Tag:

Federal Trade Commission

H&R Block Fined $7M For Deceptive 'Free' Filing Ads, Must Reform Tax Services: FTC H&R Block Fined $7M For Deceptive 'Free' Filing Ads, Must Reform Tax Services: FTC
H&R Block Fined $7M For Deceptive 'Free' Filing Ads, Must Reform Tax Services: FTC H&R Block will pay $7 million in federal fines for deceptive practices and must implement sweeping changes to its filing services in time for the 2025 tax season, officials said. H&R Block reached the settlement with the Federal Trade Commission, the agency announced in a news release on Wednesday, Jan. 8. The order requires the company to revamp its services and pay $7 million to compensate its customers. The settlement stemmed from a February 2024 complaint accusing H&R Block of forcing users to contact customer service to downgrade products. The tax filer was also a…
Meta Drops Fact-Checking Program Ahead Of Trump's White House Return, Company Says Meta Drops Fact-Checking Program Ahead Of Trump's White House Return, Company Says
Meta Drops Fact-Checking Program Ahead Of Trump's White House Return, Company Says Meta is dismantling its third-party fact-checking program in the U.S. and aims to bring back political content as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House, the company said. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the changes in a video statement on Tuesday, Jan. 7. The company that owns Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads, will replace its fact-checking program with a Community Notes system similar to the one implemented on X (formerly Twitter). Zuckerberg said the new system's goal is to reduce bias and restore free expression. "Fact-checkers have be…
Don't Fall For It: New Twist On Imposter Fraud Targets Your Money, Personal Info Don't Fall For It: New Twist On Imposter Fraud Targets Your Money, Personal Info
Don't Fall For It: New Twist On Imposter Fraud Targets Your Money, Personal Info The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is sounding the alarm on a sophisticated new imposter scheme designed to steal your money and personal information.  These scams are becoming increasingly convincing, but learning to spot the red flags can help you stay protected. How the Scam Works Initial Contact: Scammers pose as representatives from well-known companies, such as Amazon or a tech support service. They’ll claim there’s a routine issue, like suspicious charges on your account, a computer virus, or an account breach. Escalation: The scammers lie, saying your name is tied to serious …
Brooklyn Man Charged In $400K Gold Bar Scam Targeting Elderly Bethesda Couple, Police Say Brooklyn Man Charged In $400K Gold Bar Scam Targeting Elderly Bethesda Couple, Police Say
Brooklyn Man Charged In $400K Gold Bar Scam Targeting Elderly Bethesda Couple, Police Say A Brooklyn man is facing charges after allegedly scamming a 75-year-old Bethesda couple out of over $400,000 through a gold bar scheme, Montgomery County police announced. Yongxian Huang, 23, was arrested after posing as a federal agent and convincing the couple to convert their assets into gold bars for "safekeeping" with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, authorities said Friday, Nov. 22. The elaborate scam began in September 2024 when the victims received a fake text message claiming to be from Apple about unauthorized charges.  After contacting the number provided, the cou…
Phone Scammer Swindles $32K From Roslyn Heights Woman, Police Say Phone Scammer Swindles $32K From Roslyn Heights Woman, Police Say
Phone Scammer Swindles $32K From Roslyn Heights Woman, Police Say An alleged phone scammer convinced a Long Island woman to fork over tens of thousands of dollars, police said. Nassau County Police said the 65-year-old Roslyn Heights woman contacted the agency on Wednesday, Oct. 16, saying she had been the victim of a scam. She told investigators that she received a call from “Amazon” regarding her iPad and was directed to speak with a purported agent at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to report fraud. After contacting the purported FTC, the woman was informed that she had open warrants and was directed to meet a federal agent on the corner of Power H…
