News Releases for December 1997

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For Your Information: December 31, 1997
Announced Actions for December 31, 1997
The Federal Trade Commission today announced the following action.

FOR RELEASE: December 24, 1997
TRW Agrees To Divest BDM Assets To Settle FTC Charges
In order to settle Federal Trade Commission charges, TRW Inc. has agreed to divest a portion of the systems engineering and technical assistance (SETA) operations of McLean, Virginia-based BDM International Inc. prior to completing the $942 million acquisition of the company.

For Your Information: December 22, 1997
Announced Actions for December 22, 1997
FTC Supports Department of Treasury Recommendations for EFT ’99

FOR RELEASE: December 19, 1997
FTC "Project $cholar$cam" Settlement Would Bar Florida Defendant from Telemarketing
As part of its ongoing "Project $cholar$cam," an effort to combat fraudulent scholarship promotion schemes, the Federal Trade Commission announced that it has settled a complaint against Deco Consulting Services, Inc., Unimark Industries, Inc., Dania Denis and Jose M. "Jesse" Nieves.
FOR RELEASE: December 19, 1997
Shell Texaco to Divest Assests to Settle FTC Charges
Shell Oil Company and Texaco, Inc., have agreed to divest a package of assets, including Shell's Anacortes, Washington, refinery; a Hawaiian terminal; and retail gasoline stations in Hawaii and in California, to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that their proposed joint venture could raise gasoline prices by tens of millions of dollars and would violate federal antitrust laws.

FOR RELEASE: December 18, 1997
Mozelle W. Thompson Sworn in as Federal Trade Commissioner
Mozelle W. Thompson has been sworn in as a Commissioner on the Federal Trade Commission and has assumed the responsibilities of the office.
FOR RELEASE: December 18, 1997
Orson Swindle Sworn in as Federal Trade Commissioner
Orson Swindle has been sworn in today as a Commissioner on the Federal Trade Commission and has assumed the responsibilities of the office.

For Your Information: December 16, 1997
Announced Actions for December 16, 1997
Consent agreements given final approval: Following a public comment period, the Commission has made final a consent agreement with the following entities.

For Your Information: December 15, 1997
Registered Identification Numbers (RNs)
issued by the Federal Trade Commission for use on labels on clothing and other textile or fur products, is now available on the Internet
FOR RELEASE: December 15, 1997
Dewar's Scotch, Bombay Gin and Bombay Sapphire Gin to Find New Corporate Homes Under FTC Agreement
The $36 billion merger between Guinness PLC and Grand Metropolitan PLC was given tentative approval by the Federal Trade Commission after the companies agreed to sell three of their top-selling premium brands of liquor.
FOR RELEASE: December 15, 1997
FTC Surfs Children's Web Sites to Review Privacy Practices
Federal Trade Commission staff announced today the results of "Kids Privacy Surf Day" designed as a "snapshot" of children's Web sites' privacy practices.

For Your Information: December 12, 1997
Announced Actions for December 12, 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 RELEASE: December 12, 1997
Federal Trade Commission Settles "Project $cholar$cam" Case Against College Assistance Services, Inc.
The Federal Trade Commission announced that it has settled a "Project $cholar$cam" case against Florida-based College Assistance Services, Inc., and two of its principals, Linda Love and John Giuffrida.

FOR RELEASE: December 11, 1997
$300,000 Performace Bond Requirement Imposed Against Settling Defendant Named in "Project Field of Schemes" Sweep
F. Jerald Hildreth, owner of two Newport Beach, California-based telemarketing companies, has agreed to post a $300,000 bond for the protection of future investors before he engages in the sale of stamps or any other investment opportunities.
FOR RELEASE: December 11, 1997
Family Operated Advance Loan Fee Business to Settle FTC Charges: Defendants to Pay $374,000
Tod Silvers, owner of Interstate Inc., and three other defendants who ran a deceptive advance fee loan scheme business, have agreed to pay $374,000 in settlement of Federal Trade Commission charges that they allegedly promised consumers that they could provide them with unsecured credit cards regardless of their creditworthiness.

FOR RELEASE: December 9, 1997
FTC and Federal Reserve Board Announce Special Educational Initiative on New Car Leasing Rules
Consumers planning to lease a car were given assistance today by the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Reserve Board, which jointly announced a special education campaign designed to assist them in understanding car leasing and new disclosure requirements due to go into effect January 1.
FOR RELEASE: December 9, 1997
FTC Announces Results of Inspection of Sixty-Seven Philadelphia Funeral Homes for Compliance with Consumer Protection Law
As part of an ongoing nationwide law enforcement program to identify funeral homes that fail to comply with the Funeral Rule, the Federal Trade Commission today announced the results of a sweep of sixty-seven funeral homes in metropolitan Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

FOR RELEASE: December 8, 1997
Good News for Consumers from "consumer.gov"
Internet explorers who surf the Net looking for help have a new source of consumer news and information at http://www.consumer.gov (no period).

For Your Information: December 5, 1997
Announced Actions for December 5, 1997
Applications for approval of transactions: The FTC has received an application for approval of a transaction from the following.

FOR RELEASE: December 4, 1997
Seller of "Training Programs" Designed to Help Consumers Start Home-Based travel Agencies Agrees to Settle FTC Charges, FTC Alleged False Claims Regarding Earnings, Success Rates, Travel Benefits
David Eugene Mueller has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that he falsely promised purchasers of his training program that they would be "licensed" or "certified" to operate home-based travel agencies, achieve earnings of $25,000 in their first year of operation, and receive, among other things, benefits such as free computers and free or deeply-discounted travel.

FOR RELEASE: December 1, 1997
FTC To Retain "All or Virtually All" Standard for "Made in USA" Advertising and Labeling Claims
The Federal Trade Commission has concluded that "Made in USA" advertising and labeling claims will continue to be held to the "all or virtually all" standard that traditionally has been applied by the Commission.

Federal Trade Commission Protecting America's Consumers