U.S. Government News

Office Depot Recalls 34,000 Desk Chairs Due to Pinch Hazard

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 05:24:00 PST

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of 34,000 chairs following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Lost Your Wallet? How to protect your money, your credit record - and your sanity

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 10:05:40 PST

But weeks later you receive past-due notices on bills for merchandise you never purchased, and a few months later your application for an auto loan gets rejected because someone has used your name and Social Security number to open new accounts and run up thousands of dollars in debt.

Social Networking Sites Attract Online Criminals

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 09:58:58 PST

Social networking sites are popular among consumers who keep in touch with friends and relatives by chatting online and sharing pictures, Web pages, video clips and other information.

Community Dispatch Gears up for the 13th Annual National Consumer Protection Week

Thu, 03 Mar 2011 23:02:04 PST

This year, Communitydispatch.com will focus on identity theft prevention, government fraud alerts, and internet scams, to show consumers how not get ripped off.

Bank Overdraft Fees Policy: Your Guide to Preventing and Managing Overdraft Fees

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 20:22:18 PST

An overdraft can occur when you try to spend more money than you have available in your checking account. For example, let’s assume you have $40 in your account. You ask the phone company to electronically deduct $35 from your checking account to pay the bill. You now have $5 available. Next, you use your debit card to make a $10 purchase.

Avoiding Internet Scams:10 Things You Can Do to Avoid Fraud

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 18:39:17 PST

Con artists often insist that people wire money, especially overseas, because it’s nearly impossible to reverse the transaction or trace the money. Don’t wire money to strangers, to sellers who insist on wire transfers for payment, or to someone who claims to be a relative in an emergency (and wants to keep the request a secret

Can You Spot a Scam?

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 20:18:52 PST

Con artists are very good at tricking consumers into parting with money or divulging personal information that can be used to steal funds or run up thousands of dollars in fraudulent credit card charges. How good are YOU at telling a scam from a legitimate offer or advertisement?

Identity Theft: How to Deter, Detect and Defend Against ID Theft

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 19:09:58 PST

This is National Protect Your Identity Week, and the Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, has information to help consumers, businesses, and law enforcement officials safeguard personal information and take action if an identity thief strikes.

Debt Relief: Debt Negotiation Scam Victims Receive Refund Payments

Thu, 30 Sep 2010 15:25:08 PST

An administrator working for the Federal Trade Commission is mailing checks to 360 consumers who were victims of Innovative Systems Technology doing business as Briggs & Baker, an operation that claimed it could "drastically" reduce consumers’ debt by negotiating directly with creditors.

Credit Card Security: Dave & Buster's Settles FTC Charges it Failed to Protect Consumers' Credit & Debit Card Information

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 12:15:37 PST

Entertainment operation Dave & Buster's, Inc. has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that the company left consumers' credit and debit card information vulnerable to hackers, resulting in several hundred thousand dollars in fraudulent charges

Money Making Scam: FTC Seeks Scam Marketer’s Assets in Bankruptcy Court to Repay Money Owed to Consumers

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:00:03 PST

The Federal Trade Commission has filed a complaint in bankruptcy court seeking assets from the operator of a defunct money-making scam, so that those assets can be used to help pay more than $17 million that he owes consumers as a result of a court judgment against him.

Top 20 Top Consumer Complaints in 2008

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 09:14:40 PST

The Federal Trade Commission today released the list of top consumer complaints received by the agency in 2008.

Seizure of Animal Food Products at PETCO Distribution Center

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 20:45:01 PST

U.S. Marshals seized all FDA-regulated animal food susceptible to rodent and pest contamination. The seized products violate the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act because it was alleged in a case filed by the United States Attorney that they were being held under unsanitary conditions. (The Act uses the term "insanitary" to describe such conditions).

FCC Approves Transfer of Control of Direct TV to Liberty Media Subject to Conditions

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 10:33:49 PST

Four years ago, I strenuously dissented to the Commission’s decision to allow News Corp. to acquire DirectTV. At the time, I said that the consolidation of so many media properties under News Corp.’s control could not be good for localism, diversity and competition. Nothing in the past four years has alleviated my concerns.

Consumer Fraud: FTC Releases List of Top Consumer Fraud Complaints in 2007

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 09:14:58 PST

The FTC today released the list of top consumer fraud complaints received by the agency in 2007. The list, contained in the publication “Consumer Fraud and Identity Theft Complaint Data January-December 2007,” showed that for the seventh year in a row, identity theft is the number one consumer complaint category. Of 813,899 total complaints received in 2007, 258,427, or 32 percent, were related to identity theft.

Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 10:29:07 PST

Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has launched the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program (Coupon Program), as authorized in the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005.

Free Virtual Tours from the U.S. Government

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 22:22:15 PST

Free online U.S. virtual tours

FTC Offers Tutorial for Businesses on Protecting Personal Information

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 07:03:22 PST

Protecting the personal information of customers, clients, and employees is good business. The Federal Trade Commission has a new online tutorial to alert businesses and other organizations to practical and low- or no-cost ways to keep data secure

Renting a Car for the Holidays? The I.I.I. Provides Rental Car Insurance Tips

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 11:00:15 PST

With so many people planning to visit family and friends over the holidays, there are likely to be long lines at rental car companies across the country. Properly insuring a rental car can be tricky. Unfortunately, many consumers don’t even think about car rental insurance until they get to the counter, which can result in costly mistakes, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.).

Thinking About Buying an Expensive New Bicycle?

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 08:27:31 PST

Almost 1,000,000 bicycles were stolen in the U.S in 2006, according to the FBI and most of them were never seen again. With the increasingly popularity of cycling as both a sport and a means of transportation, bicycles have become a target for thieves, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.).