FTC Coronavirus Update

April 16, 2021 Visit FTC.gov/Coronavirus for more information. In this bulletin: In First Action Under COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act, FTC Seeks Monetary Penalties for Deceptive Marketing of Purported Coronavirus Treatments FTC and DOJ bring first case under new COVID-19 consumer protection law First FTC case filed under new COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act Updated Coronavirus (COVID-19) consumer complaint data In First Action Under COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act, FTC Seeks Monetary Penalties for Deceptive Marketing of Purported Coronavirus Treatments The Federal Trade Commission charged St. Louis-based chiropractor Eric Anthony Nepute and his company Quickwork LLC with violating the COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act and the Federal Trade Commission Act, by deceptively marketing products containing vitamin D and zinc as scientifically proven to treat or prevent COVID-19. This is the first case the FTC has brought under the new law. FTC and DOJ bring first case under new COVID-19 consumer protection law There are no supplements proven to treat or prevent COVID-19. But that doesn't stop some companies from making these kind of unsubstantiated claims, or even false claims that their products work as well — or better — than available COVID-19 vaccines. If you see claims like these, the FTC wants you to ignore them. First FTC case filed under new COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act Congress passed a law in December 2020 – the COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act – that imposes monetary penalties on violators. The Department of Justice and the FTC just brought their first action under the statute, alleging that a Missouri chiropractor and his company violated both the new law and the FTC Act by deceptively marketing vitamin D and zinc products to treat or prevent COVID-19. Updated Coronavirus (COVID-19) consumer complaint data Today, the FTC published its latest edition of Coronavirus (COVID-19) Consumer Complaint Data on its FTC COVID-19 and Stimulus Reports dashboard. Select a state from the map on the dashboard to view data by state. As of April 15, 2021: 453,094 Overall Reports $408.54M Total Fraud Loss $342 Median Fraud Loss The Federal Trade Commission continues its work protecting consumers, providing guidance to businesses, and protecting competition in the marketplace throughout the pandemic. Read more at ftc.gov/coronavirus. SUBSCRIBER SERVICES:  Manage Preferences  |  Unsubscribe  |  Help This is a free service provided by the Federal Trade Commission.

 

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