Memo from Chair Lina M. Khan to commission staff and commissioners regarding the vision and priorities for the FTC. Whitney Moore, Attorney, FTC Division of Privacy and Identity Protection, Competition and Consumer Protection Guidance Documents, And what exactly is artificial intelligence anyway? We wont post off-topic comments, repeated identical comments, or comments that include sales pitches or promotions. We enforce federal competition and consumer protection laws that prevent anticompetitive, deceptive, and unfair business practices. Start small, then add on. If you do, you must create a user name, or we will not post your comment. They may even, What To Do If You Sent Money to a Scammer, Here is a list of gift cards that scammers often use. When you talk about AI in your advertising, the FTC may be wondering, among other things: Are you exaggerating what your AI product can do? Whenever possible, the FTC uses the money it collects from defendants to provide refunds to injured consumers. Comments and user names are part of the Federal Trade Commissions (FTC) public records system, and user names also are part of the FTCscomputer user recordssystem. 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. Weve just heard, though, that scammers are trying to get into the act, using fake checks that look like the real one. They may evenbereal checks written on bank accounts that belong to someone whose identity has been stolen. They do not belong to or represent views of the Federal Trade Commission. Make smart shopping decisions, know your rights, and solve problems when you shop or donate to charity. Once payments have been issued,PayPal sends an email telling recipients about their refund. The FTC is a federal government agency that gets its budget from Congress. They might say they need you to cover taxes or fees for a prize, to buy supplies for a job, to send back money they overpaid, or something else. If you do, you must create a user name, or we will not post your comment. Memo from Chair Lina M. Khan to commission staff and commissioners regarding the vision and priorities for the FTC. In cases where there is not enough money to provide full refunds, the FTC analyzes the available data to determine how best to distribute the money. Fake checks can take weeks to be discovered and untangled. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. How do I know this FTC payment or claim form is legit? Its not uncommon for advertisers to say that some new-fangled technology makes their product better perhaps to justify a higher price or influence labor decisions. According to the FTC, ABCmouse failed to make it clear to their customers that their memberships would automatically renew and made it difficult to cancel. Completely agree that movies and media have caused an unfortunate and exaggerated view of AI. Make smart shopping decisions, know your rights, and solve problems when you shop or donate to charity. If there is any money left in the settlement fund after the first distribution, the FTC may send a second round of payments. We wont post comments that include vulgar messages, personal attacks by name, or offensive terms that target specific people or groups. They always have a good story to explain why you cant keep all the money. Sometimes the FTC is able to return money to people who were ripped off in a con artists scheme. We may routinely use these records as described in the FTCsPrivacy Act system notices. What to do about unwanted calls, emails, and text messages that can be annoying, might be illegal, and are probably scams. An official website of the United States government. Looking for legal documents or records? Heres what to know about fake check scams. Before making AI widely available . The company added these charges without the customers permission and did not investigate when customers complained about them. Stephanie T. Nguyen, Chief Technology Officer, Competition and Consumer Protection Guidance Documents, Refund Programs: Frequently Asked Questions, I received a payment or claim form from the FTC. If theres one constant among scammers, its that theyre always coming up with new schemes, like the Google Voice verification scam. The .gov means its official. If something goes wrong maybe it fails or yields biased results you cant just blame a third-party developer of the technology. Looking for legal documents or records? In addition, the agency is resending checks to more than 33,000 people who didnt previously cash their check. You must submit your request in writing by mail or email. It often refers to a variety of technological tools and techniques that use computation to perform tasks such as predictions, decisions, or recommendations. 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. Garbage-in Garbage-out. You need adequate proof for that kind of comparative claim, too, and if such proof is impossible to get, then dont make the claim. We enforce federal competition and consumer protection laws that prevent anticompetitive, deceptive, and unfair business practices. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. Can I speak to someone about my claim form or payment? 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. When the funds are made available in your account, the bank may say the check has "cleared," but that doesn't mean it's a good check. The FTC sends money that cannot be distributed to consumers to the U.S. Treasury. Learn more about your rights as a consumer and how to spot and avoid scams. The FTC first mailed checks for this matter in October 2019 and sent PayPal payments in August 2021, resulting in more than $26.5 million in refunds. Memo from Chair Lina M. Khan to commission staff and commissioners regarding the vision and priorities for the FTC. We don't edit comments to remove objectionable content, so please ensure that your comment contains none of the above. If you do, you must create a user name, or we will not post your comment. Whenever theres an FTC refund program, information is available at. If you get a refund from the FTC, just deposit or cash the check within 60 days. If so, information about how to file a claim will be available at www.ftc.gov/refunds. Why didnt I get all my money back? If the agency obtains a reliable list of eligible recipients, then the agency mails checks directly to them. If so, information about how to file a claim will be available at, If you believe you have been affected by an FTC case that is not listed at, For more information about the FTCs refund process, see, Data on FTC refunds are available in interactive online dashboards. Start small, then add on. To find out which recent FTC cases led to refunds, and who to contact with questions, check out ftc.gov/refunds. