Learn about getting and using credit, borrowing money, and managing debt. Have you heard about it? Fake calls from Apple and Amazon support: What you need to know, The Google Voice scam: How this verification code scam works and how to avoid it, Show/hide Shopping and Donating menu items, Show/hide Credit, Loans, and Debt menu items, Show/hide Jobs and Making Money menu items, Money-Making Opportunities and Investments, Show/hide Unwanted Calls, Emails, and Texts menu items, Show/hide Identity Theft and Online Security menu items, If you lost money in a scam, you might get a call or email from someone claiming that they can help you recover your funds , targeting people who lost money to tech support scams, claiming to be from the FTCs Refund Department or Refund Division, If the FTC contacts you about a refund, youll find information about the case at, doTERRA distributors charged with making unfounded COVID-19 cure claims, Tenant screening practices: the FTC wants to learn more. The .gov means its official. The FTC and its law enforcement partners announced actions against several income scams that conned people out of hundreds of millions of dollars by falsely telling them they could make a lot of money. Start small, then add on. Here are ways to try to get your money back, depending on how you paid a scammer. We wont post threats, defamatory statements, or suggestions or encouragement of illegal activity. A monster rises in a lab. Are you promising that your AI product does something better than a non-AI product? If you were a little too jolly with your holiday spending, here are some tips to help you pay down your credit card debt. Slam the next scam and report to law enforcement." During National Consumer Protection Week, IRS-CI will share information on its Twitter account about how to slam a particular scam. Opinions in comments that appear in this blog belong to the individuals who expressed them. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. . You can be sure the phone numbers and links on this page are legit. Search the Legal Library instead. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure youre on a federal government site. For statistics about where refunds were sent, the dollar amounts refunded, and the number of people who benefited from FTC refund programs, visit our interactive dashboards. Identifying who is eligible for a refund FTC court orders typically require the company to provide a list of customers, their contact information, and how much each customer paid. We work to advance government policies that protect consumers and promote competition. How to protect your personal information and privacy, stay safe online, and help your kids do the same. Why aren't you going after "Full Self Driving" and "Auto Pilot" used by Tesla? In addition, the agency is resending checks to more than 33,000 people who didn't previously cash their check. For questions or to activate your card, visit the Contact information on this page. We may also use the agencys Consumer Sentinel Network database to find eligible recipients. How do I file a claim? The FTC states that all refund checks should be cashed within 60 days and that if there are any questions about the refunds, recipients should contact the FTC's refund administrator, Epiq, at 1 . The case will be listed at ftc.gov/refunds, along with the name of the company issuing payments and a phone number for questions. An official website of the United States government. Recipients who have questions about their refund should contact the refund administrator, Rust Consulting, at 866-730-8147 or by email at admin@AMGServicesRefund.com. The site is secure. I didnt cash my check right away. Memo from Chair Lina M. Khan to commission staff and commissioners regarding the vision and priorities for the FTC. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Most FTC cases do not require you to file a claim. For generations weve told ourselves stories, using themes of magic and science, about inanimate things that we bring to life or imbue with power beyond human capacity. AI hype is playing out today across many products, from toys to cars to chatbots and a lot of things in between. The FTC first sent payments in this matter in May 2020, whichresulted in more than $8.4 million in refunds. We wont post comments that include vulgar messages, personal attacks by name, or offensive terms that target specific people or groups. So, many of us might be looking for alternatives, like buying gifts locally or maybe from online marketplaces or sites you find through your social media accounts, online ads, or by searching Youve opened all your gifts, and now its time to open those post-holiday credit card statements. We need to be able to fully account for, and show / trace the logic behind (ie: the source used) for: morality, decency, ethics, and the general good. The most common banking scams include: Overpayment scams - Someone sends you a check, instructs you to deposit it in your bank account, and wire part of the money back to them. Make smart shopping decisions, know your rights, and solve problems when you shop or donate to charity. And in the FTC settlement with ABCmouse, over $9.7 million went back to more than 200,000 people, mostly through PayPal. What to do about unwanted calls, emails, and text messages that can be annoying, might be illegal, and are probably scams. The chart below includes recent FTC cases that resulted in refunds. But the fact is that some products with AI claims might not even work as advertised in the first place. Make smart shopping decisions, know your rights, and solve problems when you shop or donate to charity. You dont need a machine to predict what the FTC might do when those claims are unsupported. If something goes wrong maybe it fails or yields biased results you cant just blame a third-party developer of the technology. You can find the phone numbers for current FTC refunds programs at ftc.gov/refunds. The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. Clear case of over promising. It a stationary object, we see it action path cross that about to happen. A payment or claim