FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION: Getting scammers off the street

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

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FTC and its partners get scammers off the street

April 13, 2016

by

Colleen Tressler

Consumer Education Specialist, FTC

The FTC protects consumers by stopping unfair, deceptive or fraudulent practices in the marketplace. We conduct investigations, sue outfits and individuals that break the law, and inform people and businesses about their rights and responsibilities. In 2015, the FTC filed more than 100 law enforcement actions, obtained more than 175 orders against defendants, and refunded more than $22 million to consumers.

The FTC is a civil law enforcement agency. That means that while we can’t put people in jail, many of our partners can — and do — including the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Attorneys, and other federal and state criminal law enforcers. When FTC cases include behavior that also violates criminal laws, we let criminal prosecutors know.

That’s where the FTC’s Criminal Liaison Unit (CLU) comes in. It helps increase the criminal prosecution of consumer fraud. Since it was formed more than ten years ago, the FTC’s CLU has contributed to the successful prosecution of hundreds of fraudulent telemarketers, phantom debt and mortgage relief scammers, immigration fraudsters and others who prey on American consumers.

Here’s a quick by-the-numbers look at 2015:

• FTC staff worked on 75 requests for cooperation from criminal law enforcement partners.
• Thirty-four defendants received jail sentences totaling 175 years.
• The average sentence was 5.15 years.
• One defendant got a 25-year sentence.

We have more information about the CLU and the people whose efforts in criminal law enforcement have made a significant contribution to the protection of American consumers.

Earth Day: City of Miami Celebration April 22, 2016 @ 9 am

7th Annual Judicial Reception: May 3rd, 2016 @ 6:30 pm

Sling TV launches new $20 package with Fox channels, but no Disney or ESPN

Stream on three devices at once with the new Fox plan

Dish's Sling TV is adding Fox channels to its programming lineup, but they're not going to be part of the existing $20 package. Instead, and this is pretty strange, Sling is launching a new, second $20-per-month subscription package that includes Fox's broadcast network (in select markets only), Fox Sports, FX, and the YES Network. Those come on top of Sling's other channels like A&E, CNN, AMC, HGTV, and Adult Swim, among others.

The new $20 package — available in beta starting today — can be streamed on up to three devices simultaneously. But here's where it all gets weird: this package does not include any of Disney's channels. No Disney Channel. No ESPN. For those, you've got to stick with Sling's original subscription package, and you'll still be limited to one stream at a time. "We are in active discussions with Dish about their multi-stream Sling TV service but we have yet to reach an agreement," an ESPN spokesperson told The Verge. "Our brands and content are best-in-class and would add unparalleled value to this new service." So essentially, Sling TV has now split into two products, depending on which channels you like more; but you can have both of them on the same account if you're willing to pay $40.

Keep in mind that you'll only be able to view live streams of the Fox network in certain markets. Same goes for Fox's regional sports channels. You can enter your address at Sling's website to see what's available, and I'd imagine the Fox side of things becomes way less appealing if you're left without the core broadcast network, but who knows.

This strategy, of splitting into two, identically-priced offerings, is definitely an odd one. Disney and ESPN were what set Sling TV apart when it first launched. But not anymore; Sony's PlayStation Vue, which also offers the channels, recently launched nationwide. So it's a good time for Sling to be offering new content. You're getting more channels, technically, and the multi-streaming option is nice — if you can live without those Disney channels.

Beware of Vacation Package Scam

Consumer Alert: Beware of Vacation Package Scam The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services issued a consumer alert today warning Floridians and visitors of an ongoing scam offering fraudulent promotional vacation packages. Following the travel industry reporting a sharp increase in the number of complaints related to fraudulent Florida vacation packages, the department advises consumers to be wary of robocalls, emails or faxes offering promotional vacation packages purported to have been offered by legitimate travel agencies, such as Expedia, Travelocity, TripAdvisor and more. "Consumers should always be cautious when receiving unsolicited phone calls or emails saying that they've won a 'special promotion' or 'free luxury vacation,' said Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam. An educated consumer is the best defense against fraud and deception, and I encourage consumers to accesses our tips and resources at FreshFromFlorida.com." Consumers Can Protect Themselves Against Travel/Vacation Scams with the following tips: Find out if the seller of travel is registered with the department and if any complaints have been filed against it. Never give out credit card or checking account numbers over the phone unless the consumer initiated the call and is certain of the company's credentials. Read the entire contract thoroughly, ask questions and do not sign it if there is any doubts about anything. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Go directly to the legitimate travel booking company website, such as Expedia.com, Travelocity.com, and contact the companys customer service department to confirm the promotion. As the state's clearinghouse for consumer complaints, the department educates the public, investigates complaints and provides mediation on behalf of consumers. The department recovered nearly ū million for Florida consumers last year from moving companies, vehicle repair shops, pawn shops, health studios, telemarketers, sellers of travel and more. Consumers who believe fraud has taken place can contact the department's consumer protection and information hotline at 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) or, for Spanish speakers, 1-800-FL-AYUDA (352-9832). For more information about the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FreshFromFlorida.com .