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. 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. Fed-up with "Fluffy Marketing"! In a fake check scam, a person you dont know asks you to deposit a check. We work to advance government policies that protect consumers and promote competition. The comments posted on this blog become part of the public domain. Weve. The .gov means its official. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. You can be sure the phone numbers and links on this page are legit. Please tell the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint. Click on a case name to see more details about the refund program, including whether we sent checks or PayPal payments. We use this information to send refunds. Heres what you need to know about these calls. Looking for legal documents or records? 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 use this information to send refunds. 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. It often refers to a variety of technological tools and techniques that use computation to perform tasks such as predictions, decisions, or recommendations. Payments are expected to be issued between October 2022 and January 2023. Report that to us at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If you get a PayPal payment, please accept it within 30 days. The Federal Trade Commission Act authorizes this information collection for purposes of managing online comments. 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. to payment recipients prior to payment. Over the last 5 years, more than 95% of the money collected for refunds has been returned to consumers. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. We cannot send payments until all legal action is complete, and we have collected the money from the defendants. How to protect your personal information and privacy, stay safe online, and help your kids do the same. Whenever possible, the FTC uses the money it collects from defendants to provide refunds to injured consumers. If someone claims to be from the FTC and asks for money, its a scam. How long will it take to get a new check? We review all comments before they are posted, and we wont post comments that dont comply with our commenting policy. Once payments have been issued,PayPal sends an email telling recipients about their refund. You can find and verify the phone numbers for FTC refund programs at, In these cases, we send an email from the FTC (. ) The agency is sending refund checks to two million people over the next two weeks. Stephanie T. Nguyen, Chief Technology Officer, Competition and Consumer Protection Guidance Documents, You can findanswers tocommon questions about refund payments on. To protect your privacy and the privacy of other people, please do not include personal information. I requested a check reissue. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. They tell you to send some of the money back to them or to another person. If you have any other questions, please call the refund administrator at1-866-898-5106. After settling with. Memo from Chair Lina M. Khan to commission staff and commissioners regarding the vision and priorities for the FTC. Youve probably heard: this holiday season, it might be harder to find the gifts youre looking for. Yes, the FTC sometimes uses PayPal to distribute refunds. Users can explore refund data, 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. You dont need a machine to predict what the FTC might do when those claims are unsupported. If the card you used is not on this list, you might find the gift card companys contact information on the card itself. According to a complaint filed by theFTC,LifeLockfailed to establish and maintain a comprehensive information security programto protect its customer data, falsely advertised that it protected sensitive customerdata with the same high-level safeguards used by financial institutions, and falsely claimed it provided 24/7/365 alerts as soon as it received any indication a customer's identity was being used. Phishing scams are still prevalent. If you think you can get away with baseless claims that your product is AI-enabled, think again. What to do about unwanted calls, emails, and text messages that can be annoying, might be illegal, and are probably scams. If you have specific questions regarding FTC refunds, check out these related FAQs. If someone contacts you claiming that theyre from the FTC and want you to spend money in order to get a refund, its a scam. I went through your questions and our process conforms to them, we say that AI isn't magic, it is math. 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 Checks Totaling More Than $31 Million to LifeLock Customers, LifeLock to Pay $100 Million to Consumers to Settle FTC Charges it Violated 2010 Order, FTC Takes Action Against LifeLock for Alleged Violations of 2010 Order, Nearly One Million LifeLock Victims to Receive Refund Checks from FTC, LifeLock Will Pay $12 Million to Settle Charges by the FTC and 35 States That Identity Theft Prevention and Data Security Claims Were False. 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. To avoid these scammers: For more information, please read the FTCs article about phishing scams. Advertisers should take another look at our. 