FTC Enters Settlement Resolving Investigation into “Bogus Online Investment” Telemarketing Scheme

Consumer Finance FTC Telemarketing Sales Rule Privacy/Cyber Risk & Data Security

On March 13, the FTC announced a $25 million settlement with the operators of a national telemarketing scheme who allegedly stole millions of dollars from consumers in violation of the FTC Act and the Telemarketing Sales Rule. According to the complaint filed by the FTC in 2016, the defendants allegedly sold “bogus online investment opportunities” to consumers nationwide in the form of schemes such as opportunities to buy or invest in e-commerce related websites or credit card company/e-commerce website profit-sharing programs, and then pocketed the payments—some of which exceeded more than $20,000. The defendants did not admit or deny the facts alleged in the complaint in the stipulated final order with the FTC, which imposed a $25 million monetary judgment that was partially suspended.  The order also prohibits the defendants from telemarketing, marketing investment opportunities, and selling or otherwise benefiting from consumers’ personal information.