Llega a su limite la cantidad de visas H-1B para el año fiscal

WASHINGTON – El Servicio de Ciudadanía e Inmigración de Estados Unidos (USCIS, por sus siglas en inglés) ha alcanzado la cantidad máxima reglamentaria de visas H-1B establecida por el Congreso para el año fiscal 2017. USCIS también ha recibido más de la cantidad límite de 20,000 peticiones H-1B presentadas bajo la exención por estudios de posgrado en los Estados Unidos. USCIS utilizará un proceso computadorizado, también conocido como lotería, para seleccionar al azar las peticiones requeridas para alcanzar la cantidad máxima de 65,000 visas en la categoría general y las 20,000 visas en la exención de estudios de posgrado. USCIS primero seleccionará al azar las peticiones de la exención por estudios de posgrado. Las peticiones de exención de estudios posgrado que no sean seleccionadas pasarán a formar parte del proceso de selección al azar para el límite general de 65,000 visas. La agencia rechazará y devolverá las tarifas de presentación de aquellas peticiones sujetas a la cantidad máxima reglamentaria que no sean solicitudes duplicadas y que no sean seleccionadas. Antes de llevar a cabo la lotería, USCIS completará la aceptación inicial de todas las solicitudes recibidas durante el periodo de presentación, que culminó el 7 de abril. Debido al alto número de peticiones, USCIS aún no pude anunciar la fecha en la que llevará a cabo el proceso de selección al azar. USCIS continuará aceptando y tramitando peticiones que de alguna otra manera están exentas de la cantidad máxima reglamentaria. Las peticiones presentadas a nombre de actuales trabajadores H-1B que han sido contabilizados previamente contra esta cantidad máxima reglamentaria, y quienes aún retienen su número, no serán contabilizados contra el límite de visas H-1B ordenado por el Congreso para el año fiscal 2017. USCIS continuará aceptando y tramitando peticiones presentadas para: ·         Extender el tiempo que un actual trabajador H-1B puede permanecer en los               Estados Unidos ·         Cambiar las condiciones de empleo de trabajadores H-1B actuales ·         Permitir a los trabajadores H-1B actuales cambiar de empleador ·        Permitir a los trabajadores H-1B actuales trabajar al mismo tiempo en una segunda posición H-1B. Las empresas estadounidenses utilizan el programa H-1B para emplear a trabajadores extranjeros en ocupaciones que requieren conocimientos altamente especializados en campos como la ciencia, la ingeniería y la programación informática. Exhortamos a los solicitantes H-1B a suscribirse para recibir actualizaciones sobre la Temporada para Trámite de Solicitudes H-1B sujetas a la Cantidad Máxima Reglamentaria por medio de correo electrónico, a través del enlace que aparece en la página web de la Temporada de Solicitudes para Trámite de Solicitudes H-1B sujetas a la Cantidad Máxima Reglamentaria del Año Fiscal 2016. Para más información acerca de USCIS y sus programas, por favor visite uscis.gov/espanol o síganos en Twitter (@uscis_es), YouTube (/uscis), Facebook(/uscis), y el blog de USCIS blog Compás. CONÉCTESE CON USCIS:

Florida Consumer Newsletter

Subscribe to Commissioner Adam H. Putnam’s Email Tech Support Scams Cybercriminals are no longer targeting victims solely through email messages and fake websites. They’re diversifying their tactics and contacting individuals by telephone, claiming to represent well-known software companies and offering to solve computer problems. These individuals may claim that they have detected viruses or other malware on your computer to trick you into granting them remote access to your computer, or paying for software you don’t need. The goal of these fraudulent individuals is to make money and access your personal files to steal your identity. Once scammers have gained your trust, they may ask you to give them remote access to your computer in order to make changes to your settings that could leave your computer vulnerable; try to enroll you in worthless computer maintenance or warranty programs; ask for credit card information so they can bill you for phony services or services you could get elsewhere for free; trick you into installing malware that could steal sensitive data, like user names and passwords; or direct you to websites and ask for your credit card number and other personal information. Regardless of the tactics they use, their intention is to take your money. If you get a call from someone who claims to be a tech support person, hang up and call the company yourself on a phone number you know to be genuine. A caller who creates a sense of urgency or uses high-pressure tactics is probably a scam artist. How Can I Avoid Tech Support Scams? Never grant a third party access to your computer unless you can verify that it is a legitimate representative of a computer support team with whom you are already a customer. Never provide credit card or financial information over the phone, especially if you did not initiate the call or it is not from a known and trusted source. Never provide a password over the phone. No legitimate organization will call you to verify your password. If you receive a call claiming there is a virus on your computer, hang up! Steps to Take if You Become a Victim Update or download security software from a legitimate source and scan your computer. Delete any malware or viruses that may have been downloaded or installed through a third party. Change the passwords for your computer, email and online banking/credit card accounts. Contact your credit card provider and dispute charges for any bogus services rendered or purchases made without your consent. Consider placing a fraud alert on your credit report if you shared personal and banking information with the scammer. Fraud alerts can be administered by calling one of the three major credit report agencies: Experian, Equifax or TransUnion. For additional information, contact the department at 1–800–HELP–FLA (435-7352), 1–800–FL–AYUDA (352-9832) en Español, or visit 800helpfla.com.