Pages: Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 ...21 22 23 Next

Philip Morris parent HAMMERED on financial worries

A-Dur Credit Agency downgraded the tobacco Giant’s debts, and another warned Philip Morris could be forced into bankruptcy if the loan is massive in practice is not decreasing.Altria action has fallen by nearly 7% or $ 2.17 to $ 29.96 in the case of large volumes at the New York Stock Exchange. The durchbrach action earlier 52-week low of $ 31.55. Altria bonds have also been staggering.

An Illinois judge Friday appointed Philip Morris for the performance of loans, while it is an appeal of $ 10.1 billion judgement is misleading to believe that their smoking light cigarettes - Marlboro Lights and Cambridge Lights — Were less harmful than regular brands.

Standard and Poor’s confirmed analysts in a conference call Monday that Philip Morris “would have to consider bankruptcy an option” if the loan is not increased or decreased significantly. They also expressed reservations vis-à-vis the company, the liability for future complaints.

S & P custody, it reduces the solvency of Altria and its subsidiaries to junk status, unless, Philip Morris may be a “viable and realistic plan to solve the problem of bonding.

Moody’s Investors Service downgraded Monday and advance the credit Altria and Philip Morris to Baa1 from A2 - or high quality at three points above junk status. The credit rating agency said: “Altria’s, despite substantial financial resources, it is very unlikely that these resources are sufficient to immediately link $ 12 billion request.” Moody’s cuts most threatened.

The price of Philip Morris bonds mature in the year 2005 fell Monday, sending their yields higher. Traders said the yield gap between two-year treasury bonds and enterprises has increased considerably: from

Moody’s lowered by a score credit rating affiliates Altria, Kraft Foods, Kraft Foods Inc. North America, while both were still investment grade.

The shares of Kraft Foods Inc. closed at $ 28.20, 40 cents or 1.4%, the New York Stock Exchange.

Corporate lying is bad But he is well

I could pack this article with lies and legally could not touch me. I could statistics, a distortion of my research, trumpet misleading claims, or tell you that I am a reader 2002 Lexus sedan 18000 miles on him, even if I drive a 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier cars of 118000 miles. Well, I did, indeed, this article is not with lies, because I am a stand-up guy. Take my word for it. But the point is that if I require defamation or fraud, lies, is legal.Why? Given that the authorization of the courts, truth commissions Roving overload the judicial system and Chill public discourse. Hundreds of years of experience with censorship and inquisitions hard Boards and speech codes have shown a keen that ungehemmt public debate is the only reliable way of nature and sort the truth from falsehood. The treatment due to bad speech. This is the great paradox in the heart of the First Amendment: To find out the truth, so that lies.

Alles schön und gut. But this is only the fraud exception. If I say that my car is a 1990 Cavalier sedan Lexus 2002 during an interview in which I am a chance to sell my car, I voted left behind the First Amendment. I committed an illegal, and nobody else calling. This is because my request, in this particular context, it would be “commercial speech”: speech that, as David C. Vladeck, a law professor at Georgetown University, he expressed recently in an interview, “is aimed at consumers on price or the nature of goods or services for the purpose of the induction of a sale.

In addition, beautiful and good. But what is wrong if instead of my car, I try to throw their prices with ads or articles wrongly or tendentiously-old cars are more secure and reliable than new cars? Am I obligated to fraud? Or am I stirring controversial ideas in the public debate? Or both?

Some simple tools help Santa Clara County California

The phone books and a photocopier, Santa Clara County is at the forefront of the fight against immigration fraud.Every six months, when new books are presentations by telephone, vice-Luik District Attorney Martha flips through the Yellow Pages, looking for ads for immigration consultants. When she finds, consultant, which is not necessary to post a bond with $ 50000 of the state, she photocopies of ads. The practice is so simple it seems, 81 investigations during the past two years - more than any other region of Northern California.

But Luik said fraud, despite their efforts, underscores the weakness of legislation on the protection of immigrants.

You and other consumer advocates say, California system strongest in the country, is largely ineffective. Stricter rules are needed, they say, so that consultants beschwindelnd immigrants.

CA, certificates of hairdressers and manicurists, has no license required for immigration, advise, help immigrants fill out complex forms of immigration fees. Likewise, any necessary training. Und die Opfer von skrupellosen Beratern, von denen viele Angst nach vorne kommen, weil sie leben illegal in den USA ist, ist da nur ein Jahr zu berichten für die Probleme Strafverfolgungsbehörden vor der Verjährung abläuft.

