Consumer Protection National News & Articles

• Recall of Beco Butterfly Infant Carriers, Due to Fall Hazard
  CT Gov, May 01, 2008
  The buckles on the shoulder straps of this carrier can suddenly release tension, allowing the strap to slip through, posing a fall hazard for the infant
  
  
• David U. Haltinner Sentenced to 50 Months of Imprisonment For Selling Approximately 637,000 Stolen Crediet Card Numbers
  USDOJ Gov, Apr 15, 2008
  Approximately 637,000 stolen credit card numbers through a website frequented by individuals engaged in credit card fraud
  
  
• SEC Proposes Naked Short Selling Anti-Fraud Rule
  SEC, Mar 12, 2008
  The Securities and Exchange Commission has proposed to take additional steps to better safeguard investors and protect the integrity of the markets during short selling
  
  
• In Florida, Nine Miami Defendants in Strike Force Cases Sentenced For $56.5 Million in Medicare Fraud
  FBI, Feb 13, 2008
  Southern District of Florida announced that owners of nine separate Miami-based health care corporations have been sentenced to prison terms within the past two weeks
  
  
• Alan Ralsky, Ten Others, Indicted in International Illegal Spamming and Stock Fraud Scheme
  Department of Justice, Feb 06, 2008
  The indictment charges the defendants with the commission of several federal criminal offenses, including conspiracy, fraud in connection with electronic mail
  
  
• FDA Takes Action Against Compounded Menopause Hormone Therapy Drugs
  FDA, Jan 14, 2008
  FDA Takes Action Against Compounded Menopause Hormone Therapy Drugs
  
  
• CDC to Begin Testing Trailers for Formaldehyde
  CDC, Dec 20, 2007
  FEMA continues efforts to move residents out of trailers
  
  
• Federal Agency to Discuss Progress of Health Consultations for Intel Corporation Plant in Rio Rancho, NM at Public Meeting on November 7
  Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Dec 04, 2007
  Federal Agency to Discuss Progress of Health Consultations for Intel Corporation Plant in Rio Rancho, NM at Public Meeting on November 7
  
  
• Three Defendants Sentenced for Conspiracy to Commit Securities and Email Fraud
  Department of Justice, Nov 26, 2007
  Sarasota, Fla., man has been sentenced to five years in prison and two years of supervised release for conspiring to commit both securities fraud and email fraud
  
  
• Consumer Fraud Alert: Carnahan Warns Missourians about Phony IRS E-Mail Identity Theft Scam
  Missouri Secretary of State, Nov 19, 2007
  Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan issued a warning to Missourians regarding unsolicited e-mails about tax refunds appearing to come from the IRS
  
  
• Fact Sheet: Commodities Fraud and Manipulation
  Department of Justice, Nov 05, 2007
  The Corporate Fraud Task Force has devoted considerable efforts to address manipulation of the energy markets, foreign currency fraud, and commodity pool/hedge fund fraud
  
  
• 'Project Credit Despair' Snares 20 'Credit Repair' Scammers
  FTC, Oct 29, 2007
  Defendants Allegedly Lured Consumers With False Claims
  
  
• West Virginia Attorney General McGraw Warns Consumers to be Watchful this Holiday Season
  Office of the West Virginia Attorney General, Oct 22, 2007
  West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw discussed consumer protection issues today related to the upcoming holiday season
  
  
• Attorney General Warns Against Telemarketing Fraud Targeting the Hispanic Community
  Indianapolis Attorney General, Oct 15, 2007
  Carter is cautioning the Hispanic community to beware of telemarketing fraud that attempts to sell consumers a variety of items such as travel packages and English course
  
  
• Attorney General Settles with Heavy Hammer, Inc
  Maryland Attorney General, Oct 08, 2007
  Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler today announced that his Consumer Protection Division has reached
  
  
• FDA Takes Action to Stop Marketing of Unapproved Hydrocodone Products
  FDA, Oct 01, 2007
  FDA Takes Action to Stop Marketing of Unapproved Hydrocodone Products
  
  
• Patients and Clinic Operator Charged with Conspiracy to Defraud Medicare
  FBI, Aug 28, 2007
  Nine Miami residents have been charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud as the result of an undercover operation designed to detect and stop Medicare
  
  
• Children’s Jewelry Recalled Due to Lead Exposure
  U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Aug 24, 2007
  The recalled metal jewelry sets contain high levels of lead. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.
  
