NAAG Endorses Fraud and Scam Reduction Act
H.R. 1215 provides much needed education and training for the employees most likely to be able to detect and report elder fraud and scams. The bill also provides a mechanism for vigorous monitoring of elder fraud, provides information on such schemes to the public, and coordinates reporting with law enforcement authorities. For these reasons, we strongly urge the Senate to take action and pass H.R. 1215.
Federal Consumer Protection News and Other Items of Interest: April 2021
The US Supreme Court ruled against the FTC in AMG Capital Management LLC v. FTC, holding that Section 13(b) of the FTC Act does not permit the FTC to seek and does not allow courts to award “equitable monetary relief such as restitution or disgorgement.” FTC Acting Chairwoman Rebecca Kelly Slaughter issued a statement criticizing…
Attorney General Consumer Protection News: April 2021
Multistate Actions Led by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein, and Tennessee Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III, a bipartisan coalition of 45 attorneys general called on Twitter, eBay, and Shopify and online mobile market place OfferUp to act immediately to prevent people from selling fraudulent CDC vaccination cards on…
Consumer Chief of the Month: Laura E. McFarlane, Assistant Attorney General, Deputy Director, Public Protection Unit, Wisconsin Department of Justice
I am honored to be featured as the NAGTRI Center for Consumer Protection’s Chief of the Month. I was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin. While I realize now how lucky I was to be raised here, at the time I graduated from high school, I was very much ready to leave Wisconsin. After graduating…
Restitution: The Superior Remedy
In most consumer fraud cases, restitution is the optimal remedy, serving the two-fold purposes of restoring consumers and deterring businesses from engaging in unlawful acts and practices. State attorneys general may sometimes settle matters without obtaining restitution for a variety of reasons, some of which are addressed below. However, prioritizing restitution begets important recoveries for…
Press Invited to Attend First Half of Virtual Consumer Protection Conference
WHO: The National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) is holding its 2021 Consumer Protection Spring Virtual Conference. The private, nonprofit, and government sectors are invited to attend the public portion of the conference on May 11. WHAT: The agenda aims to address pressing and relevant issues specific to consumer protection. NAAG Consumer Protection Committee co-chairs…
Federal Consumer Protection News and Other Items of Interest: March 2021
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB or Bureau) sued payment processor BrightSpeed Solutions Inc. and its former CEO Kevin Howard for supporting Internet-based tech-support scams. The CFPB alleges the defendants knowingly processed more than $71 million in payments for clients who tricked consumers, often older Americans, into purchasing expensive and unnecessary…
Consumer Chief of the Month: Phil Carlson, Assistant Attorney General, Nebraska Attorney General’s Office
I want to begin this month’s “Chief of the Month” section by saying that I take great joy in my family and to thank them publicly for their willingness to tag along with me in this crazy journey I’m going to tell you about. My wife, Jean, is a stay-at-home mom who wrangles me, our…
The Impact of Recent Tax Law Changes on Consumer Protection Settlements
On January 14, 2021, the IRS promulgated final regulations in connection with the tax laws and reporting requirements found in 26 U.S. Code § 162(f) and 26 U.S. Code § 6050X which impact consumer protection settlements and state attorney general offices. These final regulations, found at 26 C.F.R. § 1.162-21 and 26 C.F.R. § 1.6050X-1,…