The partitioning of market forces cleaning

If Idriis Bilaal, 77, received a mention partitioning about a year ago, all he could think, as it could save the homeland, where he was born, a heruntergekommenen brick rowhouse in the north-east of Washington.After a number of sleepless nights and failed attempts to find the money, Bilaal offer by a multitude of “compartmentalization of rescue specialists”, had requested, to the left or insects and cards as soon as notice of the closure was published.

Er unterzeichnete einige Papiere, die von einer Ex-con und pensionierte Minister namens Calvin N. Baltimore - without his reading glasses, “he said.

Bald nach, zu seinem Entsetzen, Bilaal sagt, er merkte, das war nicht ein Darlehen - hatte er in der Tat unterzeichneten weg den Titel zu seinem 100-Jahr-altes Haus in Washington Geschäftsmann Vincent L. Abell, verurteilt, wurde vor Jahren für his role in a huge real estate fraud in the 1980’s.

The house was recently assessed at $ 255000, but Bilaal less than $ 20000, according to his lawyers - $ 7000, he drags his mortgage, plus $ 10000 cash. But Abell’s does not agree to pay or do that, Bilaal of the mortgage business, it remains responsible for Bilaal $ 714-a-month payments. Furthermore, he began by rents paid $ 500 per month Abell’s company.

Consumer advocates say they have seen, like mushrooms in the ground a number of similar situations around the earth in the house-rich but cash-poor desperately owner of General Staff off closure of churches before the end of the property to lose, save those promises.

“You can say, the nature [What’s] all characters on street corners and telephone poles,” said Doyle Niemann, assistant state prosecutor in Prince George’s County, where three cases of possible fraud rescue . Such signs, as a general rule, trumpet “partition Stop” or “Save your home.”

The fraud, he said, “they are not ready, they are the expropriation of houses at a lower price and pockets the difference.”

Bilaal not yet asleep, but he remains in the house, despite a complaint filed recently evacuation of Abell’s, Modern Management Inc., Northwest Washington. By application filed in September Bilaal in DC Superior Court against Abell, Baltimore and five others for alleged “misleading” the domain controller and two other owners for their actions. The three complainants are represented by lawyers from the Washington office of AARP’s Legal Counsel for the Elderly, AARP Foundation management process and Hogan & Hartson.

Battle of breaststroke on the rules relating to mobile Internet

Supporters of the service generally agree that shielding Internet calls by the rules of traditional phone would deploy the technology, resulting in lower costs for new providers and lower prices for consumers.But there are differences of opinion on the question of whether emergency provisions on the 911 and payments to the universal service fund should be Internet telephony. Pending have any questions, dominates the phone industry battles over the past ten years - like interconnection fees paid to local telephone companies - flows into the debate.

Both Congress and the Federal Communications Commission have begun the draft amendments to the old rules of telecommunications, but efforts are largely a dress rehearsal for next year.

House of Representatives and the Senate have clearly marked action committees and sponsors say it is too little time left in the legislative process reunion, work on bills. The Senate account by the Committee of the Chamber of Commerce last Thursday to settle the strict call via the Internet in a manner comparable with the rules for traditional telephone services. The House version, less regulation in the service.

Most companies are concerned about this debate - telephone and cable operators, software providers and equipment makers - have begun to position themselves for what promises to a major political struggles of the next meeting Congress, beginning in January.

Head of the FTC has agreements disc full

Robert Pitofsky other federal-type _ among others.It is not as well known as Joel Klein, just-departed head of the Department of Justice-Antitrust Division, was famous for Microsoft. But Pitofsky tasks on behalf of consumers and competition are equally important.

Pitofsky, chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, the organization of some key pro-Consumer missions in Washington. Each week, now makes his big news agency agreements, if it decides whether to allow or block accuse America Online, Inc. ‘Buy-Out of Time Warner Inc.

But the FTC has recently titles in a variety of areas, alongside the antitrust authorities. Only a few weeks a report with Hollywood’s malpractice pitch appalling “entertainment” for children. He then brought an action against some merchants on the Internet, the Agency said, have been ripping off ignorant of visitors to pornographic sites.

