In addition, the agency is resending checks to more than 33,000 people who didn't previously cash their check. Has someone asked you for something in exchange for your AMG refund check? If the FTC contacts you about a refund, you'll find information about the case at ftc.gov/refunds .You can be sure the phone numbers and links on this page are legit. Heres what you need to know about these calls. Fake calls from Apple and Amazon support: What you need to know, The Google Voice scam: How this verification code scam works and how to avoid it, Show/hide Shopping and Donating menu items, Show/hide Credit, Loans, and Debt menu items, Show/hide Jobs and Making Money menu items, Money-Making Opportunities and Investments, Show/hide Unwanted Calls, Emails, and Texts menu items, Show/hide Identity Theft and Online Security menu items, These scams work because fake checks generally look just like real checks, even to bank employees. Use our visualizations to explore scam and fraud trends in your state based on reports from consumers like you. They may evenbereal checks written on bank accounts that belong to someone whose identity has been stolen. Spot the latest COVID scams, get compliance guidance, and stay up to date on FTC actions during the pandemic. The FTC is sending almost $25 million in refund checks to over 240,000 people who lost money as a result of a sweepstakes scam run by Next-Gen Inc. Next-Gen allegedly promised cash prizes to customers to participate in sweepstakes or "game of skill" contests. IRS-CI enlists the public's assistance in slamming the next scam If something goes wrong maybe it fails or yields biased results you cant just blame a third-party developer of the technology. You can find and verify the phone numbers for FTC refund programs at, In these cases, we send an email from the FTC (. ) The .gov means its official. Comments and user names are part of the Federal Trade Commissions (FTC) public records system, and user names also are part of the FTCscomputer user recordssystem. The FTC's interactive dashboards for refund data provide a state-by-state breakdown of FTC refunds. Memo from Chair Lina M. Khan to commission staff and commissioners regarding the vision and priorities for the FTC. As a business development professional who works for a small company that is bringing AI-enabled software to USG customers I found myself being defensive as I read the article. We may routinely use these records as described in the FTCsPrivacy Act system notices. Find legal resources and guidance to understand your business responsibilities and comply with the law. Ifyou have any otherquestions, please call the refund administrator at1-800-591-4238. They do not belong to or represent views of the Federal Trade Commission. Make smart shopping decisions, know your rights, and solve problems when you shop or donate to charity. They do not belong to or represent views of the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC is sending out 541,247 checks averaging $63.35 per check. The refund checks are from a settlement with the operators of Mobile Money Code, which also used the names eMobile Code, Auto Mobile Code, Easy Cash Code, Full Money System, and Secret Money System. The FTC first sent payments in this matter in May 2020, which resulted in more than $8.4 million in refunds. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. We wont post comments that include vulgar messages, personal attacks by name, or offensive terms that target specific people or groups. How do I file a claim? Learn more about your rights as a consumer and how to spot and avoid scams. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Spot the latest COVID scams, get compliance guidance, and stay up to date on FTC actions during the pandemic. The Federal Trade Commission Act authorizes this information collection for purposes of managing online comments. We review all comments before they are posted, and we wont post comments that dont comply with our commenting policy. For example, were not yet living in the realm of science fiction, where computers can generally make trustworthy predictions of human behavior. We currently contract with four companies: The FTC never requires you to pay upfront fees or asks you for sensitive information, like your Social Security number or bank account information. It can only see both side and in front not a car on the side facing the street that going to pull out. The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. After letting those initial feelings subside, I think it is a great article and I have sent it to several DOD friends. But the fact is that some products with AI claims might not even work as advertised in the first place. Thank you to have the clarity and courage to say this, and to say it so well. Because the FTC recovered additional money from the defendants, the agency is sending a second round of payments. The site is secure. Whatever it can or cant do, AI is important, and so are the claims you make about it. We wont post threats, defamatory statements, or suggestions or encouragement of illegal activity. Whenever possible, the FTC uses the money it collects from defendants to provide refunds to injured consumers. To verify the check is from the FTC, go to ftc.gov/amg. The company and phone number for each case are listed on the chart. They are often printed with the names and addresses of legitimate financial institutions. The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. The .gov means its official. