News Releases for November 1997
November 28, 1997
- FOR RELEASE: November 28, 1997
FTC Accord in Dow/Sentrachem Merger To Maintain Competition in Market for Chelating Chemicals
The Federal Trade Commission announced today that it has reached a settlement agreement with The Dow Chemical Company that would allow Dow to complete its proposed $500 million tender offer for Sentrachem Limited, a South African chemical company that operates in the U.S. through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Hampshire Chemical Company.
- FOR RELEASE: November 28, 1997
Federal Trade Commission's "Project Scofflaw" Nets Two Convictions
On November 24, 1997, a jury in Los Angeles, California, convicted Ronald Dante, a defendant in one of two cases stemming from the Federal Trade Commission's "Project Scofflaw."
November 26, 1997
- FOR RELEASE: November 26, 1997
Settlements with Remaining Defendants in FTC Job Services Case Would Bar Them from Job Placement Services and All Telemarketing Businesses
Two central players in an Orlando-based telemarketing ring charged by the Federal Trade Commission in June of 1996 with deceptively marketing employment services have agreed to stay out of all job placement and telemarketing businesses permanently as part of settlements they signed to end the FTC litigation.
- FOR RELEASE: November 26, 1997
FTC Holiday Shopping Tips
MAIL AND TELEPHONE-ORDER SHOPPING: Many consumers enjoy the convenience of shopping by mail and telephone—overall U.S. mail order sales in 1996 exceeded $229.5 billion.*
- For Your Information: November 26, 1997
FTC Staff Supports FDA Proposal To Modify Net Quantity of Contents Regulations
The staff of the Bureaus of Consumer Protection and Economics of the Federal Trade Commission have advised the Food and Drug Administration that significant benefits are likely to result from adoption of the FDA's proposal to revise its Food Labeling Regulations that pertain to net quantity of contents.
- FOR RELEASE: November 26, 1997
Defendants in FTC Case Targeting Multi-Level Marketing of Travel Business Opportunity and Pyramid Schemes Agrees To Settle Charges
Jerome L. Goldberg has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges stemming from his involvement with World Class Network, Inc., a multi-level marketer of travel agent credentials and a work-at-home travel agency business opportunity, which was charged by the Federal Trade Commission as part of "Operation Trip-Up," a March 1997 crackdown on travel-related fraud.
November 25, 1997
- FOR RELEASE: November 25, 1997
FCC License Investment Scheme Defendants Settle FTC Charges
Two additional defendants in a massive scheme to sell Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Specialized Mobile Radio (SMR) licenses as "low risk, high return" investments have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that the scam was fraudulent.
November 24, 1997
- FOR RELEASE: November 24, 1997
Uncle Sam Could Owe You! HUD Launches Drive To Refund $70 Million to 100,000 Homebuyers and Gets FTC Help To Protect Consumers from Needless Charges.
The federal government today launched a drive to find 100,000 homebuyers owed $70 million in refunds by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and began a crackdown on individuals and businesses that pose as federal agencies and charge people millions of dollars in needless fees for refunds.
- Statement of FTC Chairman Robert Pitofsky at Joint FTC/HUD Press Conference on "HUD Tracers"
I am certainly pleased to join you and Assistant Secretary Retsinas in this united effort to reduce fraud on the Internet.
November 21, 1997
- FOR RELEASE: November 21, 1997
Individual Defendant Agrees to Settle All FTC Charges In Project Mailbox Computer Repair Scam Case
Edward E. Rayden, one of the defendants charged by the Federal Trade Commission with operating a computer repair services contract scam, has agreed to a settlement that would prohibit him from making any false or misleading representations when selling goods and services to consumers over the phone or by mail.
November 18, 1997
- For Your Information: November 18, 1997
Announced Actions for November 18, 1997
Petitions to reopen and modify or set aside orders: The FTC has received a petition from the following entity seeking changes in, or termination of, an FTC order.
- For Your Information: November 18, 1997
Jenny Craig, Inc.
