In mid 2016 the LAP Executive Committee polled members regarding a new name for LAP that would better reflect the aims of the network and the type of work we do. As a result after that taking into consideration all responses received, the preferred name and therefore the new name for LAP is UCENet (Unsolicited Communications Enforcement… Read more »
The fight against the global scourge of spam, scams and unsolicited messages and calls has stepped up, with the announcement of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by 11 enforcement authorities across the globe. The enforcement authorities are all members of the London Action Plan, which coordinates and promotes international cooperation and activities targeting unlawful… Read more »
Two major affiliate networks take their responsibility in combating spam. They do this in response to research and earlier enforcement of the Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM). The affiliate networks Zanox and Tradetracker have taken measures to prevent spam. The networks demand (and check) that advertisers and publishers have specific consent from the consumers… Read more »
A federal court has granted a request by the Federal Trade Commission to shut down a tech support scam that allegedly bilked consumers out of more than $17 million by pretending to represent Microsoft, Apple and other major tech companies. “We’re pleased the court shut down these scammers, who defrauded consumers out of millions of… Read more »
Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced a lawsuit against one of the biggest independent tech support providers in the world, iYogi, and its President, Vishal Dhar, to stop a scam that uses deception and scare tactics to pressure consumers into buying unnecessary tech support services. The lawsuit, filed in King County Superior Court, alleges iYogi’s… Read more »
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) today announced that it executed an inspection warrant to enter and inspect a property in Brampton, Ontario, on November 24, 2015, as part of an ongoing investigation of a significant telemarketing operation. This company is alleged to be making unauthorized calls to numbers registered on the National Do… Read more »
A majority of websites and mobile applications assessed as part of a global privacy sweep are collecting personal information from children – some of which can be particularly sensitive – and sharing it with third parties. The results of the third annual Global Privacy Enforcement Network (GPEN) Privacy Sweep show that many are also failing to… Read more »
Commission Also Announces Winners of National Day of Civic Hacking Analytic Challenge The Federal Trade Commission announced that judges for its Robocalls: Humanity Strikes Back contest selected a first place winner for the $25,000 cash prize for building a mobile app that blocks and forwards robocalls to a crowd-sourced honeypot. Ethan Garr and Bryan Moyles… Read more »
The Federal Trade Commission is mailing 10,387 checks totaling more than $969,000 to consumers who lost money to a credit card interest rate reduction scam. The FTC sued Innovative Wealth Builders (IWB), a telemarketing operation that falsely promised consumers it could reduce their credit card interest rates and save them thousands of dollars on their… Read more »
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) today announced that Porter Airlines Inc. has agreed to pay $150,000 as part of an undertaking for alleged violations of Canada’s anti-spam legislation. Once made aware of the investigation by the CRTC, Porter Airlines was cooperative and immediately took corrective actions to comply with the legislation. Read more… Read more »
LAP membership includes representatives from the government regulatory and enforcement community and interested industry members. Through annual meetings and bimonthly teleconferences, members stay connected and share information that is critical for any organization engaged in anti-spam regulation and enforcement.