News VendingMarketWatch

A coalition of lawyers, continues actively and successfully, he said groups of tobacco is located near the filing of a class action against the use Soft Drink manufacturer for the sale of sugar water sodas in schools , As the “Washington Post” in Washington, DC lawyers were developing an attempt to appeal against the soft drink Maker for more than two years, say, a complaint could be filed in the coming week, likely in the Massachusetts, which has the nation most claimant-friendly laws on consumer protection.Executive litigation effort is Richard A. Daynard, an associate dean at Northeastern University School of Law in Boston, is also chairman of the Tobacco Control Resource Center and chairman of the responsibility of tobacco products Project, both have legal support for lawyers complain about tobacco. Daynard was involved in many cases, the state against tobacco, led to the emblem of $ 246 billion agglomeration in 1998.

Add Daynard, Stephen A. Sheller, a lawyer from Philadelphia, came on the legal theory that consumers of tobacco wrong in their thinking low tar and nicotine cigarette smoking safer than normal cigarettes. In doing so, contributed to the theory that lead to consumption of $ 10 billion of fraud made against Philip Morris, Illinois, USA in a court two years ago, the vocation.

The costume is the legal basis of the concept of “attractive plagt: If someone has something on his land like a swimming pool, he knows he is attractive to children and dangerous, then it has some obligation to keep available for children, far from it, “Daynard said. Daynard said that while the legal theory is ready for the challenge is the game of their parents to sign as a plaintiff for the class action. “We are waiting for more than us,” he said.

Sims proposal for state income tax except met in competition

Few young people in this group of loyalists walk on their black vinyl seats. Ils restent généralement plus attentif que le candidat démocrate gubernatorial explique dans son annexe B du 2002’s “alternatives fiscales pour Washington State: Un rapport sur les législateurs.”This is not just barnstorming. In fact, the conventional political wisdom has long been explains the tax on income from any rhetoric toxic to the countryside.

And yet, Sims, a passionate political and emotional hugs speechmaker has chancelantes this issue in his bid for the Governor. This summer, he has focused his campaign around the promise of gradual creation of a state income tax, with breaks in state property taxes and the elimination of the turnover of the State et les entreprises d’impôts.

And it is unlikely that the strategy used to move in an election year Wild Card.

As Unterlegene in competition with public primary schools Attorney General Christine Gregoire, King County Executive Sims turned his attention to the voters of the extreme left.

With all the elements of uncertainty, confusion and anger the state of the new primary school, requires voters to provide a portion of candidates, many experts expect that voters in focus intensément dans la direction des libéraux et la plupart des candidats conservateurs.

And as the most liberal will probably even less known, less promising candidates to finance a new tax.

“Ron Sims competitive in this choice, what is important, because the structure of ballots and its (tax reform) positions,” said David Olson, a political science professor Art. And he said, because the “Sims” campaign to know what the people is like choice. “

Bush signs Bill to give consumers new security measures against identity theft credit fraud

Consumers have a plethora of new protective measures against identity thieves, raven and the parent companies, damage their credit under the new law President Bush signed yesterday.The new law, it is easy to know what your creditors are telling you, correct errors and the opt-out from the sale of shares in companies, exchange of information on you.

“Consumers have a range of benefits that they did not now make a substantial and comprehensive protection mechanisms,” said Senator Paul Sarbanes of Maryland Democrats.

Some consumer groups say that these protections should help, but they are afraid that the law prevents, he says, even more difficult and is still not enough to stop affiliated companies sharing customer information.

“There are good things in this bill … but despite the fact that it is reasonable, new federal consumer protection, they come at a very high price,” said Travis Plunkett, legislative director for Consumer Federation of America.

Consumer Scams child pornography cyber-stalking

The Internet can be an important tool: it can help friends in the world to communicate, he may try to travel cheap offers the opportunity to educate patients about medicines.But there is another page of the Web site as a schemers with artists and pedophiles locked on, the drawing of victims in the dark caves of cyberspace and leaving law enforcement crawl, to keep pace.

The Internet fraud, child pornography sites and cyber-stalking are all part of minable Web.

“Internet fraud is a booming economy. It is relatively simple and inexpensive to obtain and Rob man,” said Susan Grant, director of the National Fraud Information Center / Internet Fraud Watch, an arm of the National Consumers League in Washington , DC

Last year, victims lost $ 122 million in the regime of Internet fraud, a database Federal Trade Commission receives complaints filed by federal, regional and local authorities for criminal prosecution and private organizations such as Better Business Bureau.