  
• Fisher Price Recalls Toys Due To Lead Poisoning Hazard
  Consumer Product Safety Commission, Aug 17, 2007
  Surfacepaints on the toys could contain excessive levels of lead. Lead istoxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse healtheffects.
  
  
• Toshiba Recalls Notebook Batteries Due to Fire Hazard
  CPSC, Aug 10, 2007
  The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firms named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product.
  
  
• FDA Issues Safety Alert on Avandia
  FDA, Jul 30, 2007
  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is aware of a potential safety issue related to Avandia (rosiglitazone), a drug approved to treat type 2 diabetes.
  
  
• FDA Issues Nationwide Warning to Consumers About Risk of Botulism Poisoning
  US Food and Drug Administration, Jul 25, 2007
  The FDA is warning consumers not to eat 10 ounce cans of Castleberry’s Hot Dog Chili Sauce and Kroger Hot Dog Chili Sauce due to possible botulism contamination
  
  
• FDA Requests Label Change for All Sleep Disorder Drug Products
  Food and Drug Administration, Jul 16, 2007
  Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has requested that all manufacturers of sedative-hypnotic drug products strengthen their product labeling to include stronger language
  
  
• A New Twist on Identity Theft
  FBI, Jul 09, 2007
  The FBI recently solved a case of identity theft where one company tried to steal $23 million by pretending to be another company
  
  
• Over 1 Million Potential Victims of Botnet Cyber Crime
  FBI, Jul 05, 2007
  A botnet is a collection of compromised computers under the remote command and control of a criminal “botherder"
  
  
• Former Safety Kleen CFO Pleads Guilty to Accounting Fraud
  FBI - Department of Justice, Jun 27, 2007
  The charges related to a scheme to manipulate Safety-Kleen’s financial statements in connection with the reporting of more than $250 million in numerous “adjustments”
  
  
• Doctor in Queens Falsely Billed Accident Victims
  Staff Writer, Jun 14, 2007
  Alexander Israeli was arraigned before Queens Criminal Court on charges of third-degree grand larceny, third-degree insurance fraud, and first-degree falsifying business
  
  
• 26 People Arrested for Social Security Theft
  Content Writer, Jun 08, 2007
  115 undocumented people were found across the state using cards with a Social Security number sstolen from a 10 year old Florida girl
  
  
• US Uncovers Large Scale Identity Theft Scheme
  US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, May 29, 2007
  The FTC has received hundreds of complaints from US citizens across the country who allege that they became aware that their identities were being used illegally
  
  
• Defendants Banned For Life From Selling Franchises And Business Opportunities
  ftc.gov, May 21, 2007
  The Federal Trade Commission charged that they used bogus earnings claims to lure franchisees into buying their Web services businesses
  
  
• Defendants Targeted U.S. Consumers Wth Pitch For Nonexistent Credit Cards
  ftc.gov, May 14, 2007
  The orders bar the defendants from engaging in similar illegal conduct in the future,
  
  
• Court Enters Stipulated Interim Order In FTC v. Debt-Set
  ftc.gov, May 07, 2007
  The complaint against the defendants alleges that, in the course of selling debt reduction programs, the defendants make deceptive misrepresentations to consumers
  
  
• Marketers Pay Full $1.9 Million After Hidden Assets Are Discovered
  ftc.gov, Apr 30, 2007
  On November 22, 2006, the FTC charged the defendants with making false and unsubstantiated claims for three dietary supplements
  
