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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? 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. 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. It can take weeks for a bank to figure out that the check is a fake. Spot the latest COVID scams, get compliance guidance, and stay up to date on FTC actions during the pandemic. 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. Memo from Chair Lina M. Khan to commission staff and commissioners regarding the vision and priorities for the FTC. And weve heard from many of you that you got your check and cashed it. And what exactly is artificial intelligence anyway? Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. Make smart shopping decisions, know your rights, and solve problems when you shop or donate to charity. An official website of the United States government. It a stationary object, we see it action path cross that about to happen. 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. Stephanie T. Nguyen, Chief Technology Officer, Competition and Consumer Protection Guidance Documents, You can findanswers tocommon questions about refund payments on, 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, Getting In and Out of Free Trials, Auto-Renewals, and Negative Option Subscript, FTC Sends More Than $12 Million in Full Refunds to Victims of Online Billing Scam, Court Holds Terrason Spinks and Jet Processing Inc. 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. And remember that the FTC will never require you to pay fees in advance, or ask for sensitive information, like your bank account number. 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. Can I speak to someone about my claim form or payment? Looking for alternatives for your holiday shopping? But the fact is that some products with AI claims might not even work as advertised in the first place. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. 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. And its happy news when those cases result in refunds. 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. The FTC works to fulfill its mission in many ways, including bringing cases against companies who are being unfair or deceptive. 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. We don't edit comments to remove objectionable content, so please ensure that your comment contains none of the above. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Advertisers should take another look at our. Whenever possible, the FTC uses the money it collects from defendants to provide refunds to injured consumers. You can be sure the phone numbers and links on this page are legit. And yes he cut across. " And remember, the FTC never requires you to pay money or give account information to cash a refund check. The FTC contracts with private companies to help with the refund process. A computer takes over a spaceship. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. Find the resources you need to understand how consumer protection law impacts your business. The FTC first sent payments in this matter in May 2020, whichresulted in more than $8.4 million in refunds. But this is a scam. Whenever theres an FTC refund program, information is available at. We wont post off-topic comments, repeated identical comments, or comments that include sales pitches or promotions. If there is any money left in the settlement fund after the first distribution, the FTC may send a second round of payments. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. To file a detailed report about a scam, go to. Find legal resources and guidance to understand your business responsibilities and comply with the law. Start small, then add on. It is your choice whether to submit a comment. 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. Payments are expected to be issued between October 2022 and January 2023. I went through your questions and our process conforms to them, we say that AI isn't magic, it is math. Memo from Chair Lina M. Khan to commission staff and commissioners regarding the vision and priorities for the FTC. 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. Here's what to know if you expect a refund check. Last year, FTC cases returned $483 million to people who lost money to companies the FTC sued. You need to know about the reasonably foreseeable risks and impact of your AI product before putting it on the market. 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. 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. Overview The Middle Class Tax Refund (MCTR) is a one-time payment to provide relief to Californians. Recipients should deposit or cash checks within 60 days. We wont post comments that include vulgar messages, personal attacks by name, or offensive terms that target specific people or groups. The comments posted on this blog become part of the public domain. 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. Learn more about your rights as a consumer and how to spot and avoid scams. What to do about unwanted calls, emails, and text messages that can be annoying, might be illegal, and are probably scams. In one version of the scam, you get a call and a recorded message that says its Amazon. They are often printed with the names and addresses of legitimate financial institutions. You can find and verify the phone numbers for FTC refund programs at, In these cases, we send an email from the FTC (. ) 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. 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. Otherwise, do some research online. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. 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? The FTC is sending almost $25 million in refund checks to over 240,000 people who lost money as a result of a sweepstakes scam run by Next-Gen Inc. Next-Gen allegedly promised cash prizes to customers to participate in sweepstakes or "game of skill" contests. 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. 