Courier Involved In Gold Bar Scam Targeting Maryland Elder Arrested Boarding Flight To Ireland Courier Involved In Gold Bar Scam Targeting Maryland Elder Arrested Boarding Flight To Ireland
Courier Involved In Gold Bar Scam Targeting Maryland Elder Arrested Boarding Flight To Ireland A 23-year-old man from Illinois has become the second apprehended for his role in a government-imposter-related gold bar scam targeting a Montgomery County resident. Neel Patel, of Carol Stream, joined California native Wenhui Sun behind bars after a woman was bilked out of hundreds of thousands of dollars as part of the scheme, according to police. In March, a woman advised investigators that she had been contacted by a fraudster alleging to be with  Office of the Inspector General – Federal Trade Commission. She was instructed that she was the victim of identity theft that laun…
Once-Thriving Celeb Messaging Site 'Cameo' Violated Federal Guidelines: New Jersey AG Once-Thriving Celeb Messaging Site 'Cameo' Violated Federal Guidelines: New Jersey AG
Once-Thriving Celeb Messaging Site 'Cameo' Violated Federal Guidelines: New Jersey AG Cameo, message site that allows you or someone you care about to receive a video message from a range of celebrities, admitted to violating Federal Trade Commission endorsement guidelines, Matthew Platkin, the New Jersey Attorney General said. The website, features a diverse group of celebrities like former NFL head coach Jon Gruden, British politician Nigel Farange and legendary professional wrestler Mick Foley, reached a settlement with the state after it alleged Cameo failed to provide appropriate disclosures to consumers purchasing these personalized videos for business or product endors…
'FTC Worker' Scams Long Island Victim Out Of $390K In Gold Bars, Police Say 'FTC Worker' Scams Long Island Victim Out Of $390K In Gold Bars, Police Say
'FTC Worker' Scams Long Island Victim Out Of $390K In Gold Bars, Police Say A scammer posing as a government employee conned a Long Island victim out of hundreds of thousands of dollars, police allege. Nassau County Police arrested Yash Shah, age 25, of Baldwin, on suspicion of grand larceny on Tuesday, July 16. According to detectives, in early June 2023 a 73-year-old New Hyde Park man received a notification on his computer telling him that his device had been compromised and that he needed to contact the phone number shown. When the victim called the number, someone claiming to work for the Federal Trade Commission instructed him to buy six gold bars totaling n…
Scammers Posing As Well-Known Businesses, Agencies: Here's What To Know, Feds Say Scammers Posing As Well-Known Businesses, Agencies: Here's What To Know, Feds Say
Scammers Posing As Well-Known Businesses, Agencies: Here's What To Know, Feds Say Federal authorities are sounding the alarm over scams that impersonate well-known businesses and government agencies.  In 2023, data from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) alone show more than 330,000 reports of business impersonation scams and nearly 160,000 reports of government impersonation scams. That amounts to nearly half the frauds reported directly to the agency, the FTC said. Combined, reported losses to these impersonation scams topped $1.1 billion for the year, more than three times what consumers reported in 2020. Reports show an increasingly blurred line between busine…
SEXTORTION: Out-Of-State Fugitive Freed After NJ Senior Looking For Love Loses $20,000 SEXTORTION: Out-Of-State Fugitive Freed After NJ Senior Looking For Love Loses $20,000
Sextortion: Out-Of-State Fugitive Freed After NJ Senior Looking For Love Loses $20,000 A fugitive from Maryland charged with sextorting a New Jersey senior out of $20,000 online after getting him to take compromising selfies was immediately freed by a judge after surrendering to police. Posing as a woman, Ali H. Maman, 59, of Frederick, MD, communicated with an elderly Glen Rock resident through Instagram and WhatsApp, Police Chief Dean Ackermann said. The victim was convinced to share the risqué photos, then was contacted by someone else who demanded a $20,000 bank wire transfer in exchange for not posting them online, Ackermann said. The victim wired the money last July to…
Private Pics Cost Glen Rock 'Sextortion' Victim $20,000, Police Pursue Fugitive Cyberthief Private Pics Cost Glen Rock 'Sextortion' Victim $20,000, Police Pursue Fugitive Cyberthief
