The Bureau of Consumer Protection division of the Federal Trade Commission ("FTC"), the U.S. Federal agency responsible for preventing fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair trade practices, announced yesterday that it will undertake a multinational effort to stop travel and timeshare resale scams. The announcement is part of the FTC's ongoing effort to stop timeshare scams.
The FTC will crack down on deceptive travel and timeshare resale scams by partnering with various Federal, state, and international law enforcement partners. The FTC is already working with the Florida Office of the Attorney General and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Last year, the FTC and Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi brought legal action against a timeshare resale telemarketing business and its owner for allegedly deceiving thousands of consumers throughout the country into paying up to $2,000 based on promises that the reseller had buyers lined up for consumers' timeshare properties, and then failing to deliver promised refunds.
Earlier this year, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida entered a final judgment against several telemarketing companies charged by the FTC with operating a timeshare resale scam. The judgment entered by the Court imposed a $6.3 million fine and permanently banned the defendants from the timeshare business.
Multinational efforts of this kind are significant; the last time the FTC announced a concerted action of this kind, it resulted in nearly 70 judgments and settlements against companies engaged in business scams that falsely promised jobs and opportunities for consumers to “be their own boss.”
The FTC will host a press conference on Thursday, June 6, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. ET to announce the multinational timeshare crackdown. Those persons interested in listening to the broadcast of the press conference should call toll-free to 800-230-1766, and enter the confirmation ID number 294434.
The Bureau of Consumer Protection division of the Federal Trade Commission ("FTC"), the U.S. Federal agency responsible for preventing fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair trade practices, announced yesterday that it will undertake a multinational effort to stop travel and timeshare resale scams. The announcement is part of the FTC's ongoing effort to stop timeshare scams.
The FTC will crack down on deceptive travel and timeshare resale scams by partnering with various Federal, state, and international law enforcement partners. The FTC is already working with the Florida Office of the Attorney General and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Last year, the FTC and Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi brought legal action against a timeshare resale telemarketing business and its owner for allegedly deceiving thousands of consumers throughout the country into paying up to $2,000 based on promises that the reseller had buyers lined up for consumers' timeshare properties, and then failing to deliver promised refunds.
Earlier this year, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida entered a final judgment against several telemarketing companies charged by the FTC with operating a timeshare resale scam. The judgment entered by the Court imposed a $6.3 million fine and permanently banned the defendants from the timeshare business.
Multinational efforts of this kind are significant; the last time the FTC announced a concerted action of this kind, it resulted in nearly 70 judgments and settlements against companies engaged in business scams that falsely promised jobs and opportunities for consumers to “be their own boss.”
The FTC will host a press conference on Thursday, June 6, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. ET to announce the multinational timeshare crackdown. Those persons interested in listening to the broadcast of the press conference should call toll-free to 800-230-1766, and enter the confirmation ID number 294434.
The Bureau of Consumer Protection division of the Federal Trade Commission ("FTC"), the U.S. Federal agency responsible for preventing fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair trade practices, announced yesterday that it will undertake a multinational effort to stop travel and timeshare resale scams. The announcement is part of the FTC's ongoing effort to stop timeshare scams.
The FTC will crack down on deceptive travel and timeshare resale scams by partnering with various Federal, state, and international law enforcement partners. The FTC is already working with the Florida Office of the Attorney General and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Last year, the FTC and Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi brought legal action against a timeshare resale telemarketing business and its owner for allegedly deceiving thousands of consumers throughout the country into paying up to $2,000 based on promises that the reseller had buyers lined up for consumers' timeshare properties, and then failing to deliver promised refunds.
Earlier this year, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida entered a final judgment against several telemarketing companies charged by the FTC with operating a timeshare resale scam. The judgment entered by the Court imposed a $6.3 million fine and permanently banned the defendants from the timeshare business.
Multinational efforts of this kind are significant; the last time the FTC announced a concerted action of this kind, it resulted in nearly 70 judgments and settlements against companies engaged in business scams that falsely promised jobs and opportunities for consumers to “be their own boss.”
The FTC will host a press conference on Thursday, June 6, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. ET to announce the multinational timeshare crackdown. Those persons interested in listening to the broadcast of the press conference should call toll-free to 800-230-1766, and enter the confirmation ID number 294434.
On Tuesday night, June 4, 2013, the Boulder City Council approved a one year moratorium on fracking. The moratorium will prevent drilling permits from issuing in the City of Boulder and open space owned by the City. In addition to the fracking moratorium, the council also passed an ordinance that prohibits the use or sale of Boulder water for fracking purposes.
The council also discussed bringing a ballot measure in November to approve a longer-term ban. Ballot measures continue to gain momentum throughout Colorado, and industry organizations are gearing up to mount campaigns against such ballot measures.
According to media reports, approximately forty people spoke during the public comment—all but one was opposed to fracking. The City Council’s vote comes on the heels of public screenings in Boulder of FrackNation, which portrays the positive attributes of drilling, and GasLand2, which takes opposing views. The City of Boulder is following in the footsteps of the City of Longmont, which is currently embroiled in litigation with the State of Colorado over its fracking ban. Unlike the City of Boulder, Boulder County voted to allow hydraulic fracturing in Boulder County in December, 2012.
Media coverage can be found here and here.
We will continue to follow developments in Colorado concerning fracking bans and moratoriums.