Represented that 47 percent of all complaints of fraud - up 31 percent in just two years ago.

“Internet-Fraud is a major problem. Partial, it is one of translation systems, which still offline,” said Eric A. Wenger, a lawyer for the FTC, the Bureau of Consumer Protection in Washington.

Supporters of confidentiality say Credit Reporting proposal for a new law is insufficient

Approves Consumer Policy, have clamored for tougher privacy, identity theft and information laws say, an act of outstanding credits, improvements in these three areas.The groups say a house approved reauthorize the Fair Credit Reporting Act must do more to solve the problems of consumers by rampant inaccuracies, omissions and gaps in other credit-national Scoring System.

The Senate Committee on Banking Supervision, Housing and Urban Development is to vote next week, during an operation to strengthen consumer protection that the House version. But consumer groups remain dissatisfied because, as the house bill, Bar States permanent laws stricter than the federal standard. The law regulates how the credits information collected, used and reported.

Document shredding says the wholesale lender Washington State subsidiaries

A new document in a former federal appeals consumer fraud claims that Household Finance Corp. has ordered the destruction of major consumers of files ready to Washington State in subsidiaries in the last two years.Melissa Rutland-Drury, ex-industry-Sales Manager at the office of Bellingham, said in a statement that in June or July 2001, after a conference call with a head of household: “My whole staff geschreddert information gathered and with senior management, including associations of any files.

“Other officers of the branch as well as the central management to remove all documents, including customer-targeted materials. Some agencies, such as HFC-Everett Branch, had a shredding company search box as it was too much information, are destroyed.

Rite Aid again accused violations of consumers

For the third time in five years, Rite Aid has been criticized expiration of the sale proceeds, including non-prescription medicines, infant formula and baby foods and for overcharging consumers in New Jersey’s Drug Stores.In a 25-page complaint in Superior Court in Elizabeth, Rite Aid Corp. and its New Jersey division was the violation of the state Consumer Fraud Act and other laws to protect consumers in more than half of the 159 branches the chain operates in the state.

Business Groups Hire army of lobbyists collective good

At least a hundred companies and industry associations have hired nearly 500 lobbyists to prod Congress evisceration and essential tool for consumers in the fight against corruption and unfair business practices - the Class Action Lawsuit, according to a report published today, Public Citizen.Most companies are entitled to victims of unjustified actions ranks in harmful practices that are not corrected would have occurred in the lawsuits of consumers.

Companies have millions of dollars to the receipt of legislators, a measure that would dramatically change the rules for class actions, so that enterprises to hurt or deceive consumers, while behind the legal loopholes. These costs are the major life insurers, materials and accident insurance, maintenance organizations Health Organization (HMOs), banks and finance companies, automotive manufacturers, retailers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, gas and oil multinationals, business and tobacco. Your bill is not itself on malfunctions complain about the reception in their work hypocritical, because these companies that pay settlements something to consumers or other claimants.

“These companies would have us believe that the class action is light and is insignificant. But their record is full of roguery and Rip-offs, can not be resolved through class actions,” said Public Citizen President Joan Claybrook. “Class actions, these companies are forced to repay any hidden costs, alternately, for the environment owner of the house of their characteristics, pay workers, worked overtime ‘off the clock” and recall the cars made defective fire. Congress should not be opened a path for Corporate America on the Rock rules at the expense of workers and consumers. “

Partitioning of the market rescue escalation of fraud

Consumer advocates around the country are begging states for new laws to help fight a rising tide of complaints about foreclosure “rescue” scams, but homeowners can do a lot to protect themselves.The Boston-based National Consumer Law Center, in this week a full report on “the rampant theft of Americans at home and justice” by artists, with the promise to save houses partitioning, offers advice on how d avoid snared.

Prevention is the best medicine, they say, especially because, if an owner is a crook’s claws, it takes much time and money, a good lawyer and sometimes help from the government or regulatory authorities prosecutors on the damage.

While fraud and forgery may be involved, and other unfair trade or deceptive practices May laws have been violated, public agencies implementation are often unable to get help or do not believe that the authority, “said Elizabeth Renuart, Co - Author of the report. In most countries, “she said,” they lack the capacity to rescue the house, even if you follow. It is a matter of civil law. ”

Le premier conseil est d’ignorer les affiches de fermeture aider à se proposait de téléphone pôles, dans la bande médiane et aux arrêts de bus, dans de nombreux quartiers de classe, peut-on lire dans le rapport.