Private Pics Cost Glen Rock 'Sextortion' Victim $20,000, Police Pursue Fugitive Cyberthief An elderly lonely heart from Glen Rock was “sextorted” out of $20,000 after sending compromising photos to a scammer he thought was a woman -- and was about to hand over another 20 grand when his bank mercifully refused, authorities said. Online romance scammer Ali H. Maman, 59, of Frederick, MD (photo above), has so far eluded authorities, Glen Rock Police Chief Dean Ackermann said this week. Posing as a woman, Maman communicated with the Glen Rock senior through Instagram and WhatsApp, the chief said on Wednesday, April 10. The victim was convinced to share the risqué photos, then w…
Gold-Bar Scam Totaling Nearly $1 Million Lands CA Man With Charges In Montgomery County: Police Gold-Bar Scam Totaling Nearly $1 Million Lands CA Man With Charges In Montgomery County: Police
Gold-Bar Scam Totaling Nearly $1 Million Lands CA Man With Charges In Montgomery County: Police A man who made nearly $1 million targeting elderly victims in a gold-bar scam was arrested in Montgomery County, authorities announced Friday, March 22. The investigation began in early March, when a victim reported being contacted by a man who identified himself a member of the Federal Trade Commission, MCPD said. The woman was advised that she had been the victim of an identity theft leading to a federal investigation involving drugs and money laundering.  She had been instructed to transfer all of her assets into gold bars to be picked up by a courier to be taken to an “FBI Agent” …
CT Dealership Accused Of Deceiving Customers, Charging 'Junk Fees': Attorney General CT Dealership Accused Of Deceiving Customers, Charging 'Junk Fees': Attorney General
CT Dealership Accused Of Deceiving Customers, Charging 'Junk Fees': Attorney General A car dealership in Connecticut is being accused of deceiving customers about the prices of its used cars and charging "junk fees" without consumers' consent, officials announced. These accusations were part of a complaint filed in US District Court against Hartford County auto dealer Manchester City Nissan by Connecticut Attorney General William Tong and the Federal Trade Commission, Tong's office announced on Thursday, Jan. 4.  The complaint alleges that the dealership, located in Manchester at 30 Tolland Turnpike (Route 83), would often lie to customers about the prices of…
'Your Computer Has Been Hacked': Tech Support Scam Costs Bergen Man $150,000 'Your Computer Has Been Hacked': Tech Support Scam Costs Bergen Man $150,000
'Your Computer Has Been Hacked': Tech Support Scam Costs Bergen Man $150,000 It might be emotionally painful for some to learn that a Bergen County man lost nearly $150,000 to a “your computer has been hacked” scam. Sadly, it’s true. The victim got a computer popup message “alerting” him to the purported hack earlier this month, Glen Rock Police Lt. Frank Riggio said. “Over the following days, he was advised to secure a large sum of money from his bank accounts to avoid further hacking,” the lieutenant said. The victim gave the con artist nearly 150 large "under the false pretense that this party was helping protect the victim from further financial hacking," Rigg…
NJ For-Profit School Deceived Students, Forced To Pay $4.6 Million: State AG NJ For-Profit School Deceived Students, Forced To Pay $4.6 Million: State AG
NJ For-Profit School Deceived Students, Forced To Pay $4.6 Million: State AG A for-profit school in Middlesex County is being forced to pay a $4.6 million after the state said it deceived students and offered unlawful loans. Sollers Inc. which is based in Piscataway, used false and misleading job advertisements to funnel students into its programs and falsely claimed that agreements requiring students to pledge a portion of their future income in exchange for money upfront for their programs was not a loan, Attorney General Matthew Platkin said. Sollers also reached a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission.  As part of the settlement, Sollers will cancel …
They Steal Your Heart, Then Steal Your Money: Romance Scammers Make It Look Easy They Steal Your Heart, Then Steal Your Money: Romance Scammers Make It Look Easy
