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. We wont post off-topic comments, repeated identical comments, or comments that include sales pitches or promotions. If you get a refund from the FTC, just deposit or cash the check within 60 days. If something goes wrong maybe it fails or yields biased results you cant just blame a third-party developer of the technology. If we do not have all the information we need to send refunds, we may request that consumers file a claim. We wont post comments that include personal information, like Social Security numbers, account numbers, home addresses, and email addresses. . Recent complaints to the FTC show that scammers are: So how can you tell whether an FTC refund is real? We may routinely use these records as described in the FTCsPrivacy Act system notices. The FTC is sending out 541,247 checks averaging $63.35 per check. Find the resources you need to understand how consumer protection law impacts your business. In an investigation, FTC technologists and others can look under the hood and analyze other materials to see if whats inside matches up with your claims. The chart below includes recent FTC cases that resulted in refunds. 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, Most FTC cases do not require you to file a claim. Are you promising that your AI product does something better than a non-AI product? Find the resources you need to understand how consumer protection law impacts your business. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. And remember that the FTC will never require you to pay fees in advance, or ask for sensitive information, like your bank account number. Here is a list of gift cards that scammers often use with information to help report a scam. FTC court orders typically require the defendants to provide a list of customers, along with their contact information, and how much they paid. This message is not new. . LifeLock Refunds | Federal Trade Commission And you cant say youre not responsible because that technology is a black box you cant understand or didnt know how to test. Opinions in comments that appear in this blog belong to the individuals who expressed them. The .gov means its official. So far, weve heard that scammers have given job applicants a check that looks like an AMG refund check, and then asked people to deposit the check and use the money to go buy supplies for the supposed employer. In one version of the scam, you get a call and a recorded message that says its Amazon. The site is secure. If you have any questions about how your payment may affect your taxes, please consult a tax advisor. An official website of the United States government. You don't have to pay for an FTC refund, and you don't have to give any information to cash a refund check. 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. In these cases, we send an email from the FTC (subscribe@subscribe.ftc.gov) to payment recipients prior to payment. I would beg this of the FTC, please apply these principals across the board - to both large and small companies. Or even claiming it can do something beyond the current capability of any AI or automated technology? Search the Legal Library instead. . Your performance claims would be deceptive if they lack scientific support or if they apply only to certain types of users or under certain conditions. If you get a check, please cash it within 90days. And what exactly is artificial intelligence anyway? Lina M. Khan was sworn in as Chair of the Federal Trade Commission on June 15, 2021. After letting those initial feelings subside, I think it is a great article and I have sent it to several DOD friends. How do I file a claim? Whatever it can or cant do, AI is important, and so are the claims you make about it. 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. How to protect your personal information and privacy, stay safe online, and help your kids do the same. . Anyone who does is scamming you. Refund amounts will depend on how much the FTC is able to collect from the defendants and how many people lost money. The FTC sends money that cannot be distributed to consumers to the U.S. Treasury. Learn about getting and using credit, borrowing money, and managing debt. What to do about unwanted calls, emails, and text messages that can be annoying, might be illegal, and are probably scams. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. Right now its a hot one. How to protect your personal information and privacy, stay safe online, and help your kids do the same. The site is secure. Find legal resources and guidance to understand your business responsibilities and comply with the law. An official website of the United States government. For more information about the FTCs refund process, see How the FTC Provides Refunds. Heres how it works Acting Associate Director, Division of Consumer and Business Education, FTC. The Federal Trade Commission Act authorizes this information collection for purposes of managing online comments. Reportedly, there will be 12,072 checks sent, averaging around $53 each. Breathless media accounts dont help, but it starts with the companies that do the developing and selling. 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. 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. Corporate greed should not override the current state of dangerous affairs. Spot the latest COVID scams, get compliance guidance, and stay up to date on FTC actions during the pandemic. Does the product actually use AI at all? To file a detailed report about a scam, go to. 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. 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. Youve probably heard: this holiday season, it might be harder to find the gifts youre looking for. