Credit Cards
A Note About Credit Cards: Most legitimate credit cards are issued by banks, which are outside the FTC’s jurisdiction, but the FTC prosecutes non-banks that deceptively market credit cards. We’ve brought almost 60 of these cases, typically against scammers who falsely promise that, in return for an up-front fee, you’ll get a credit card or a loan before you apply, especially if you have bad credit, no credit, or a bankruptcy. The FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule prohibits telemarketers from collecting fees before a consumer is offered credit, if they claim a high success rate. We also sue marketers who pretend to sell credit cards like Visa or MasterCard, when in fact their cards are good only for shopping from certain catalogues. Most credit card questions are best directed to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.
- FTC Announces Claims Process for Consumers Harmed by Credit Karma “Pre-Approved” Offers for Which They Were Denied ( )
- FTC Approves Final Order Requiring Mastercard to Stop Blocking the Use of Competing Debit Payment Networks ( )
- FTC Acts to Block Payment Processor’s Credit Card Laundering for Tech Support Scammers ( )
- FTC Takes Action to Stop Credit Karma From Tricking Consumers With Allegedly False “Pre-Approved” Credit Offers ( )
- Federal Trade Commission Finalizes Order Against Electronic Payment Systems for Opening Credit Card Merchant Accounts for Fake Companies and Helping a Bogus Business Opportunity ( )
- Scammers Who Used Robocalls to Target Cash-Strapped Consumers Banned from Selling Debt Relief Services and Telemarketing ( )
- FTC Returns Nearly $315,000 to Consumers Who Bought Worthless Credit Card Interest Rate Reduction Programs ( )
- FTC Returns Full Refunds to Consumers Who Paid to Lower Their Credit Card Interest Rates ( )
- Two Defendants Settle Allegations in ‘Money Now Funding’ Credit Card Charge Laundering Scheme ( )
- Defendants Settle FTC Charges in ‘Money Now Funding’ Credit Card Laundering Scheme ( )
- FTC Seeks Order to Stop Copycat Scam Pitching Bogus Credit Card Interest-Rate Reduction Services ( )
- FTC, Florida Attorney General Close the Book on Robocall Ring That Pitched U.S. Consumers Worthless Credit Card Rate Reduction Programs ( )
- FTC Files Joint Amicus Brief with U.S. Department of Justice in Supreme Court Cases Involving Visa and MasterCard ( )
- FTC Sends Out Third Round of Redress Checks to Victims of the J.K. Publications Credit Card Fraud ( )
- FTC Action Leads to Court Orders Against Scheme That Charged Millions of Dollars to Consumers' Bank and Credit Card Accounts Without Their Consent ( )
- FTC To Study Credit Card Industry Data Security Auditing ( )
- FTC and State of Florida Sue Payment Processing Operation for Credit Card Laundering and Assisting Debt Relief Scam ( )
- FTC Sends Out More Redress Checks to Victims of the J.K. Publications Credit Card Fraud ( )
- FTC Issues Redress Checks to Victims of the J.K. Publications Credit Card Fraud ( )
- FTC Wins $37. 5 Million Judgment from X-Rated Web Site Operators ( )