They Steal Your Heart, Then Steal Your Money: Romance Scammers Make It Look Easy It's heartbreaking to discover that someone you've become enamored with online isn't into you, but it’s even worse to realize that person just made off with $3,500 of your money. That’s what happened to a Glen Rock resident who ended up wiring the dough to a sweet talker in the Dominican Republic. Suffice to say: It wasn’t coming back. Although $3,500 is a significant sum to some, it’s couch cushion change compared with the $450,000 in crypto lost last year by another romance scam victim from Glen Rock. According to the Federal Trade Commission, a staggering $1.3 BILLION was lost by 70,000…
Don't Die In Massachusetts. It Costs Too Much Don't Die In Massachusetts. It Costs Too Much
Don't Die In Massachusetts. It Costs Too Much If you plan to die, do it somewhere outside of Massachusetts. According to a new study, the Bay State is one of the nation's most expensive places to perish.  Forbes recently tallied all the financial costs of losing a loved one. That included end-of-life care and funeral expenses. What they found is that not only is the cost of living rising, but so is the price of dying. Alaska was the priciest place to die, with it costing more than $33,000 on average. That's $24,400 for end-of-life care and an average funeral price tag of $9,300, according to the Forbes study. Hawaii is next,…
NY Law Requiring Businesses To Warn Customers Of Gift Card Scams Takes Effect NY Law Requiring Businesses To Warn Customers Of Gift Card Scams Takes Effect
NY Law Requiring Businesses To Warn Customers Of Gift Card Scams Takes Effect Leaders in New York have given consumers another tool in their belt to help fend off would-be fraudsters. New legislation that went into effect on Tuesday, June 20, requires businesses that sell gift cards in New York to post a notice warning customers about gift card scams. Notices must be posted near where any gift card or gift certificate is displayed or sold. The law was introduced by Long Island State Sen. Kevin Thomas, a Democrat whose 6th Senate District covers central Nassau County. Thomas chairs the senate’s Consumer Protection Committee. “I am happy to see the Department of St…
Mastermind Of Historic $175M Psychic Mail Scam Convicted, Feds Cite More Than 1M Victims Mastermind Of Historic $175M Psychic Mail Scam Convicted, Feds Cite More Than 1M Victims
Mastermind Of Historic $175M Psychic Mail Scam Convicted, Feds Cite More Than 1M Victims The mastermind of a mass-mailing scam that stole $175 million from more than a million victims, most of them elderly or ailing, was convicted by a federal jury in New York City. Patrice Runner, a 57-year-old Canadian and French citizen, directed a ruthless psychic mail scheme for over two decades, beginning in 1994, the jurors found. It was one of the largest -- if not the largest -- scam of its kind ever, the U.S. Department of Justice said on Friday, June 16, in announcing the verdict reached a day earlier on Long Island. Runner sent mailings to millions of Americans that claimed t…
NY Woman Wires $49K To Scammer Posing As Microsoft Employee NY Woman Wires $49K To Scammer Posing As Microsoft Employee
NY Woman Wires $49K To Scammer Posing As Microsoft Employee A New York woman was scammed out of tens of thousands of dollars over the phone. The 85-year-old Long Island resident, of North Hills, was using her computer when she received a prompt to call a phone number, according to Nassau County Police. A man on the other end claimed to be a Microsoft employee and instructed her to go to her bank and transfer $49,000 to another bank account, which she did.  Once the transfer was complete, the man then instructed the victim to send him a copy of her driver’s license and the bank receipt for the transfer, police said. Nassau County Police said …
'Real Housewives' Star Gets Prison Time For New York-Based Fraud Scheme 'Real Housewives' Star Gets Prison Time For New York-Based Fraud Scheme
