Hutchinson: FTC cracks down on addiction recovery companies
“Doctors peddling phony promises should know that the FTC will use its strengthened authority from Congress to stop them from exploiting Americans struggling with addiction.”
Topic: Randy Hutchinson
RSSThere are 50 article(s) tagged Randy Hutchinson:
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December 2023
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Hutchinson: Beware of AI scams
The Federal Trade Commission is concerned that consumers will be mesmerized by such terms as “machine learning” and “neural networks” and fall prey to crooks who misrepresent or outright lie about how AI is used in their products.
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October 2023
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Hutchinson: Student loan debt relief fraud is rampant
With 43 million Americans resuming payments as the COVID-related moratorium ends and President Biden forgiving as many student loans as he can under various relief programs, the situation is ripe for student loan debt relief fraud.
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September 2023
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Hutchinson: Beware of credit-repair offers
If there’s an error in your credit report, you can do anything a credit repair company can do to fix it yourself at little to no cost. If you’re asked to pay an upfront fee for help, it’s likely a scam.
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August 2023
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Hutchinson: Health apps may share sensitive information
The FTC recommends that users of health apps look for a privacy notice that explains in simple terms what information the app collects, how it’s used, and if it’s shared with third parties and how they use it.
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July 2023
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Hutchinson: Protect kids from ‘Frankenstein Fraud’
Synthetic identity fraud is harder to prevent or detect than other forms of identity theft. Children’s SSNs are particularly vulnerable because they often aren’t monitored and the theft may not be detected for years.
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June 2023
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Advertisers being able to back up product claims is ‘bedrock principle’ of FTC law
The Better Business Bureau advises consumers to be skeptical of miracle health claims. Consult your doctor before trying any product that claims to prevent, treat, or cure a serious illness.
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May 2023
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Hutchinson: Think carefully before cosigning a loan
Cosigning for a child with no credit record to buy a first car may be a good decision; cosigning a credit card for a delinquent brother-in-law not so much.
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April 2023
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Hutchinson: FBI warns about growing cryptocurrency scam
“Pig butchering” alludes to the practice of fattening up a hog before slaughter. The investment scam originated in Southeast Asia and spread worldwide during the pandemic.
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February 2023
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Hutchinson: Made in the USA isn’t always true
If it’s important to you that a product is truly made in the United States, research the reputation of the manufacturer or marketer making the claim, including with the BBB, to be sure they’re trustworthy.
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January 2023
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Hutchinson: Vet charitable crowdfunding requests
“It’s best to give to a campaign organized by someone you know. If you don’t know the organizer, check out the story as best you can and gauge the amount of your donation against the risk it may not be true.”
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December 2022
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Hutchinson: Buy contact lenses from sellers who verify prescriptions
The FTC’s Contact Lens Rule requires prescribers to provide copies of prescriptions automatically — that is, the patient shouldn’t have to ask for it — and at no extra charge.
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Hutchinson: Consider a credit freeze after data breach
The Identity Theft Resource Center recommends that data breach notices explicitly recommend that victims freeze their credit and that credit reporting agencies create a common system for people to do so.
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October 2022
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Hutchinson: Buyer beware when shopping for cars online
If you’re buying it from an online-only dealer, be sure you understand the return and refund policy and that the dealer’s reputation indicates it will stand behind the policy.
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August 2022
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Guest Column: Use caution before buying prescription drugs online
The FDA says you may be putting your personal and financial information at risk when you deal with unsafe online pharmacies.
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July 2022
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Guest column: Scams on the rise, with social media a heavy contributor
More than one in four people who reported to the Federal Trade Commission that they lost money in a scam in 2021 say it originated on social media, an 18-fold increase over 2017.
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May 2022
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Guest column: Use peer-to-peer mobile payment apps wisely
While the apps are a legitimate payment method, using them involves some risks that are greater than paying with a credit card.
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January 2022
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Guest Column: FTC cracks down on CBD claims
In an initiative called Operation CBDeceit, the FTC reached settlements with seven more companies it alleged were making unsubstantiated claims about their CBD products.
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December 2021
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Guest column: Regulators shut down crooked charitable fundraisers
The fundraising companies kept as much as 90 cents of every dollar raised and, according to the FTC, very little of the money they actually delivered to the charities was used for the purposes they claimed.
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September 2021
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Opinion: Do your research when buying home security system
More than 6,900 people filed a complaint about home security companies in 2020, ranking them No. 32 among the thousands of types of businesses receiving complaints.
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July 2021
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Opinion: Weekly credit reports are free
You want to be sure that your credit information is accurate and current before you apply for a loan, buy insurance, apply for a job, or try to rent an apartment or other housing.
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June 2021
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Opinion: Do your due diligence before buying overseas real estate
The FTC and BBB recommend discussing with experts plans to invest in any real estate development outside the U.S.
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February 2021
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Opinion: Beware of ever-evolving COVID scams
The variety of COVID-19 scams we’ve seen since the beginning of the pandemic are overwhelming.
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December 2018
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Hutchinson: ‘All natural’ means all natural
Even if you’re not a chemist, you’ll probably surmise that butyloctyl salicylate and polyquaternium-37 are not naturally occurring substances. Yet they and other synthetic ingredients with similarly difficult-to-pronounce names were contained in products marketed as “all natural” or “100 percent natural.”
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September 2018
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Guest Column: BBB, government team up to combat business scams
In June, the FTC, other law enforcement agencies and the BBB announced the results of Operation Main Street: Stopping Small Business Scams, a law enforcement and education initiative targeting scammers who victimize businesses. The other agencies include the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, two U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and eight state attorneys general.
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