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. You can findanswers tocommon questions about refund payments onour FAQ page. How long will it take to get a new check? Garbage-in Garbage-out. Find the resources you need to understand how consumer protection law impacts your business. In some cases, this lack of efficacy may exist regardless of what other harm the products might cause. How much money from FTC lawsuits goes to FTC attorneys. The agency is sending refund checks to two million people over the next two weeks. If you receive a 1099 tax form with your check, you should report the payment as income on your tax return. If you think you can get away with baseless claims that your product is AI-enabled, think again. 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. We told you last month about the $505 million in checks going back to 1.1 million people who got an online payday loan from a company affiliated with AMG Services. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure youre on a federal government site. The FTC never requires you to pay fees or asks you for sensitive information, like your Social Security number or bank account information. We wont post threats, defamatory statements, or suggestions or encouragement of illegal activity. Stephanie T. Nguyen, Chief Technology Officer, Michael Atleson, Attorney, FTC Division of Advertising Practices. 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. 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. Or even claiming it can do something beyond the current capability of any AI or automated technology? Find legal resources and guidance to understand your business responsibilities and comply with the law. They do not belong to or represent views of the Federal Trade Commission. Are you folks coordinating with the EU on all this? The Federal Trade Commission Act authorizes this information collection for purposes of managing online comments. They are often printed with the names and addresses of legitimate financial institutions. Phishing scams are still prevalent. The FTC may search for reports related to the defendants and use the contact information in those complaints to create a list of potential refund recipients. Search the Legal Library instead. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure youre on a federal government site. 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. An official website of the United States government. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. 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. Memo from Chair Lina M. Khan to commission staff and commissioners regarding the vision and priorities for the FTC. The .gov means its official. Does the FTC publish statistical information about its refund programs? 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. We must wait for PayPal to return the payment before we can begin processing check reissues. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Call the refund administrator, Analytics, at 855-744-1802. The chart below includes recent FTC cases that resulted in refunds. , which focused on fairness and equity but also said, clearly, not to overpromise what your algorithm or AI-based tool can deliver. If you think youve been targeted by a fake check scam, report it to. Got questions about your refund? I feel you folks (at the FTC) have the moral high-ground to put a TEMPORARY PAUSE on the premature unleashing of what some knowledgeable people predict ** could ** result in . Lina M. Khan was sworn in as Chair of the Federal Trade Commission on June 15, 2021. Memo from Chair Lina M. Khan to commission staff and commissioners regarding the vision and priorities for the FTC. We wont post comments that include personal information, like Social Security numbers, account numbers, home addresses, and email addresses. If there is any money left in the settlement fund after the first distribution, the FTC may send a second round of payments. A payment or claim form sent as part of an FTC settlement will include an explanation of and details about the case. Make smart shopping decisions, know your rights, and solve problems when you shop or donate to charity. 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. If you are eligible, you will automatically receive a payment. You don't have to pay for an FTC refund, and you don't have to give any information to cash a refund check. . Weve just heard, though, that scammers are trying to get into the act, using fake checks that look like the real one. Thanks, Your comments above are So Well stated. An official website of the United States government. The comments posted on this blog become part of the public domain. Because the FTC recovered additional money from the defendants, the agency is sending 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. The Federal Trade Commission Act authorizes this information collection for purposes of managing online comments. 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. Youve probably heard: this holiday season, it might be harder to find the gifts youre looking for. If I accept this payment, can I still take legal action? Before sharing sensitive information, make sure youre on a federal government site. 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. You can find and verify the phone numbers for FTC refund programs at ftc.gov/refunds. You can find the phone numbers for current FTC refunds programs at ftc.gov/refunds. The FTC sued I Works for false advertising and for billing customers without their consent. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. Heres what you need to know about these calls. . Can I still get my payment? If you do not have a PayPal account, and would prefer to get a check, please call1-866-898-5106. 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. Once payments have been issued, PayPal sends an email telling recipients about their refund. The site is secure. Report that to us at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. We use this information to send refunds. How to protect your personal information and privacy, stay safe online, and help your kids do the same. Ifyou have any otherquestions, please call the refund administrator at1-800-591-4238. Please call for details. 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. We work to advance government policies that protect consumers and promote competition.