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. The case will be listed at. Comments and user names are part of the Federal Trade Commissions (FTC) public records system, and user names also are part of the FTCscomputer user recordssystem. The case will be listed at ftc.gov/refunds, along with the name of the company issuing payments and a phone number for questions. The FTC is sending PayPal payments totaling $4.7 million to 338,189LifeLock customers who were membersbetween 2012 and 2014. It is your choice whether to submit a comment. FTC attorneys and other staff are paid a salary from the agencys annual budget. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. More than. We work to advance government policies that protect consumers and promote competition. Its an ambiguous term with many possible definitions. 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. Its not uncommon for advertisers to say that some new-fangled technology makes their product better perhaps to justify a higher price or influence labor decisions. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure youre on a federal government site. How much money from FTC lawsuits goes to FTC attorneys. Because there is still money in the fund, the FTC is sending another round of payments to people who previously cashed a check or accepted a PayPal payment and have a valid email address on file. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure youre on a federal government site. If there is any money left in the settlement fund after the first distribution, the FTC may send a second round of payments. If you receive a 1099 tax form with your check, you should report the payment as income on your tax return. We work to advance government policies that protect consumers and promote competition. 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. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure youre on a federal government site. But one thing is for sure: its a marketing term. It is your choice whether to submit a comment. Make smart shopping decisions, know your rights, and solve problems when you shop or donate to charity. . to protect its customer data, falsely advertised that it protected sensitive customerdata with the same high-level safeguards used by financial institutions, and falsely claimed it provided 24/7/365 alerts as soon as it received any indication a customer's identity was being used. Please call for details. . 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. Recent complaints to the FTC show that scammers are: So how can you tell whether an FTC refund is real? We wont post comments that include vulgar messages, personal attacks by name, or offensive terms that target specific people or groups. The Federal Trade Commission Act authorizes this information collection for purposes of managing online comments. If something goes wrong maybe it fails or yields biased results you cant just blame a third-party developer of the technology. This message is not new. 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. Find legal resources and guidance to understand your business responsibilities and comply with the law. You need to know about the reasonably foreseeable risks and impact of your AI product before putting it on the market. A puppet becomes a boy. What to know when you're looking for a job or more education, or considering a money-making opportunity or investment. This article rubbed me the wrong way when I first read it, I had to let it sit for 24 hours and think about it. Does the product actually use AI at all? . Has someone asked you for something in exchange for your AMG refund check? 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. Wow, just noticed I have to provide labeled data for CV ML to post this. Stephanie T. Nguyen, Chief Technology Officer, Michael Atleson, Attorney, FTC Division of Advertising Practices. And in the, , over $9.7 million went back to more than 200,000 people, mostly through. We wont post off-topic comments, repeated identical comments, or comments that include sales pitches or promotions. Consumer Sentinel data contains millions of reports from people who contacted the FTC, the Better Business Bureau, or other federal, state, and local law enforcement offices about fraud or bad business practices. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect. To discuss your claim or payment, call the number on the claim form, check, or email that you received from the FTC. Breathless media accounts dont help, but it starts with the companies that do the developing and selling. 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. We don't edit comments to remove objectionable content, so please ensure that your comment contains none of the above. I want all involved who are grappling with this tiger by the tail (Developers, Regulators, Investors, etc.) Search the Legal Library instead. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. with many possible definitions. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure youre on a federal government site. FTC court orders typically require the defendants to provide a list of customers, along with their contact information, and how much they paid. . How to protect your personal information and privacy, stay safe online, and help your kids do the same. If we do not have all the information we need to send refunds, we may request that consumers file a claim. Hold Billing Services, Ltd.; Avery Communications, Inc.; Veterans of America Association, Ltd.; et al. In one version of the scam, you get a call and a recorded message that says its Amazon. We must wait for PayPal to return the payment before we can begin processing check reissues. And you cant say youre not responsible because that technology is a black box you cant understand or didnt know how to test. 