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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.

Federal Laws Governing Ads

Consumer Basics

Federal Laws Governing Ads

There are many federal laws that regulate advertisements in some way or another.

FDA Registered, Cleared, Approved: What’s the Difference?

Consumer Basics

FDA Registered, Cleared, Approved: What’s the Difference?

Medical devices like to tout their status with the FDA. But what’s behind these terms?

How Causewashing Deceives Consumers

Consumer Basics

How Causewashing Deceives Consumers

For decades, brands have been supporting causes — or rather pretending to support causes — to boost sales.

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?

Sales, Bargains, Discounts

Consumer Basics

Sales, Bargains, Discounts

Shoppers face fictitious pricing, perpetual sales and more when trying to decipher a true bargain in the aisle.

The First Amendment and Commercial Speech

Consumer Basics

The First Amendment and Commercial Speech

When the government can restrict commercial speech.

Product Placement

Consumer Basics

Product Placement

Products that pop up in movies and television shows are often there for specific advertising reasons.

Food and Drug Administration

Consumer Basics

Food and Drug Administration

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the federal agency that is responsible for protecting public health through regulation and supervision of several different types of products, including food…

Sweepstakes & Prizes

Consumer Basics

Sweepstakes & Prizes

Sweepstakes and lotteries may be scams in disguise.

Celeb Endorsements

Consumer Basics

Celeb Endorsements

Why is your favorite celebrity attracted to that specific product?

Advertising Self-Regulatory Council

Consumer Basics

Advertising Self-Regulatory Council

The Advertising Self-Regulatory Council (ASRC) (formerly known as the National Advertising Review Council) is a self-regulatory agency that was formed in 1971 by the American Advertising Federation, the American Association…

Talking to Kids about Deceptive Advertising

Resources

Talking to Kids about Deceptive Advertising

Teach your children well, about ads.

Network Advertising Initiative

Consumer Basics

Network Advertising Initiative

The Network Advertising Initiative (NAI) is a self-regulatory coalition of online advertising companies, including AOL Advertising, Google, Microsoft Corporation, and Yahoo! Inc. The organization was established in 2000 amid increasing…

State-by-State Resources

Consumer Basics

State-by-State Resources

Where you can file complaints or research a business in your state.

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Free Doesn’t Usually Mean Free

What to Know about Negative-Option Offers

Federal Laws Governing Ads

FDA Registered, Cleared, Approved: What’s the Difference?

How Causewashing Deceives Consumers

The Scoop on Social Media Influencer Disclosure Requirements

Sales, Bargains, Discounts

The First Amendment and Commercial Speech

Product Placement

Food and Drug Administration

Sweepstakes & Prizes

Celeb Endorsements

Advertising Self-Regulatory Council

Talking to Kids about Deceptive Advertising

Network Advertising Initiative

State-by-State Resources