State AGs
NY AG and FTC Secure $1.6M from Online Apartment Finder for Allegedly Defrauding Renters
By Richard B. Newman |
On August 28, 2023, the New York Attorney General and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that they have secured $1.6 million from Roomster, an online apartment search platform, and its owners, for allegedly defrauding millions of renters nationwide by posting unverified apartment listings and fake reviews. The consent order also prohibits Roomster and its…
FTC and State Law Enforcers Announce Lead Generation Telemarketing Enforcement Sweep
By Richard B. Newman |
On July 18, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission and more than 100 federal and state law enforcement partners nationwide, including the attorneys general from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, announced a new crackdown on illegal telemarketing calls involving more than 180 actions targeting operations responsible for billions of calls to U.S. consumers.…
Richard B. Newman Quoted in Cybersecurity Law Report on Xbox and Alexa FTC COPPA Case Lessons: Biometrics, Avatars and Other New Expectations
By Richard B. Newman |
FTC advertising compliance and defense lawyer Richard B. Newman was recently quoted in an article for Cybersecurity Law Report titled “Xbox and Alexa COPPA Case Lessons: Avatars, Biometrics and Other New Expectations.” The article discusses the FTC’s recent privacy enforcement run and how it reinforces regulators’ expanding expectations for companies using video and audio recordings, smart devices…
FTC Obtains $16.7M Judgment Against Principals and Celebrity Endorsers of Real Estate Investment Training Program
By Richard B. Newman |
On May 22, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission announced that as a result of a lawsuit filed along with the Utah Division of Consumer Protection, the principals of a Utah-based real estate investment training company will pay $15 million and be banned from selling money-making opportunities under a court order they have agreed to. In…
FTC Continues Assault on Sham Charities and Fundraisers That Participate in the Deception
By Richard B. Newman |
In 2018, the Federal Trade Commission announced “Operations Donate with Honor,” as law enforcers united to challenge deceptive fundraising. At the time, 54 Attorneys General from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, and Puerto Rico, and 16 additional state agencies that oversee charities joined forces to announce a coordinated effort to…
FTC Legal Regulatory Considerations for Ecommerce Investment Management Providers
By Richard B. Newman |
The Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute those that advertise, market, distribute, promote and sell certain kinds of ecommerce management, business coaching, work-from-home and investment programs. In late 2022, the Federal Trade Commission announced that it was exploring changes to the Business Opportunity Rule in order to broadly expand on…