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure youre on a federal government site. They are often printed with the names and addresses of legitimate financial institutions. 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 if you pay them, hand over personal information, or allow them remote access to your computer. I need a new check because of a legal name change, a death, or a spelling error. Generally, the FTC does not issue 1099s or other tax documents to refund recipients. but someone must be able to make distinctions and be able to tell it what is moral, what is not, what is a fact, what is not, what is intentional miss-information what is not what is humor / sarcasm what is not, etc. They tell you to send some of the money back to them or to another person. Click on a case name to see more details about the refund program, including whether we sent checks or PayPal payments. This message is not new. And all manner of robots serve or control us. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. Yes, the FTC sometimes uses PayPal to distribute refunds. You can be sure the phone numbers and links on this page are legit. We don't edit comments to remove objectionable content, so please ensure that your comment contains none of the above. If you think you can get away with baseless claims that your product is AI-enabled, think again. Under a settlement with the FTC, Hold Billing Services (also known as BillingServices Group) admitted to violating a previous court order when the companyadded third-party charges to peoples home phone bills between July 2009 and March 2010. The site is secure. Users can explore refund data by case or by year to learn about where refunds were sent, the dollar amounts refunded, and the number of people who benefited from FTC refund programs. Lina M. Khan was sworn in as Chair of the Federal Trade Commission on June 15, 2021. Opinions in comments that appear in this blog belong to the individuals who expressed them. 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. A monster rises in a lab. Click on a case name to see more details about the refund program, including whether we sent checks or PayPal payments. 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. Find the resources you need to understand how consumer protection law impacts your business. 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. Before labeling your product as AI-powered, note also that merely using an AI tool in the development process is not the same as a product having AI in it. . Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. An official website of the United States government. . The FTCs, , a company that falsely promised consumers with credit card debt that they would reduce their interest rates and save them thousands of dollars. Investors appetite for high-tech driven frenzy should not override balanced caution and common sense. Please call for details. Find the resources you need to understand how consumer protection law impacts your business. Over the last 5 years, more than 95% of the money collected for refunds has been returned to consumers. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. Whenever possible, the FTC uses the money it collects from defendants to provide refunds to injured consumers. Just one word that e separate a 18 old driver that A.I will alway be comaoared from a experience older driver, that word is " anticipation " pro active computer are re active from 1 dimensions Cabrera and sensor. But one thing is for sure: its a marketing term. Recipients should deposit or cash checks within 60 days. By law, banks have to make deposited funds available quickly, usually within two days. Next-Gen Refund Payments. The FTC sued I Works for false advertising and for billing customers without their consent. Middle Class Tax Refund | FTB.ca.gov - California The site is secure. To protect your privacy and the privacy of other people, please do not include personal information. Refund checks will expire on August 3, 2022 (90 days after being sent.) Is FTC refund check real? - Farinelliandthekingbroadway.com The FTC currently issues payments by check, prepaid debit card,and, A payment or claim form sent as part of an FTC settlement will include an explanation of and details about the case. 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. A total of 17,367 checks worth more than a total of $3.7 million are being sent to borrowers from an FTC settlement with Avant LLC. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect. 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. In some cases, this lack of efficacy may exist regardless of what other harm the products might cause. Search the Legal Library instead. An official website of the United States government. Checks can be verified online at www.ftc.gov/AMG. In addition, the agency is resending checks to more than 33,000 people who didnt previously cash their check. To find out which recent FTC cases led to refunds, and who to contact with questions, check out, . 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. We wont post threats, defamatory statements, or suggestions or encouragement of illegal activity. The Federal Trade Commission(FTC), working in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Justice, announced on Thursday (Sept. 27 .. But scammers try to cause confusion and take advantage at every step. 