Internet Crime Complaint Center Consumer Basics Internet Crime Complaint Center The Internet Crime Complaint Center’s self-proclaimed mission is to “serve as a vehicle to receive, develop, and refer criminal complaints regarding the rapidly expanding arena of cyber crime.”
Federal Laws Governing Ads Consumer Basics Federal Laws Governing Ads There are many federal laws that regulate advertisements in some way or another.
The Financial Services Industry Consumer Basics The Financial Services Industry The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) is the financial services industry’s primary self-regulating body. FINRA’s stated mission is to protect investors by making sure the financial industry operates fairly and…
Who Can You Complain to at the Federal Level? Consumer Basics Who Can You Complain to at the Federal Level? A topic-by-topic list of federal agencies that deal with deceptive advertising.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Consumer Basics Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Congress created the CFPB after the 2009 financial crisis to regulate mortgages, student loans, credit cards, and other financial products and services used by consumers.
Free Doesn’t Usually Mean Free Consumer Basics Free Doesn’t Usually Mean Free There’s lots of strings attached to offers of free products and services.
What to Know about Negative-Option Offers Consumer Basics What to Know about Negative-Option Offers Risk free trials may lead to repeated, unwanted charges to your credit card.
The Scoop on Social Media Influencer Disclosure Requirements Consumer Basics The Scoop on Social Media Influencer Disclosure Requirements What kind of disclosure is necessary for social media influencer marketing?
Talking to Kids about Deceptive Advertising Resources Talking to Kids about Deceptive Advertising Teach your children well, about ads.
U.S. Department of Justice Consumer Basics U.S. Department of Justice The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), which is led by the Attorney General, is the federal executive department responsible for enforcing federal laws. Among other things, it works with other…
Product Placement Consumer Basics Product Placement Products that pop up in movies and television shows are often there for specific advertising reasons.
Econsumer.gov Consumer Basics Econsumer.gov Econsumer.gov, which was established in 2001, is a website where consumers can file complaints about online and related transactions with foreign companies.
What to Know about Sponsored Content Consumer Basics What to Know about Sponsored Content It’s getting harder to distinguish advertisements from objective content.
National Credit Union Administration Consumer Basics National Credit Union Administration Since 1970, the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) has been the regulator and primary enforcement authority for federal credit unions. Among its many responsibilities, the NCUA is charged with enforcing…
Federal Trade Commission Consumer Basics Federal Trade Commission The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which was created in 1914, is a federal agency that is tasked with promoting consumer protection. One of the central ways it does this is…
Direct Marketing Association Consumer Basics Direct Marketing Association The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) is a trade group made up of all those pesky companies we have to thank for telemarketing, spam, and junk mail, among others. The group…
What is Industry Self-Regulation? Consumer Basics What is Industry Self-Regulation? Self-regulating organizations can have varying impacts on the standards that are set for the way industries do business.
Puffery – A Marketer’s Right To Lie Consumer Basics Puffery – A Marketer’s Right To Lie Ads can legally lie to you as long as the lie is so obvious an exaggeration that you know not to take it seriously.