Category Archives: Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

Robocalls keep spamming Americans, in part because of their cyber tools

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After a surprising lull at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, phone scammers are back, and showing signs of overlapping more and more with text messages and cyber elements. Scammers are combining phone calls with tricks to circumvent two-factor authentication, using information they obtain online to make more targeted calls and, in some cases, mimicking the attack methods of hackers, government and industry officials say. Phone scams that merge with other methods are growing more frequent and difficult to contend with, said Connecticut Attorney General William Tong. “I think it’s common and it’s dangerous, particularly the way that they’re able to cloak themselves or convince you that you need to respond to a particular call or email,” he said. Internet technology has helped fuel a record number of robocalls thanks to the advent of voice-over IP, a tool that made mass calling convenient and more affordable. Estimates vary, but most […]

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Romance scam victims reported $304 million in fraud in 2020, a new high

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Deceptive online behavior prompted plenty of emotions last year. Anger, fear, anxiety, frustration — take your pick. Just don’t forget heartbreak. Exactly how much heartbreak? The Federal Trade Commission’s scam-tracking team doesn’t monitor emotions, but it does collect complaints from people who say they were victims of romance scams. In 2020, they were worth a record $304 million — an increase of about 50% over the previous year. Some of the fraud was initiated through dating apps, the FTC said, as people flocked to them during months of stay-at-home orders during the coronavirus pandemic. But social media was an even greater source, the agency said. “Scammers fabricate attractive online profiles to draw people in, often lifting pictures from the web and using made up names. Some go a step further and assume the identities of real people,” the FTC said. “Once they make online contact, they make up reasons not […]

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SolarWinds hack spotlights a thorny legal problem: Who to blame for espionage?

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Every massive breach comes with a trail of lawsuits and regulatory ramifications that can last for years. Home Depot, for instance, only last month settled with a group of state attorneys general over its 2014 breach. The SolarWinds security incident that U.S. officials have pinned on state-sponsored Russian hackers is unlike anything that came before, legal experts say, meaning the legal liability could take even longer to resolve in court. As Congress, federal government departments and corporations reckon with the vast sweep of the SolarWinds breach, there are still many more questions than answers. Fewer pieces of it are less certain than how it might play out in court, where companies and individuals alike stand to gain or lose. Many millions of dollars, corporate blame and years of finger-pointing are on the line. That’s because the targets — government agencies, and some major companies — aren’t the usual kind of […]

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Zoom pushes new tools meant to counter ‘Zoombombing’

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Zoom on Monday unveiled a trio of security tools the video conferencing company and its users can deploy to defend against unwelcome intruders who “Zoombomb” meetings. The announcement is the latest in a blitz that began this spring, when Zoom’s daily usage skyrocket at the onset of the coronavirus outbreak, and the company admitted it was caught off guard by the resulting security woes — among them, uninvited users posting offensive materials. Last week, Zoom reached a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission over its encryption claims. The company has since begun rolling out end-to-end encryption for all users. Multiple state attorneys general also had pressed Zoom to do more about Zoombombing. The company reached an agreement with New York in May to increase security. “Suspend Participant Activities,” one of the three tools Zoom detailed in a blog post, allows Zoom hosts to pause meeting functions to report disruptive attendees. Afterward, the host can resume video, audio, screen sharing and other […]

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Not So Safe and Secure: FTC Settles Over Smart Lock Representations

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The Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) recently gave final approval to a settlement with the Canadian smart locks company Tapplock, Inc. over alleged deceptive practices in the data security context. Tapplock offers Internet-connec… Continue reading Not So Safe and Secure: FTC Settles Over Smart Lock Representations→

FTC Seeks Public Comment on Approach to Influencers, Endorsements, Testimonials, and Reviews

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With the rise of influencer marketing, promotional social media content, and endorsed reviews, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) has increased its enforcement and is now looking to expand its guidance related to online endorsements and … Continue reading FTC Seeks Public Comment on Approach to Influencers, Endorsements, Testimonials, and Reviews→

FTC Holds Companies Accountable for Online Lead Generators

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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) dropped the $30 million hammer on Career Education Corporation (CEC) for using leads obtained from dubious and illegal website operators to engage with prospects with the hope of having the prospect enroll in CEC’s p… Continue reading FTC Holds Companies Accountable for Online Lead Generators→

YouTube and Google Fined $170 Million for COPPA Violations; FTC to Investigate YouTube Channels Next

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Following an extensive investigation, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) announced a settlement with Google and its subsidiary YouTube for the largest-ever civil penalty for violations under the Children’s Online Privacy Prote… Continue reading YouTube and Google Fined $170 Million for COPPA Violations; FTC to Investigate YouTube Channels Next→

The Carrot and The Stick: Trends and Considerations in the Equifax/FTC Settlement

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Following a breach affecting 145 million consumers, the Federal Trade Commission has announced a settlement with Equifax for up to $700 million, the largest ever for a data breach. In the same action, Equifax also settled with the Consumer F… Continue reading The Carrot and The Stick: Trends and Considerations in the Equifax/FTC Settlement→

This Old Reg: FTC Proposes Major Updates to the Safeguards Rule

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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking industry feedback on a number of proposed changes to the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (“GLBA”) Safeguards Rule, many of which are drawn from the New Yo… Continue reading This Old Reg: FTC Proposes Major Updates to the Safeguards Rule→