Ignoring the judgement of insects on the front porches or stuffed in mailboxes. In particular, handwritten notes leaving ignore the “aid” comes from someone you know or that your interests in the eye.

“This type of characters crowd in the streets of Virginia, Maryland, Florida and other countries where fraud rescue are in turmoil, co-author Steve Tripoli said at a press conference in Washington end of May. ” If the road is not a sign that you, the Des insects. “

Millions of consumers online victims of online fraud

lthough the number represents only 7 percent of online consumers, it raises “a large yellow flag, bearing in mind that electronic commerce has reached activities, large quantities only in the last two or three years, said the National Consumer League President Linda Golodner, in a News - Conference.
The investigation took place most Americans believe technology and the Internet as a positive force and waiting for e-commerce gaining ground in the years to come. Concerns remain, however, on privacy online.
The survey of 1,006 consumers was reached between 22 April and 3 May by Louis Harris and Associates. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
In response to comments, consumer organisations and the government should focus on informing consumers about fraud prevention, “said Golodner. See NCL National Fraud Information Center Web site.
Consumers must ensure that credit card information only on secure pages, which employ encryption technology, “said Golodner.
Susan Grant, director of NCL’s National Fraud Information Center found that browsers can be said that users, whether they are viewing a secure page. In the meantime, Grant NCL’s Internet Fraud Watch reported Scams project was 600 percent.
Most fraud NCL reported the project did not credit cards, with the victims instead of sending payment instructions or other payments to the alleged swindler, “said Grant. Most complaints received, the Internet Fraud Watch came from online auctions, with buyers that the seller is not on the products or had “false coarse” items on the block, “said Grant.

Art Gallery addresses fraud

A Pioneer Square Art Gallery, with fake Chinese antiquities have to reimburse customers and pay about $ 350000 in fines and legal fees under a plan announced Friday the Attorney General Rob McKenna.Thesaurus Fine Arts closed in January 2003, the same day The Seattle Times began publishing a series of stories that exposed two laboratories in Hong Kong for the certification of counterfeiting and who demonstrated that the operation has been sold as modern ceramics and rare ancient Chinese art.

Thesaurus not admit fault of colonization, and counsel for the company said yesterday that elements of the gallery were presented with precision “during its five years after the start of operations center City and online auctions.

In periods of investigation, a report has paid $ 315 for a pot of brick said thesis director, was the Ming Dynasty, which lasted from 1368 to 1644. But if The Times, tile scientifically tested and examined by experts from local art, the newspaper notes that the brick within 100 years and have purchased $ 10 to $ 15 in Hong Kong.

The Attorney General of the Office, Division of Consumer Protection consumer against fraud Thesaurus indictment in February 2004.

Doug Walsh, Senior Counsel for the Attorney General’s Office, said the state scientifically tested, four points and had several dozen experts in their investigation. The State noted that the positions are “relatively modern and, as the former,” he said. “The difference was significant.

A panel discussion on a regime of the law of charitable organisations

Midfielder so many speeches on government abuse of charities and foundations today to many legal and regulatory agencies are contemplating or introduction of new rules for these groups - any report of strict obligations of Audit and conflicts of interests, the responsibility of the board of directors and compensation excessive.If such a regulation is a good idea? Do you need? Or against?

We interviewed four people in the issues of membership of an online discussion. Participants were Florence L. Green, CEO of the California Association of Nonprofits, a group of more than 1700 members; Evelyn Brody, professor at Chicago-Kent College of Law, studies, non-profit regulation and governance; Pablo Eisenberg, senior fellow the Georgetown Public Policy Institute in Washington, and Diana Aviv, president of independent producers and a professional association in Washington, about 700 nonprofit groups and foundations.

Turk Moroccan nabbed in case of giant worm

Farid Essebar, a Moroccan using the name “Diabl0″ and Atilla Ekici of Turkey, which moniker “Coder”, were arrested in their countries of origin by the authorities to cooperate with U.S. investigators in pursuit of the origins of the Mytob Worm, a harmful Zotob variant, and one third of Rbot worm.Assistant FBI director Louis Reigel, head of the Cyber Division, said investigators believe Essebar was the author of the code and sold to Ekici for financial gain. He said investigators had not determined what other financial crimes must be involved, but said he was not provided evidence to identity theft, banking fraud or counterfeiting.

