Tag: FTC

AT&T to pay $60 million to settle FTC complaint over its unlimited data plans

Dan-Reina Aquino
AT&T logo

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that AT&T will pay $60 million to settle its lawsuit against the company over its unlimited data plans. In 2014, the FTC sued AT&T for allegedly misleading its millions of smartphone customers by charging them for unlimited data plans while reducing their data speeds. The consumer watchdog found that the wireless provided failed to adequately disclose to customers that if they use up a certain amount of data at given cycle; it will throttle their data speeds. At some point, customers experience difficulty using…

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FTC shuts down stalking apps developer Retina-X Studios

Dan-Reina Aquino

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a lawsuit against Retina-X Studios, owner and developer of stalking apps that compromise the privacy and security consumers’ mobile devices. In its complaint, the FTC alleged that Retina-X and its owner James Johns developed three stalking apps called MobileSpy, PhoneSheriff, and TeenShield. These apps monitored mobile devices on which they were installed. The company sold more than 15,000 subscriptions to all three stalking apps before stopping selling them last year. Consumers bought the apps to monitor their children or employees. The consumer watchdog alleged…

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Refunds: FTC sending checks to consumers defrauded by LifeLock, Pro Timeshare Resales

Marivic Cabural Summers

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is sending refunds to customers deceived by LifeLock and to those defrauded by Pro Timeshare Resales, LLC. According to the FTC, the total amount of the consumer refunds is $33.7 million including $31 million from LifeLock and $2.7 million from Pro Time Share Resales. The refunds were part of the consumer watchdog’s settlement agreements with both companies. LifeLock consumers will receive checks with an average amount $29 In 2015, LifeLock agreed to pay $100 million to settle the FTC’s lawsuit alleging that the identity theft…

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AdvoCare to pay $150 million for allegedly operating a pyramid scheme

Marivic Cabural Summers
AdvoCare Products

Is AdvoCare International operating a pyramid scheme? The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said so in its lawsuit against the company, its former CEO Connolly, top promoters Danny and Diane McDaniel and distributors Carlton and Lisa Hardman. AdvoCare is selling weight-management and sports performance products using a multi-level marketing strategy. The company is based in Plano, Texas. Details of the settlement agreement between AdvoCare and FTC On Wednesday, the FTC announced the AdvoCare together with the other defendants agreed to settle its allegations against them and agreed to pay a monetary…

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REFUND: FTC sending checks to victims of student loan debt relief scam

Marivic Cabural Summers

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is sending more than $5.4 million in refunds to thousands of consumers who were victims of student loan debt relief scam. The refunds were part of a 2018 settlement agreement between the FTC and five student debt relief scam operators who bilked millions of dollars from consumers. These scammers, who operated their schemes using multiple names (see list below), falsely claimed that consumers who paid an upfront fee of up to $1,000 were qualified or approved for loan forgiveness or reduced monthly payments.  In fact,…

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