Tag: deceptive/misleading conduct

The FTC is taking action against Arise Virtual Solutions for misleading consumers about the money they could make on Arise’s platform and marketing its business opportunity without complying with the FTC’s Business Opportunity Rule.

As a result of a June 2024 settlement with the FTC, the operators of a sweepstakes scam that cost consumers millions agreed to settlements that permanently ban them from operating sweepstakes or making claims to consumers about prizes they have won or may win. The FTC first filed its complaint against Matthew Pisoni, Marcus Pradel and John Leon in 2015, alleging that they helped operate a sprawling sweepstakes operation that took more than $28 million from consumers throughout the United States and other countries In August 2024, the Commission announced the settlement with another individual defendant in the case, Victor Ramirez.

The Federal Trade Commission is taking action to stop Lurn, a Maryland-based online business coaching seller, from making unfounded claims that consumers can make significant income by starting an array of online businesses. The company, its CEO Anik Singal, and spokespeople Tyrone Cohen and David Kettner have agreed to court orders that will require them to stop their unlawful practices, and require Lurn and Singal to turn over $2.5 million to the FTC to be used to refund money to consumers they harmed.

The Federal Trade Commission is sending more than $2.4 million in refunds to consumers who paid for Lurn’s business consulting programs and were deceived about the amount of money they could make from these services. 

On Oct. 29, 2018, the Federal Trade Commission filed a complaint in federal court against Simple Health Plans LLC, Steven J. Dorfman, and five other entities, alleging that the defendants misled people to think they were buying comprehensive health insurance that would cover preexisting medical conditions, prescription drugs, primary and specialty care treatment, inpatient and emergency hospital care, surgical procedures, and medical and laboratory testing. On Nov. 1, 2019, the FTC filed an amended complaint adding Candida Girouard as an additional defendant.  

The sellers of a supposed N95-grade face mask called the Zephyr will pay more than $1.1 million to provide full refunds to consumers nationwide, as well as a civil penalty, under a proposed settlement the Federal Trade Commission announced today. The order settling the complaint also bars Razer, Inc., from making COVID-related health misrepresentations or unsubstantiated health claims about protective health equipment and requires them to pay a civil penalty of $100,000. In January 2025, the FTC announced it was returning more than $1 million to defrauded consumers.