form sent as part of an FTC settlement will include an explanation of and details about the case. The site is secure. Looking for alternatives for your holiday shopping? If there is still money available in the settlement fund, we may be able to reissue your payment. What to do about unwanted calls, emails, and text messages that can be annoying, might be illegal, and are probably scams. We currently contract with four companies: The FTC never requires you to pay upfront fees or asks you for sensitive information, like your Social Security number or bank account information. The FTC and its law enforcement partners announced actions against several income scams that conned people out of hundreds of millions of dollars by falsely telling them they could make a lot of money. The FTC uses money collected from its lawsuits to pay for the direct costs of sending refunds, like the cost of printing and mailing checks. Heres what you need to know about these calls. Find legal resources and guidance to understand your business responsibilities and comply with the law. Our mission is protecting consumers and competition by preventing anticompetitive, deceptive, and unfair business practices through law enforcement, advocacy, and education without unduly burdening legitimate business activity. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. We wont post off-topic comments, repeated identical comments, or comments that include sales pitches or promotions. How do I know this FTC payment or claim form is legit? Learn more about your rights as a consumer and how to spot and avoid scams. Watch for. To protect your privacy and the privacy of other people, please do not include personal information. to fully refund people for the amount they paid to, , a company that the FTC says collected payments for fake debt by threatening to sue or arrest people who didnt pay. Ifyou have any otherquestions, please call the refund administrator at1-800-591-4238. You can findanswers tocommon questions about refund payments onour FAQ page. I just heard about an FTC lawsuit. I tell DOD and USG folks to educate themselves on AI/ML, there are tons of YouTube videos on it and some simple books to read, podcasts, etc - know what it is and what it isn't. If you have any other questions, please call the refund administrator at1-866-898-5106. Heres how it works Acting Associate Director, Division of Consumer and Business Education, FTC. The FTC says the checks total more than $11 million, and are for victims of a scheme operated by E.M. Systems and Services, who used a variety of fake business names and websites to cold call . Thank you to have the clarity and courage to say this, and to say it so well. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure youre on a federal government site. Completely agree that movies and media have caused an unfortunate and exaggerated view of AI. Fake calls from Apple and Amazon support: What you need to know, The Google Voice scam: How this verification code scam works and how to avoid it, Show/hide Shopping and Donating menu items, Show/hide Credit, Loans, and Debt menu items, Show/hide Jobs and Making Money menu items, Money-Making Opportunities and Investments, Show/hide Unwanted Calls, Emails, and Texts menu items, Show/hide Identity Theft and Online Security menu items. When the funds are made available in your account, the bank may say the check has cleared, but that doesnt mean its a good check. Fake calls from Apple and Amazon support: What you need to know, The Google Voice scam: How this verification code scam works and how to avoid it, Show/hide Shopping and Donating menu items, Show/hide Credit, Loans, and Debt menu items, Show/hide Jobs and Making Money menu items, Money-Making Opportunities and Investments, Show/hide Unwanted Calls, Emails, and Texts menu items, Show/hide Identity Theft and Online Security menu items. We may routinely use these records as described in the FTCsPrivacy Act system notices. If you have any other questions, please call the refund administrator at1-866-898-5106. Free e-filing tools are available at, You must submit your request in writing by mail or email. To discuss your claim or payment, call the number on the claim form, check, or email that you received from the FTC. Its an. Fake checks might look like business or personal checks, cashiers checks, money orders, or a check delivered electronically. We review all comments before they are posted, and we wont post comments that dont comply with our commenting policy. Does the FTC publish statistical information about its refund programs? The FTC first sent checks in September 2021, which resulted in more than $2.9 million in refunds. Here are some examples: These scams work because fake checks generally look just like real checks, even to bank employees. . But the check was fake, so you'll have to pay your bank the amount of the check, plus you'll lose any money you wired. It is our goal to send payments within 6 months of receiving the data and money necessary for distribution. Right now its a hot one. Spot the latest COVID scams, get compliance guidance, and stay up to date on FTC actions during the pandemic. How to protect your personal information and privacy, stay safe online, and help your kids do the same. This article do apply to all the trendy or great KPI messages Marketing people provide: Marketing claims should be backed and supported by evidence and proof points. The FTC reports how much money was returned to consumers, how much was spent on administrative costs, and how much was sent to the U.S. Treasury when there were leftover funds, each year and for every case, on the agencys Refunds Dashboard. If you receive a 1099 tax form with your check, you should report the payment as income on your tax return. It is your choice whether to submit a comment. HSR threshold adjustments and reportability for 2023, A Century of Technological Evolution at the Federal Trade Commission, National Consumer Protection Week 2023 Begins Sunday, March 5, FTC at the 65th Annual Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market - NCPW 2023, Franchises, Business Opportunities, and