'Real Housewives' Star Gets Prison Time For New York-Based Fraud Scheme A former "Real Housewives of Salt Lake City" star was sentenced to several years in prison for her role in a nationwide telemarketing fraud scheme based in New York.  Jennifer Shah, age 49, who appeared on the show beginning in 2020, was sentenced to six ½ years in prison on Friday, Jan. 6 for targeting elderly victims in the scheme and defrauding them out of their savings, according to the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams.  Beginning in 2012 and lasting until her arrest in March 2021, Shah was the leader of the scheme which ended up victimizi…
Town Of Fairfield Police Issue Alert For Circulating Bitcoin Scam Town Of Fairfield Police Issue Alert For Circulating Bitcoin Scam
Town Of Fairfield Police Issue Alert For Circulating Bitcoin Scam Police in Fairfield County are warning residents against the latest scam, this one involving Bitcoin. Fairfield Police Chief Robert Kalamaras said they learned of the latest scam when a resident alerted the department on Tuesday, Nov. 22 that they had sent $7,000 in Bitcoin currency to an unknown account prior to realizing it was a scam. The resident told officers she had received a call from an unknown male claiming to work for the fraud department of an online retailer. He told her that fraud was detected on her account and informed her that she would have to transfer her money to a Bitco…
US Attorney In Virginia Reportedly Investigating Washington Commanders For Financial Misconduct US Attorney In Virginia Reportedly Investigating Washington Commanders For Financial Misconduct
US Attorney In Virginia Reportedly Investigating Washington Commanders For Financial Misconduct On the same day embattled Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder opened the door to a potential sale of at least a portion of the franchise, federal officials are reportedly launching an investigation into the team’s financial improprieties. ESPN and other national outlets reported late on Wednesday, Nov. 2 that the US Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Virginia launched an investigation into the team that is focused on alleged deceptive business practices. According to the report, prospectors “are focused on several areas and that the inquiry was triggered by a letter the Ho…
Boston Police Seeking Scammer Who Stole Over $13,000 From 79-Year-Old Man Boston Police Seeking Scammer Who Stole Over $13,000 From 79-Year-Old Man
Boston Police Seeking Scammer Who Stole Over $13,000 From 79-Year-Old Man Boston Police are seeking the public's help in locating a suspect's car who apparently scammed a 79-year-old man out of $13,500 dollars.  The man told police that someone called him saying his needed to be bailed out of jail grandson following an incident with a woman who was seriously injured, police said. A second person, claiming to be a public defender, reiterated the situation and said bail bondsman could meet the and pick up the money.  The trade-off was arranged in the Longwood area because the man said he needed to bring a family member to the hospital. That…
Don't Fall For Them: Alert Issued For Student Loan Forgiveness Scams Don't Fall For Them: Alert Issued For Student Loan Forgiveness Scams
Don't Fall For Them: Alert Issued For Student Loan Forgiveness Scams Days after President Biden announced a sweeping plan to forgive thousands of dollars in federal student loans, authorities are warning of scammers preying on those with student debt. Several police agencies around the country are urging people to be on the lookout for “red flags” that may indicate a would-be scammer. Among them are promises to get student borrowers even more money, or claims they can get a borrower their money faster, police said. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) put out a statement telling student loan borrowers they don’t need to do anything or pay anybody to sign up f…
Scammer Steals Thousands Of Dollars From Scared Boston Grandparent: Police Scammer Steals Thousands Of Dollars From Scared Boston Grandparent: Police
Scammer Steals Thousands Of Dollars From Scared Boston Grandparent: Police A Boston granddad is out thousands of dollars after a scammer preyed on his love for his grandson.  Last month an 83-year-old man got a phone call from a "public defender" who claimed the man's grandson was in a lot of trouble after police arrested him on a reckless endangerment charge, Boston police said. The fake lawyer said the octogenarian would need to fork over thousands of dollars to bail the young man out of jail.  He sent the money, but none of it was real.  Boston police said the call came in from the 151 Tremont St. area. A surveillance video captured the person o…
