FOR THE CONSUMER
The FTC's monthly newsletter for the Congressional community
It's the news you—and your constituents—can use.
Volume 2 – Number 4
April 2003
IN THIS ISSUE
News Flash
Coming Events - Spring into Workshops
New Consumer Education
Tip of the Month — Advance Fee Loan Scams
Resources — Numbers to Know
NEWS FLASH
NOW YOU KNOW WHAT WE DID LAST SUMMER. FTC releases report of its 2002 activities. Press release: www.ftc.gov/opa/2003/04/2003pr.htm To download the full report: www.ftc.gov/reports/aba/gpra2003.pdf
TAKE TWO AND CALL US IN THE MORNING. FTC testifies on Internet sales of Rx drugs. Press release: www.ftc.gov/opa/2003/03/onlinepharm.shtm
KEEPING AN EYE OUT. FTC stops allegedly misleading representations concerning LASIK eye surgery. Press release: www.ftc.gov/opa/2003/03/lasikads.shtm
COMING EVENTS - Spring into Workshops
SPAM. The FTC will host a three-day workshop on unsolicited commercial email (spam.) The workshop, which is free and open to the public, will be held from April 30 - May 2, 2003 at the FTC's Conference Center, 601 New Jersey Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. For more information: www.ftc.gov/opa/2003/02/spamforum.shtm
PRIVACY. The FTC will host two one-day workshops on the role of technology in helping consumers and businesses protect personal information. "The Consumer Experience" will be held May 14; "The Business Experience" will be held June 4. Free and open to the public, both workshops will be held at the FTC's Conference Center, 601 NJ Ave., NW, Washington, DC. For more information: www.ftc.gov/opa/2003/02/techwrkshp.shtm
NEW CONSUMER EDUCATION
Revised - A Consumer's Guide to E-Payments. www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/online/payments.shtm
TIP OF THE MONTH Consumer Credit Privacy
Many people recently received an email like this:
"Your Credit: Personal Information goes public starting July 1, 2003. The four major credit bureaus in the US will be allowed to release credit information, mailing address, phone numbers, etc to ANYONE who requests it. If you do not want to be included in this release of your personal information, you can call 1-888-567-8688."
The FTC wants you to know that this email is full of half-truths and misinformation. For example:
- July 1 relates to an old deadline for financial institutions to give you notice of their privacy policies. July 1, 2003 is not a deadline for consumers to do anything - you may contact your financial institution at any time to opt-out of their information sharing practices.
- In addition, credit bureaus can release your credit information only to people with a legitimate business need as recognized by the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
RESOURCES
The FTC's Office of Congressional Relations, 202.326.2195.
To order free FTC consumer information: Email fortheconsumer@ftc.gov with your name, Member or Committee affiliation and mailing address.
To file a fraud complaint, use our online complaint form or call our toll free hotline, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357)
To Subscribe or Unsubscribe to this newsletter: Send email to fortheconsumer@ftc.gov with your name, Member or Committee affiliation, email address and the word "subscribe" or "unsubscribe" in the body of the message.