Investments, FTC says online counseling service BetterHelp pushed people into handing over health information and broke its privacy promises, Next step in FTCs Green Guides review: A closer look at recyclable claims, Tenant screening practices: The FTC wants to hear from you. By that time, the scammer has any money you sent, and you're stuck paying the money back to the bank. The refund checks in total will amount to more than $644,000. I need a new check because of a legal name change, a death, or a spelling error. Right now its a hot one. The FTC and its law enforcement partners announced actions against several income scams that conned people out of hundreds of millions of dollars by falsely telling them they could make a lot of money. The FTC provides answers to common questions about refund payments onour FAQ page. Checks can be verified online at www.ftc.gov/AMG. If the FTC contacts you about a refund, you'll find information about the case at ftc.gov/refunds .You can be sure the phone numbers and links on this page are legit. HSR threshold adjustments and reportability for 2023, A Century of Technological Evolution at the Federal Trade Commission, National Consumer Protection Week 2023 Begins Sunday, March 5, FTC at the 65th Annual Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market - NCPW 2023, FTC Sends Nearly $5 Million in Refunds to People who Lost Money to Cramming Scheme, Company That Placed Crammed Charges on Consumers Phone Bills Settles FTC Contempt Charges, FTC Seeks Return of $52 Million Worth of Bogus Phone Bill Cramming Charges; Agency Charges Nation's Largest Third-Party Billing Company with Contempt, Crammers Settle FTC Charges (October 1999), FTC Enforcement Actions Continue to Target "Crammers". We use this information to send refunds. The .gov means its official. Marketers should know that for FTC enforcement purposes false or unsubstantiated claims about a products efficacy are our bread and butter. the payment processor that made it possible for this company to collect credit card payments the FTC is sending customers of E.M. Systems & Services 100% of their lost money back. . Weve just heard, though, that scammers are trying to get into the act, using fake checks that look like the real one. An official website of the United States government. For questions about your check or the refund process, call the administrator (Rust Consulting) at 1-866-730-8147, or email admin@AMGServicesRefund.com . Advertisers should take another look at our earlier AI guidance, which focused on fairness and equity but also said, clearly, not to overpromise what your algorithm or AI-based tool can deliver. We may routinely use these records as described in the FTCsPrivacy Act system notices. The Federal Trade Commission Act authorizes this information collection for purposes of managing online comments. If you get a PayPal payment, please accept it within 30 days. And at the FTC, one thing we know about hot marketing terms is that some advertisers wont be able to stop themselves from overusing and abusing them. It is your choice whether to submit a comment. CI has also created a short video about how to protect yourself from scams, posted on IRS-CI's YouTube page. We work to advance government policies that protect consumers and promote competition. But scammers try to cause confusion and take advantage at every step. But the fact is that some products with AI claims might not even work as advertised in the first place. We work to advance government policies that protect consumers and promote competition. . Find the resources you need to understand how consumer protection law impacts your business. Spot the latest COVID scams, get compliance guidance, and stay up to date on FTC actions during the pandemic. The company added these charges without the customers permission and did not investigate when customers complained about them. What to know when you're looking for a job or more education, or considering a money-making opportunity or investment. If we do not have all the information we need to send refunds, we may request that consumers file a claim. Memo from Chair Lina M. Khan to commission staff and commissioners regarding the vision and priorities for the FTC. And remember that the FTC will never require you to pay fees in advance, or ask for sensitive information, like your bank account number. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. The message says theres something wrong with Its Cyber Security Awareness month, so the tricks scammers use to steal our personal information are on our minds. Advertisers should take another look at our. Your best bet: Dont rely on money from a check unless you know and trust the person youre dealing with. We send out payments as soon as we can. The site is secure. To protect your privacy and the privacy of other people, please do not include personal information. How to protect your personal information and privacy, stay safe online, and help your kids do the same. The site is secure. The FTC never requires you to pay fees or asks you for sensitive information, like your Social Security number or bank account information. The .gov means its official. You must submit your request in writing by mail or email. An official website of the United States government. Lina M. Khan was sworn in as Chair of the Federal Trade Commission on June 15, 2021. Popular banking scams. If you think you can get away with baseless claims that your product is AI-enabled, think again. They tell you to send some of the money back to them or to another person. Can I speak to someone about my claim form or payment? If you have questions about your AMG refundcheck, go to the FTC'sAMG refundspage, or call the refundsadministrator at 1-866-730-8174. FTC Sends Refund Checks to Tech Support Scam Victims The Federal Trade Commission will begin sending refunds totaling more than $1.7 million to consumers who were victims of a tech support scam.The scam tricked consumers into buying tech support services by claiming their computers were infected with viruses, malware, or other security breaches.
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