  
• National Restaurant Company Settles FTC Charges For Deceptive Gift Card Sales
  ftc.gov, Apr 23, 2007
  Darden Restaurants Inc has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it engaged in deceptive practices
  
  
• State Sues Business Offering Drugs Over the Internet
  state.nj.us, Apr 16, 2007
  The state has obtained a preliminary injunction that prevents Karen Azarchi from filling or refilling orders for prescription drugs
  
  
• Division Of Consumer Affairs Announces Settlement With Nurse Staffing Firm
  state.nj.us, Apr 09, 2007
  Our regulations contain a variety of strict and important requirements that must be followed to ensure patient safety.
  
  
• Bergen County Moving Company Agrees To Pay Consumer Restitution And $20,000 Civil Penalty
  state.nj.us, Apr 02, 2007
  “We will not allow the legal protections that consumers are entitled to when hiring a moving company to be violated or ignored
  
  
• Federal Reserve Alerted The Public To Instances Of Questionable Solicitations Directed At Homeowners
  federalreserve.gov, Mar 27, 2007
  The Federal Reserve cautions the public about loan solicitations
  
  
• Owner Of Anaheim’s Eureca Institute Convicted In Illegal Therapy Case
  dca.ca.gov, Mar 20, 2007
  “The treatment provided by the Institute is not up to the standards of licensed physical therapists,”
  
  
• FDA Investigating Norovirus Outbreak Linked To Oysters
  fda.gov, Mar 13, 2007
  Consumers Advised To Avoid Raw Oysters Harvested from San Antonio Bay
  
  
• Department Of Consumer Protection Destroys $300,000 In Dangerous Dietary Supplements
  ct.gov, Mar 06, 2007
  The owner of World Health Products, while not admitting wrongdoing, authorized the voluntary destruction of the supplements
  
  
• Four Charged With Operating Bogus Medical Clinic In Pomona
  losangeles.fbi.gov, Feb 27, 2007
  Three people were arrested today for their roles in a health care fraud scheme
  
  
• Retailer Security Breach May Affect Maryland ConsumersConsumers
  oag.state.md.us, Feb 20, 2007
  It is imperative that consumers who may be affected by this security breach carefully monitor their accounts
  
  
• OCC Offers Tips to Help Consumers Avoid Cashier's Check Fraud
  occ.treas.gov, Feb 13, 2007
  The consumer advisory was issued in response to a growing incidence of scams involving cashier's checks.
  
  
• Arrest Of Couple Accused Of Telemarketing Fraud Targeting Elderly
  usdoj.gov, Feb 06, 2007
  A Canadian couple has been arrested on federal fraud charges for allegedly bilking elderly victims across the United States
  
  
• FTC Recovers $25 Million to Settle Allegations of Deceptive Marketing
  ftc.gov, Jan 30, 2007
  Xenadrine EFX will pay at least $8 million and as much as $12.8 million to settle FTC allegations that Xenadrine EFX’s weight-loss claims were false and unsubstantiated.
  
  
• Consumer Refund Information from Sony BMG for Music CD Snafu
  kentucky.gov, Jan 23, 2007
  $4.25 million to resolve the States’ investigation into problems that arose when SONY BMG placed anti-copying software on music CDs.
  
  
• Canadian Man Pleads Guilty To Telemarketing Fraud
  usdoj.gov, Jan 16, 2007
  Pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court to charges of wire fraud and money laundering in connection with his role in an extensive fraudulent telemarketing scheme.
  
  
• Man Sentenced To Prison For Student Loan Fraud
  usdoj.gov, Jan 09, 2007
  To qualify for the loans, Vogts falsely represented that he was enrolled in a graduate degree program at the university.
  
  
• $1 Million Settlement in Washington's First Spyware Suit
  wa.gov, Jan 04, 2007
  1,145 Washington residents who purchased the company's Spyware Cleaner software and, in some cases, Popup Padlock are eligible for refunds.
  
  

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