Search Results: FTC

Federal Court Halts California-Based Student Debt Relief Scheme at Request of FTC

FTC

On November 20, 2018, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that a federal court issued an injunction to halt and freeze the assets of a California-based student loan debt relief scheme. Two weeks prior​​​, the FTC filed a complaint against the operators of the scheme, alleging deceptive acts and practices in violation of Section 5(a)…

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First Half of 2018 Sees Significant Decline in Publicly Announced or Publicly Filed Enforcement Activity

During the first half of 2018, Enforcement Watch tracked 40 publicly announced or publicly filed enforcement actions involving consumer financial services companies. The 18 enforcement actions tracked during Q1 2018 represent a substantial decrease from the 46 actions tracked in Q1 2017. That trend continued in Q2 2018, with Enforcement Watch…

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FTC Settles with Student Debt Relief Companies for $19 Million

FTC

On September 28, 2018, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that it had reached a settlement with loan debt relief operators in connection with the coordinated federal-state enforcement initiative to target deceptive student loan debt relief scams, called “Operation Game of Loans.” According to the FTC, the operators violated the federal law by allegedly…

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FTC Settles for Nearly $3.5 Million with Debt Collectors Over Alleged Debt Collection Scheme

FTC

​On September 7, 2018, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a settlement with a Georgia debt collection company and its principals over alleged illegal collection practices. In October 2017, the FTC filed an action against the defendants alleging violations of the Federal Trade Commission Act (FTC Act), 15 U.S.C. §§ 45(a), 53(b),…

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FTC Settles Claims Against Student Loan Debt Relief Company for Over $2.3 Million

FTC

On June 11, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that it had settled claims against an individual and his loan debt relief companies in connection with its coordinated federal-state enforcement initiative to target deceptive student loan debt relief scams, called “Operation Game of Loans.”  Enforcement Watch covered a similar enforcement action earlier…

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FTC Settles With Defendant Involved in Mortgage Relief Scheme for $15.5 Million

FTC

​On June 7, 2018, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a settlement and stipulated order for permanent injunction​ ​arising from a lawsuit brought by the FTC concerning allegedly illegal mortgage relief practices. The FTC initiated an action against several defendants in January 2018 alleging violations of Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, 15…

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FTC Obtains Preliminary Injunction Against Mortgage Relief Operation

FTC

On May 8, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) announced that the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California granted its request to preliminarily enjoin affiliated California-based debt relief companies from continuing operations, and to freeze their assets. In its complaint, the FTC alleged that the companies violated Section 5(a) of the Federal Trade Commission Act,…

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FDIC Enters Into $20 Million Consent Order With Debt Settlement Entities

On March 28, 2018, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) annou​nced settlements with a bank and an affiliated lender (“Defendants”) relating to allegations of deceptive lending practices.  According to the FDIC, the Defendants provided, as “debt-settlement products,” loans to borrowers who were heavily indebted, which loans had settlement fees of up…

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FTC and NY AG Convict and Settle For Nearly $50 Million With Debt Collectors

On March 22, 2018, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), in conjunction with the New York Attorney General (AG), announced that it had entered into settlements with debt collection companies and their operators over allegedly deceptive and unlawful debt collection practices. In a February 2015 complaint filed in the United States District Court for the Western…

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FTC Accuses Student Loan Debt Relief Operation of Deceiving Consumers

Piggy Bank with a Graduation Cap

​On February 7, 2018, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) announced an enforcement action against a student loan debt relief operation, claiming it deceived consumers out of $28 million by falsely promising that their monthly payments would go towards their student loans. In the complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern…

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