Category: Consumer Protection

Los Angeles – The iron grip of LA Fitness extended beyond weights and treadmills, reaching deep into the wallets of unsuspecting customers, according to a federal lawsuit filed this week. The Federal Trade Commission alleges the gym giant deliberately constructed a labyrinthine cancellation process, trapping members in endless, unwanted subscriptions and reaping ill-gotten gains from…

MIAMI – Robert Spangler, the man behind the slick telehealth operation known as NextMed, is facing a reckoning. The Federal Trade Commission just landed a $150,000 penalty on Spangler and his company, Southern Health Solutions, Inc., after an investigation revealed a scheme built on lies and hidden fees. NextMed wasn’t selling healthcare; they were selling…

Maryland car buyers were systematically fleeced by the Lindsay Automotive Group, a network of dealerships accused of bait-and-switch tactics and padding prices with unwanted add-ons. The Federal Trade Commission and Maryland Attorney General have finally cornered Michael Lindsay, the company’s president, along with COO John Smallwood, former General Manager Paul Smyth, and the dealerships themselves,…

San Juan, Puerto Rico – The promise of student loan forgiveness turned into another cruel con for vulnerable borrowers, authorities say. The Federal Trade Commission slammed the brakes on “USA Student Debt Relief,” a shadowy operation accused of bilking desperate consumers out of hundreds of dollars with empty promises and deceptive tactics. The scheme preyed…

Kansas City resident Norman R. Miller, the man behind the auto warranty empire CarShield, is facing a $10 million reckoning after the Federal Trade Commission exposed a systematic scheme to swindle unsuspecting consumers. Miller’s company, NRRM, LLC – operating as CarShield – along with its administrator, American Auto Shield, LLC, built a lucrative business on…

ORLANDO, FL – Daniel Hanson and his network of companies are facing the music after a relentless FTC investigation exposed a nationwide scheme to bilk unsuspecting consumers out of millions. Hanson, operating through Legion Media LLC and related entities, allegedly lured victims with promises of “free” CBD and Keto products, only to enroll them in…

WASHINGTON D.C. – The Federal Trade Commission is taking aim at the shadowy world of online food delivery, launching a formal review of the deceptive fees tacked onto every order. While seemingly minor, these hidden charges are bleeding consumers dry, adding up to a multi-billion dollar racket propped up by companies prioritizing profit over transparency.…

San Francisco – The ride-hailing giant Uber is facing serious allegations of deceptive practices, accused of systematically fleecing customers through its Uber One subscription service. The Federal Trade Commission launched a scathing legal attack today, alleging Uber knowingly trapped users into recurring charges they didn’t authorize and then erected roadblocks when those same users tried…

Philadelphia – David J. Klein, the man behind the wildly popular (and now thoroughly disgraced) Sendit anonymous messaging app, is facing a federal crackdown for a scheme that preyed on children and deceived millions of users. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) alleges Klein knowingly built an app designed to hoover up sensitive personal data from…

Fort Lauderdale, FL – Mercury Marketing LLC is facing serious allegations of exploiting vulnerable individuals battling addiction. The Federal Trade Commission has filed a complaint detailing a brazen scheme where the company allegedly hijacked Google searches meant for legitimate substance use disorder treatment clinics, redirecting desperate callers to their own facilities – facilities the FTC…