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. The comments posted on this blog become part of the public domain. Free e-filing tools are available at, You must submit your request in writing by mail or email. Find legal resources and guidance to understand your business responsibilities and comply with the law. You can findanswers tocommon questions about refund payments onour FAQ page. Will I receive any more money? SCAM ALERT: Federal Trade Commission Refunds $34 Million to More Than You dont have to pay for an FTC refund, and you dont have to give any information to cash a refund check. The .gov means its official. If theres one constant among scammers, its that theyre always coming up with new schemes, like the Google Voice verification scam. You can find and verify the phone numbers for FTC refund programs at ftc.gov/refunds. Does the FTC publish statistical information about its refund programs? Are you aware of the risks? The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. Lina M. Khan was sworn in as Chair of the Federal Trade Commission on June 15, 2021. How to protect your personal information and privacy, stay safe online, and help your kids do the same. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect. Here's what to know if you expect a refund check. We may also use the agencys Consumer Sentinel Network database to find eligible recipients. Wow, just noticed I have to provide labeled data for CV ML to post this. 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. Lina M. Khan was sworn in as Chair of the Federal Trade Commission on June 15, 2021. A puppet becomes a boy. 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. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. The site is secure. If you have specific questions regarding FTC refunds, check out these related FAQs. PayPal payments will expire on June 4, 2022 (30 days after being sent). Heres what you need to know if you get a check from the FTCs settlement with AMG: Has someone asked you for something in exchange for your AMG refund check? For more information on how the FTC handles information that we collect, please read our privacy policy. How do I know this FTC payment or claim form is legit? 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. For more information on how the FTC handles information that we collect, please read our privacy policy. Marketers should know that for FTC enforcement purposes false or unsubstantiated claims about a products efficacy are our bread and butter. The FTC is sending a second round of payments totaling more than $8 million to59,187 peoplewho were lured by the bogus government-grant and money-making schemes promoted by I Works. 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. How long will it take to get a new check? You need adequate proof for that kind of comparative claim, too, and if such proof is impossible to get, then dont make the claim. Did you get a payday loan from AMG? You might get a refund The site is secure. 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. In reality, the FTC says, consumers paid a fee only to . 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, These scams work because fake checks generally look just like real checks, even to bank employees. Please, doTERRA distributors charged with making unfounded COVID-19 cure claims, Tenant screening practices: the FTC wants to learn more. Use our visualizations to explore scam and fraud trends in your state based on reports from consumers like you. 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. in many ways, including bringing cases against companies who are being unfair or deceptive. 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. We may routinely use these records as described in the FTCsPrivacy Act system notices. Your several brief paragraphs are a great example of what is needed for " Responsible AI.". The FTC is sending checks to people who lost money to a cramming scheme that added charges to their home phone bills without their permission. Got questions about your refund? Whether it's a refund scam promising to get your money back or a recovery scam claiming to get you the prize or products you were promised . It is your choice whether to submit a comment. According to the FTC case, Avant falsely advertised to customers that it would accept loan payments by card. We wont post comments that include personal information, like Social Security numbers, account numbers, home addresses, and email addresses. You dont need a machine to predict what the FTC might do when those claims are unsupported. To find out which recent FTC cases led to refunds, and who to contact with questions, check out ftc.gov/refunds. FTC Refunds Victims of Office Depot Tech Support Scam - BleepingComputer In one version of the scam, you get a call and a recorded message that says its Amazon. 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. Whenever possible, the FTC uses the money it collects from defendants to provide refunds to injured consumers. Are you folks coordinating with the EU on all this? Hold Billing Services, Ltd.; Avery Communications, Inc.; Veterans of America Association, Ltd.; et al. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. I requested a check reissue. Garbage-in Garbage-out. FTC sends customer refunds in three cases | Consumer Advice The FTC is a federal government agency that gets its budget from Congress. 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. If theres one constant among scammers, its that theyre always coming up with new schemes, like the Google Voice verification scam. We wont post comments that include vulgar messages, personal attacks by name, or offensive terms that target specific people or groups. Find legal resources and guidance to understand your business responsibilities and comply with the law. For example, were not yet living in the realm of science fiction, where computers can generally make trustworthy predictions of human behavior.
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