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect. You need adequate proof for that kind of comparative claim, too, and if such proof is impossible to get, then dont make the claim. The FTC uses money collected from its lawsuits to pay for the direct costs of sending refunds, like the cost of printing and mailing checks. But scammers try to cause confusion and take advantage at every step. We may also use the agencys Consumer Sentinel Network database to find eligible recipients. The FTC states that all refund checks should be cashed within 60 days and that if there are any questions about the refunds, recipients should contact the FTC's refund administrator, Epiq, at 1 . How can a TEMPORARY PAUSE be put on a technology that is being unleashed faster than high-tech firms can safely deploy / control it? But the check was fake, so you'll have to pay your bank the amount of the check, plus you'll lose any money you wired. Find legal resources and guidance to understand your business responsibilities and comply with the law. For questions about your check or the refund process, call the administrator (Rust Consulting) at 1-866-730-8147, or email [email protected] . The site is secure. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. Click on a case name to see more details about the refund program, including whether we sent checks or PayPal payments. They might say they need you to cover taxes or fees for a prize, to buy supplies for a job, to send back money they overpaid, or something else. Clear case of over promising. To file a detailed report about a scam, go to. Weve just heard, though, that scammers are trying to get into the act, using fake checks that look like the real one. By that time, the scammer has any money you sent, and youre stuck paying the money back to the bank. Recent complaints to the FTC show that scammers are: So how can you tell whether an FTC refund is real? And at the FTC, one thing we know about hot marketing terms is that some advertisers wont be able to stop themselves from overusing and abusing them. To file a detailed report about a scam, go to. In an investigation, FTC technologists and others can look under the hood and analyze other materials to see if whats inside matches up with your claims. Some of us are actually doing AI/ML and it is a game changer, it just isn't going to be a panacea, just tools to make sense of data and make things quicker and easier. . If you'd like to know more about how the refund program works, visit this page about the FTC's process. The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. The Federal Trade Commission Act authorizes this information collection for purposes of managing online comments. We wont post comments that include vulgar messages, personal attacks by name, or offensive terms that target specific people or groups. Use our visualizations to explore scam and fraud trends in your state based on reports from consumers like you. This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions. If you were a little too jolly with your holiday spending, here are some tips to help you pay down your credit card debt. Is it any wonder that we can be primed to accept what marketers say about new tools and devices that supposedly reflect the abilities and benefits of artificial intelligence (AI)? Have you heard about it? HSR threshold adjustments and reportability for 2023, A Century of Technological Evolution at the Federal Trade Commission, National Consumer Protection Week 2023 Begins Sunday, March 5, FTC at the 65th Annual Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market - NCPW 2023, FTC Sends Nearly $5 Million in Refunds to People who Lost Money to Cramming Scheme, Company That Placed Crammed Charges on Consumers Phone Bills Settles FTC Contempt Charges, FTC Seeks Return of $52 Million Worth of Bogus Phone Bill Cramming Charges; Agency Charges Nation's Largest Third-Party Billing Company with Contempt, Crammers Settle FTC Charges (October 1999), FTC Enforcement Actions Continue to Target "Crammers". Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Memo from Chair Lina M. Khan to commission staff and commissioners regarding the vision and priorities for the FTC. money back to them or buy stuff for them. How to protect your personal information and privacy, stay safe online, and help your kids do the same. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. The FTC first sent checks in September 2021, which resulted in more than $2.9 million in refunds. In addition, the agency is resending checks to more than 33,000 people who didnt previously cash their check. Over the last 5 years, more than 95% of the money collected for refunds has been returned to consumers. Data on FTC refunds are available in interactive online dashboards. We enforce federal competition and consumer protection laws that prevent anticompetitive, deceptive, and unfair business practices. The FTC and its law enforcement partners announced actions against several income scams that conned people out of hundreds of millions of dollars by falsely telling them they could make a lot of money. In one version of the scam, you get a call and a recorded message that says its Amazon. AI as just a magnification / catalyst to human miss behavior. How the FTC Provides Refunds | Federal Trade Commission I'd expect the SEC, FBI, CIA, and especially the FTC to have the most advanced tools to vet and locate rule breakers. Or can all this be simply ignored? The site is secure. Because there is still money in the fund, the FTC is sending another round of payments to people who