Scam Alert: Phishing Text Messages On Rise, New Report Says Scam Alert: Phishing Text Messages On Rise, New Report Says
Scam Alert: Phishing Text Messages On Rise, New Report Says Cybersecurity experts have reported an increase in phishing scam text messages, according to a new report from CNET. Josh Yavor, the chief information security officer at cybersecurity company Tessian, told the news outlet he has seen a recent increase in scammers using text messages for phishing, where they attempt to steal peoples' personal information by pretending to be reputable organizations. CNET also said a report from enterprise security company Proofpoint found that incidents SMS phishing increased by 24 percent in the United States last year. The Federal Trade Commission reporte…
Hudson Valley Man Among Four Charged In $40M Scam Hudson Valley Man Among Four Charged In $40M Scam
Hudson Valley Man Among Four Charged In $40M Scam A Hudson Valley man was among four charged in an 11-count indictment for allegedly stealing more than $40 million in investor funds as part of a cryptocurrency scam, federal authorities announced. On Tuesday, March 8, US Attorney Breon Peace announced that four owners and operators of online cryptocurrency companies - including one from Dutchess County - are facing a host of charges for allegedly running a sophisticated scheme to steal from investors and later attempting to obstruct justice as they were being investigated. Those charged, according to the US Attorney’s Office: Gregory Agg…
COVID-19: Feds Aim To Stop Deceptive Marketing Of Tea Product Advertised As Virus Treatment COVID-19: Feds Aim To Stop Deceptive Marketing Of Tea Product Advertised As Virus Treatment
Covid-19: Feds Aim To Stop Deceptive Marketing Of Tea Product Advertised As Virus Treatment Federal officials are seeking civil penalties after a tea company allegedly advertised that its product could prevent or treat COVID-19. B4B Earth Tea LLC, B4B Corp., and Andrew Martin Sinclair are accused of violating the COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act, the Federal Trade Commission Act, and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, according to an announcement on Thursday, March 3, from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. The defendants reportedly advertised that the herbal tea product, Earth Tea, could prevent or treat COVID-19, according to a crimi…
63-Year-Old Hackettstown Woman Loses $7K In Scam Involving Bogus PNC Bank Worker, Police Say 63-Year-Old Hackettstown Woman Loses $7K In Scam Involving Bogus PNC Bank Worker, Police Say
63-Year-Old Hackettstown Woman Loses $7K In Scam Involving Bogus PNC Bank Worker, Police Say Police have issued a warning to local residents after a 63-year-old Hackettstown woman was scammed out of $7,000 by someone posing as a PNC bank worker. The scammer posed as a bank employee and told the victim that her bank account was compromised, police said in a Wednesday release. “According to the victim, the scammer was very persistent and then the scammer allegedly convinced the victim to pay with various gift cards to have her accounts secured,” police said. The victim bought $7,000 worth of Best Buy and Target gift cards, scratched off all of the PIN numbers, and told the informati…
GRANDPARENT SCAM: Rochelle Park PD Nabs Bronx Man After Elderly Victim Is Conned Out Of $7,800 GRANDPARENT SCAM: Rochelle Park PD Nabs Bronx Man After Elderly Victim Is Conned Out Of $7,800
Grandparent Scam: Rochelle Park PD Nabs Bronx Man After Elderly Victim Is Conned Out Of $7,800 Rochelle Park police nabbed a phone scammer from the Bronx who convinced an elderly victim to mail $7,800 in cash that he said was needed to bail out his just-arrested grandson, authorities said. Posing as a police officer, a caller told the 80-something Washington State resident that his grandson had been arrested, Detective Lt. James DePreta said. The caller said his son needed $16,800 for bail, then directed him to mail $7,800 to a Rochelle Park address, DePreta said. Believing it was real, the victim sent the money, the lieutenant said. He eventually realized it was a scam and called…