The Federal Trade Commission has reopened and extended until December 3, 1997, the public comment period to provide interested members of the public an additional fifteen days to submit written comments regarding the proposed consent agreement with Jenny Craig, Inc., and Jenny Craig International, Inc.
November 17, 1997
- FOR RELEASE: November 17, 1997
Get Rich Quick Schemes, Illegal Pyramid Schemes Caught in an International Law Enforcement Web; Nearly 200 On-Line Business Put on Notice
Hundreds of get-rich-quick business opportunities and pyramid schemes operating on the Internet have been warned by law enforcement authorities across the country and around the world that their "fabulous offers" may be illegal operations.
- FOR RELEASE: November 17, 1997
FTC Settlement with Pennsylvania Invention Promotion Firm Requires $80,000 Payment, Disclosures & Cooling Off Period
Two senior corporate officers of National Idea Network, Inc., a firm based in Wexford and Indiana, Pennsylvania, that does business under the name The Concept Network, have agreed to pay $40,000 each as part of a settlement of Federal Trade Commission charges.
- FOR RELEASE: November 17, 1997
FTC Settlement with Jewelway International Defendants Nets $5 Million in Consumer Redress
The Federal Trade Commission has settled charges against JewelWay International, Inc., and its corporate officers in an agreement requiring a $5 million payment, which will be distributed to harmed consumers, and provisions halting the challenged conduct.
- REGULATOY REFORM UPDATE : November 17, 1997
November 17, 1997
The Federal Trade Commission has eliminated its Dry Cell Battery Rule, concluding that because the industry is voluntarily complying with the requirements of the American National Standards Institute ("ANSI") standard that governs dry cell batteries, the FTC's rule is no longer necessary or in the public interest.
November 14, 1997
- For Your Information : November 14, 1997
Announced Actions for November 14, 1997
Commission action regarding applications for approval: Following a public comment period, the Commission has ruled on an application for approval of a transaction from the following:
November 12, 1997
- FOR RELEASE: November 12, 1997
FTC Staff Stands by Its Analysis: Agency Says Tobacco Industry Critique of its Report on the Proposed Tobacco Settlement Is Unfounded
The staff of the Federal Trade Commission today said that tobacco industry criticism of its report on the proposed tobacco settlement is unfounded.
- For Your Information: November 12, 1997
Announced Actions for November 12, 1997
Consent agreements given final approval: Following a public comment period, the Commission has made final a consent agreement with the following entity.
November 7, 1997
- FOR RELEASE: November 7, 1997
FTC Continues Crackdown on Scholarship Search Service Con Artists
A federal district court judge has issued an order temporarily halting the businesses of two Florida firms which, law enforcement officials alleged, falsely promised college-bound students and their families scholarship funds.
November 5, 1997
- FOR RELEASE: November 5, 1997
North American Health Claim Surf Day Targets Internet Ads; Hundreds of E-Mail Messages Sent
The Federal Trade Commission joined with public health and consumer protection and information agencies from the United States, Canada, and Mexico to "surf" the Internet for potentially false or deceptive advertising claims concerning treatments or cures for heart disease, cancer, AIDS, diabetes, arthritis, and multiple sclerosis.
- FOR RELEASE: November 5, 1997
Antitrust Enforcement Strategies Benefit Consumers and Ease Regulatory Burden on Business, Pitofsky Says
Robert Pitofsky, Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, today told the House Judiciary Committee that antitrust enforcement strategies at the agency have benefitted consumers and eased regulatory burdens on business.
- FOR RELEASE: November 5, 1997
FTC Halts Internet Pyramid Scheme; Promises of High Income, Pre-Approved Credit Cards Were False
In its latest law enforcement action aimed at stemming fraud on the Internet, the Federal Trade Commission has obtained a federal court order temporarily halting a pyramid scheme advertised on the Internet.
November 4, 1997
- FOR RELEASE: November 4, 1997
Victims of Moldovan Modem "Hijacking" Scheme To Get Full Redress Under FTC Settlements
More than 38,000 consumers will get full credits totaling over $2.74 million for telephone charges they unknowingly incurred when their computer modems allegedly were hijacked and re-routed to expensive, international numbers, the Federal Trade Commission announced today.