previously cashed a check or accepted a PayPal payment and have a valid email address on file. For example, were not yet living in the realm of science fiction, where computers can generally make trustworthy predictions of human behavior. We use this information to send refunds. We work to advance government policies that protect consumers and promote competition. This message is not new. You can findanswers tocommon questions about refund payments onour FAQ page. So, many of us might be looking for alternatives, like buying gifts locally or maybe from online marketplaces or sites you find through your social media accounts, online ads, or by searching Youve opened all your gifts, and now its time to open those post-holiday credit card statements. Lina M. Khan was sworn in as Chair of the Federal Trade Commission on June 15, 2021. The .gov means its official. What happens to money that isnt claimed? Are you aware of the risks? Because there is still money in the fund, the FTC is sending another round of payments to people who previously cashed a check or accepted a PayPal payment and have a valid email address on file. If so, information about how to file a claim will be available at www.ftc.gov/refunds. FTC Mailing Refund Checks From Two Business Scams FTC sending checks to student loan borrowers ripped off in scams - CNBC Please call for details. If youd like to know more about how the refund program works, visit this page about the FTCs process. Have you heard about it? The site is secure. But one thing is for sure: its a marketing term. The FTC and its law enforcement partners announced actions against several income scams that conned people out of hundreds of millions of dollars by falsely telling them they could make a lot of money. Our mission is protecting consumers and competition by preventing anticompetitive, deceptive, and unfair business practices through law enforcement, advocacy, and education without unduly burdening legitimate business activity. A payment or claim form sent as part of an FTC settlement will include an explanation of and details about the case. We wont post off-topic comments, repeated identical comments, or comments that include sales pitches or promotions. Stephanie T. Nguyen, Chief Technology Officer, Competition and Consumer Protection Guidance Documents, You can findanswers tocommon questions about refund payments on. What to know when you're looking for a job or more education, or considering a money-making opportunity or investment. We cannot send payments until all legal action is complete, and we have collected the money from the defendants. Weve just heard, though, that scammers are trying to get into the act, using fake checks that look like the real one. How much money from FTC lawsuits goes to FTC attorneys. And all manner of robots serve or control us. Federal Trade Commission Sends out Second Round of Redress Checks in I would beg this of the FTC, please apply these principals across the board - to both large and small companies. The FTC is sending PayPal payments totaling $4.7 million to 338,189LifeLock customers who were membersbetween 2012 and 2014. Looking for alternatives for your holiday shopping? Can I still get my payment? What to know when you're looking for a job or more education, or considering a money-making opportunity or investment. And weve heard from many of you that you got your check and cashed it. We enforce federal competition and consumer protection laws that prevent anticompetitive, deceptive, and unfair business practices. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. The .gov means its official. To file a detailed report about a scam, go to. What to do about unwanted calls, emails, and text messages that can be annoying, might be illegal, and are probably scams. We may routinely use these records as described in the FTCsPrivacy Act system notices. Free e-filing tools are available at www.irs.gov/freefile. It a stationary object, we see it action path cross that about to happen. Whitney Moore, Attorney, FTC Division of Privacy and Identity Protection, Competition and Consumer Protection Guidance Documents, And what exactly is artificial intelligence anyway? . I want all involved who are grappling with this tiger by the tail (Developers, Regulators, Investors, etc.) Last year, to people who lost money to companies the FTC sued. Checking out your AMG check? | Consumer Advice The Federal Trade Commission announced this week that it would send thousands of checks totaling more than $822,000 to student loan borrowers who lost money in a debt-relief scheme. Your performance claims would be deceptive if they lack scientific support or if they apply only to certain types of users or under certain conditions. We wont post comments that include personal information, like Social Security numbers, account numbers, home addresses, and email addresses. Whenever possible, the FTC uses the money it collects from defendants to provide refunds to injured consumers. The most prevarication I have witnessed in the last five years (three in a DOD uniform and two in the AI-industry) have come from very large, well-established, well-connected companies. The FTC currently issues payments by check, prepaid debit card,and PayPal. If you receive a 1099 tax form with your check, you should report the payment as income on your tax return. Before labeling your product as AI-powered, note also that merely using an AI tool in the development process is not the same as a product having AI in it.
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