The authorities indicated that she did not yet know how Essebar had benefited greatly, yet they still have any estimate of financial damage caused by the attacks.

Officials said was, nor suspicions on a watchlist, which suggests no political motivation for computer attacks.

In late afternoon conference call with journalists, Reigel not exclude the participation of others in the trap and said he was confident that, while the others were in cyber-crime, officials of Morocco and from Turkey would be able to find.

The criminal prosecution authorities in both countries, examination of suspects’ relations with other persons to determine the nature of those links.

A second unidentifizierte Morocco, it was initially suspected of involvement in the writing, the code has not been arrested, Reigel said.

FBI officials said the two men are expected to be pursued by the governments of their countries of origin.

“Their cyber-laws are not as advanced as in America, but people to pay, and the FBI is more than necessary, evidence to follow,” said Reigel.

Microsoft Senior Vice President and General Counsel Brad Smith said, even if powerful Anti-Hacker statutes are not available, Morocco and Turkey have consumers and the statutes of the fraud laws of consumer protection, which could be applied .

The FBI has praised Microsoft for its cooperation in the investigation, and the rapid decline of the resolution of the case to strong international cooperation. Microsoft said that the arrests proof of the importance of public-private cooperation and praise for the FBI effort.

Philip Morris to pay $ 10.1 billion in damages

A trial version Richter struck Illinois Philip Morris Inc. $ 10.1 billion, and punitive damages to compensate consumers in a suit of collective fraud, Philadelphia litigator Stephen Sheller helped pioneer against the giant tobacco.In the case of claimants have been successful, shows that Philip Morris was fraudulent in the areas of marketing “light” cigarettes unless endanger the health of more than other cigarettes.

Illinois Circuit Court Judge Nicholas Byron G. 11, the figure award available, as Philip Morris against Illinois Consumer Fraud Act and unique Trügerische Trade Practices Act announced its Marlboro Lights and Cambridge Lights cigarettes safer and more low tar and nicotine content of cigarettes normal if evidence showed that, in reality, light cigarettes are more harmful than their colleagues regularly.

“The court recognizes that punitive damages are not preferably in law and the court is sure that you do not have the award of these damages incorrectly or unreasonable, Byron wrote in his conclusions in the case, as the price captioned v. Philip Morris Inc. “But the progress of the implementation of Philip Morris, in conjunction with fraud in this case, it is outrageous that this is because of Philip Morris motivation was evil and [that] acts showed an advance of contempt of consumer rights. ”

Philip Morris said Byron deliberately designed its light cigarettes, measures to bring down the machine tar and nicotine, namely that smokers would unconsciously compensate and extract the same level of tar and nicotine, they would regularly by inhalation deep cigarettes, or more often and exploitation Puffs of smoke over a long period, as it would otherwise.

“Philip Morris internal documents and witnesses in the procedure itself to prove that Philip Morris, prior to the start of Marlboro Lights and Cambridge Lights smokers knew that smoking calculating their behavior largely unconscious to say, so that the same dose of nicotine and tar of a cigarette lighter as a regular cigarette, “Byron wrote in an opinion of 51 pages. “Indeed, the evidence and testimony to see clearly that Marlboro Lights and Cambridge Lights were specifically to the reduction of the machine to measure tar and nicotine and at the same time content delivery to enable consumers to extract the same level of tar and nicotine in these products, given that it extracted from its regular Marlboro and Cambridge colleagues. ”

Read Byron said light cigarettes “design, even without” full compensation “of smokers increases the extent to which cigarette smoke causes mutations. The notice also showed that the light cigarette tar contains more toxic tar as regular cigarettes, a diploma Byron, after consultation with evidence and witnesses, he was “particularly compelling and disturbing.”

Court of Auditors refuses to Fast Food-costume

The Supreme Court rejected Monday an appeal by the operator of Florida accused franchise Burger King, McDonald’s and false advertising.The judge, without comment, let yourself be decided by a lower court, dismissed the complaint of Phoenix Broward, Inc., which manages a Burger King in Ft Lauderdale, Fla. The suit stems from the controversy surrounding McDonald’s (nyse: MCD - News - people) Monopoly game promotion in the late 1990’s, were found thereafter have been manipulated.