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. Use our visualizations to explore scam and fraud trends in your state based on reports from consumers like you. Whatever it can or cant do, AI is important, and so are the claims you make about it. The FTC first sent payments in this matter in May 2020, whichresulted in more than $8.4 million in refunds. The comments posted on this blog become part of the public domain. Youve probably heard: this holiday season, it might be harder to find the gifts youre looking for. The most prevarication I have witnessed in the last five years (three in a DOD uniform and two in the AI-industry) have come from very large, well-established, well-connected companies. Whenever theres an FTC refund program, information is available at ftc.gov/refunds. In most FTC cases, the money is distributed on a pro rata basis, meaning that each recipient receives an equal percentage of his or her total loss. You can findanswers tocommon questions about refund payments onour FAQ page. If you get a call from someone who says theyre from the FTC but asks you for money or sensitive information, please tell the real FTC at ftc.gov/complaint. The .gov means its official. The .gov means its official. Liable for $280 Million in Consumer Harm Caused by the IWorks Scheme, IWorks Billing Scheme Ringleader Agrees to Settle FTC Charges, I Works Billing Scheme Defendant Agrees to Settle FTC Charges. Or even claiming it can do something beyond the current capability of any AI or automated technology? Popular banking scams. Heres how to spot it. It can take weeks for a bank to figure out that the check is a fake. Have you heard about it? . In addition, the agency is resending checks to more than 33,000 people who didn't previously cash their check. 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. Learn more about your rights as a consumer and how to spot and avoid scams. How can a TEMPORARY PAUSE be put on a technology that is being unleashed faster than high-tech firms can safely deploy / control it? 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. I didnt cash my check right away. 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. Have you heard about it? If you receive a PayPal payment, you have 30 days to accept it. But the fact is that some products with AI claims might not even work as advertised in the first place. I need a new check because of a legal name change, a death, or a spelling error. I believe they want to make distinctions on the danger level of various deployment aims and scope of the AI implementations. Have you heard about it? Find the resources you need to understand how consumer protection law impacts your business. The FTC first mailed checks for this matter in October 2019 and sent PayPal payments in August 2021, resulting in more than $26.5 million in refunds. Spot the latest COVID scams, get compliance guidance, and stay up to date on FTC actions during the pandemic. We review all comments before they are posted, and we wont post comments that dont comply with our commenting policy. Looking for legal documents or records? Learn about getting and using credit, borrowing money, and managing debt. And you cant say youre not responsible because that technology is a black box you cant understand or didnt know how to test. We enforce federal competition and consumer protection laws that prevent anticompetitive, deceptive, and unfair business practices. The FTC's interactive dashboards for refund data provide a state-by-state breakdown of FTC refunds. One of those scams was 8 Figure Dream Lifestyle, which touted a proven business model and told Scammers are calling people and using the names of two companies everyone knows, Apple and Amazon, to rip people off. These are the same companies that only adopted AI-enabled technology once it became a buzzword and a lot of what I have seen wouldn't pass your four question metric above. They are often printed with the names and addresses of legitimate financial institutions. It is our goal to send payments within 6 months of receiving the data and money necessary for distribution. We enforce federal competition and consumer protection laws that prevent anticompetitive, deceptive, and unfair business practices. Its an. 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". An official website of the United States government. In cases where the FTC is required to report payments to the IRS, the agency will include a 1099 tax form with your check. couch and chair set leather The .gov means its official. Or can all this be simply ignored? We wont post comments that include vulgar messages, personal attacks by name, or offensive terms that target specific people or groups. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure youre on a federal government site. Spot the latest COVID scams, get compliance guidance, and stay up to date on FTC actions during the pandemic. If you have any questions about how your payment may affect your taxes, please consult a tax advisor. Use our visualizations to explore scam and fraud trends in your state based on reports from consumers like you. Stephanie T. Nguyen, Chief Technology Officer, Competition and Consumer Protection Guidance Documents, According to a complaint filed by theFTC,LifeLock, failed to establish and maintain a comprehensive information security program. Right now its a hot one. We wont post off-topic comments, repeated identical comments, or comments that include sales pitches or promotions. Breathless media accounts dont help, but it starts with the companies that do the developing and selling. Opinions in comments that appear in this blog belong to the individuals who expressed them. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. Find legal resources and guidance to understand your business responsibilities and comply with the law. 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. The company and phone number for each case are listed on the chart. For more information on how the FTC handles information that we collect, please read our privacy policy.
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