that two Texas-based companies and their owner are banned from advertising or selling dietary supplements, and from making claims that their products treat, cure, or reduce the risk of disease, under a proposed settlement with the Federal Trade Commission. The agency announced final approval of the order in June 2022.