McDonald’s announced that each customer had a “fair and equal chances” to win, games, Phoenix’s lawyers said in court applications, even after the FBI began examining games for fraud . These ads damage its activities, Phoenix said, by depriving them of customers. Burger King Corp. is not part of the costume.

The FBI announced in 2001 with August, it had arrested an employee of a contractor hired for games of funnelling at least $ 20 million in prices of several accomplices over six years.

McDonald’s lawyers told the court that documents the company spent $ 15 million to resolve a number of deception of consumers, costumes of the incident.

X Rated fraud using the Internet for users Bilk

How repressive describe as a high-tech fraud, telephone and Internet, marketing, communication with telecommunications companies in emerging nations Bilk naive consumers worldwide.The last operation, say the officials, three companies established on Long Island online, even computer with a promise of free pornography browsers, then phone users exorbitant fees charged by a number of the Republic of Moldova, the former Soviet republic.

A federal judge in New York stop the exploitation of last week, after the Federal Trade Commission has laid the accused about the insidious laufende”einer Agency Scams”die had ever seen.

Federal agents have discovered in a similar operation with a company November, Iowa attracted by phone customers in the long term requires placing the free movement offers, the numbers in Guyana and the Caribbean.

Officials said they expect to increase these sophisticated systems as operators of World Wide Web sites employing more and more systems telephone underdeveloped countries to deceive Internet users naive.

He says online auction fraud drive

The Federal Trade Commission, the number of online auctions, complaints of fraud explode the heart of the sharp increase in the popularity of e-commerce, “said Jodie Bernstein, director of the Agency, the Office of the consumer protection.
The FTC received 107 complaints about fraud online auction in 1997. In 1999 the Agency has seen 10,700 complaints.
Bernstein said the fraud difficult approach shows that the authorities “not the intent of a handful of thieves erosion of consumer confidence in trade or on the Internet auction sites.
Susan Grant, director of the National Consumer League’s Internet Fraud Watch, said the online auction, the transactions accounted for 68 per cent of Internet fraud messages of their organization during the years 1998 and grew 87 per cent in 1999.
Bernstein, however, it was not possible to quantify the amount of fraud in relation to the total number of transactions online auctions. It notes that not every complaint is a case of fraud, but stressed that the FTC and law enforcement authorities focus on reducing the total number of fraudulent acts.

Submission of judges blocks class-action against the average budget of Finance

Thus, more than 11000 people in Washington as potential claimants in a class action consumer fraud against an appeal by national lenders, Household Finance Corp., have refused the option of U.S. District Judge Robert Lasnik in Seattle .”We are very disappointed,” said Mike Pierson, a lawyer representing potential claimants. “We believe that the action of a class is the most effective way to the best Washington redress for consumers.”

Lasnik, demand for a class action against the average budget of Finance on the basis of its assessment, that allegations of fraud and failure to varying degrees, is too much to be together as a collective, “said Pierson, Seattle-based Riddell Williams law firm.

Daniel Dunne, a lawyer for Seattle-based Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe representatives of the lending companies, declined comment yesterday. A spokesman for the company in New York could not be reached. Lasnik, the decision appears to be a victory for the financial holding company.

The State Attorney General’s Office before 45 other states have joined an appeal against the federal budget finances for predators and fraudulent practices in business credit. The costume was created in October on the basis of an agreement with a subsidiary, Budget and salutary to pay $ 484 million to settle federal claims. More than $ 20.6 million to pay consumers in Washington. The company did not admit fault of colonization.

“We believe that this was a very good solution, a solution for the future,” said David Huey, assistant attorney general federal trafficking cases.

Huey said one of the largest colonies of the nation as a whole dollars and has been a great success for consumers.

The Con $ 40 billion

WASHINGTON, DC nearly 25 million Americans are victims of deception of consumers each year, so that the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) east of National Fraud Awareness Week, July 10-16, recall that consumer protection Even against fraud.NCPC According to a study by Harris Interactive, identity theft and fraud credit card while high on the list of crimes on adult Americans are very worried. They are not immediate action to prevent the victims. It is a frightening idea if, in conjunction with a report from the Consumer Law Center, Inc. (CLC), which the Americans lose an estimated $ 40 billion a year in the fraudulent sale of goods and services over the phone .

The National Crime Prevention Council invites consumers by ensuring the prevention tips to enable it to assist victims of fraud.