Hell Yes! Cursing Like a Pirate Can Help Scam Victims Recovery from the Trauma of Scams – 2024

Hell Yes!
Cursing Like a Pirate Can Help Scam Victims Recovery from the Trauma of Scams

Did You Know that Cursing Like a Pirate Really Helps!? It’s an Unexpected Tool for Scam Victims’ Emotional Recovery

Primary Category: Scam Victims Recovery Psychology

Authors:
• Vianey Gonzalez B.Sc(Psych) – Licensed Psychologist Specialty in Crime Victim Trauma Therapy, Neuropsychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
• Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.

About This Article

Cursing like a pirate might seem like an unconventional suggestion, but for scam victims grappling with the emotional aftermath of fraud, it can offer surprising therapeutic benefits. Victims often face overwhelming feelings of anger, shame, and guilt, compounded by emotional dysregulation caused by trauma. Embracing the playful rebellion of swearing provides a safe outlet for pent-up emotions. It helps release emotional pressure, boost mental resilience, regulate overwhelming feelings, and even stabilize mood through humor.

FTC’s New Regulation Against Fake Reviews Take Effect – 2024

FTC’s New Regulation Against Fake Reviews Take Effect

United States Federal Trade Commission Announces Final Rule Banning Fake Reviews and Testimonials

Primary Category: Government Regulation

Author:
• SCARS Editorial Team – Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
• Portions by the United States Federal Trade Commission
• Analysis by Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.

About This Article

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has introduced a final rule to combat fake reviews and deceptive testimonials, marking a significant move to safeguard consumers from misleading practices. This rule explicitly prohibits the sale or purchase of false reviews, AI-generated reviews, and testimonials that misrepresent real customer experiences.

Businesses are banned from buying or incentivizing reviews with specific sentiments, and the rule also targets insider reviews by company employees or affiliates, requiring clear disclosure.

Additionally, the FTC is addressing the suppression of negative reviews through intimidation and the misuse of fake social media indicators, such as buying followers or views.

This new rule strengthens the FTC’s ability to seek civil penalties and hold businesses accountable, promoting fairness and transparency in the marketplace.

United States Federal Trade Commission Announces its Final Rule Banning Fake Reviews and Testimonials

The rule will allow the Federal Trade Commission to strengthen enforcement, seek civil penalties against violators, and deter AI-generated fake reviews

Federal Trade Commission Announces

The Federal Trade Commission today announced a final rule that will combat fake reviews and testimonials by prohibiting their sale or purchase and allow the agency to seek civil penalties against knowing violators.

“Fake reviews not only waste people’s time and money but also pollute the marketplace and divert business away from honest competitors,” said FTC Chair Lina M. Khan. “By strengthening the FTC’s toolkit to fight deceptive advertising, the final rule will protect Americans from getting cheated, put businesses that unlawfully game the system on notice, and promote markets that are fair, honest, and competitive.”

The final rule announced today follows an advance notice of proposed rulemaking and a notice of proposed rulemaking announced in November 2022 and June 2023, respectively. The FTC also held an informal hearing on the proposed rule in February 2024. In response to public comments, the Commission made numerous clarifications and adjustments to its previous proposal.

The Final Rule Prohibits

Fake or False Consumer Reviews, Consumer Testimonials, and Celebrity Testimonials: The final rule addresses reviews and testimonials that misrepresent that they are by someone who does not exist, such as AI-generated fake reviews, or who did not have actual experience with the business or its products or services, or that misrepresent the experience of the person giving it. It prohibits businesses from creating or selling such reviews or testimonials. It also prohibits them from buying such reviews, procuring them from company insiders, or disseminating such testimonials, when the business knew or should have known that the reviews or testimonials were fake or false.
Buying Positive or Negative Reviews: The final rule prohibits businesses from providing compensation Read More …

SCARS Editorial Team2024-10-27T20:53:00-04:00October 27th, 2024|Categories: • GOVERNMENT / REGULATORY, 2024, NEWS, SCARS Institute Editorial Team, Tim McGuinness PhD, U.S. Federal Trade Commission, USA|Tags: Fake Reviews, Federal Trade Commission, Government Regulation, United States, USA|0 Comments

Massive Increase in Losses with Bitcoin ATM Scams – 2024

Massive Increase in Losses with Bitcoin ATM Scams

New FTC Analysis Shows Crypto ATM Scams Increased Nearly 1,000% to Over $110 Million in 2023

Primary Category: News & Analysis

Author:
• SCARS Editorial Team – Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
• United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

About This Article

New data from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reveals a dramatic increase in losses due to Bitcoin ATM scams, with consumer reports showing nearly a tenfold rise since 2020, reaching over $110 million in 2023.

The first half of 2024 alone saw losses exceed $65 million, with older adults particularly vulnerable, being three times more likely to report losses than younger individuals.

Scammers commonly use Bitcoin ATMs in schemes involving government impersonation, business impersonation, and tech support scams, urging victims to deposit cash into these machines under false pretenses. This alarming trend underscores the need for increased awareness and caution when dealing with unexpected financial requests involving Bitcoin ATMs.

The U.S. FTC Goes After TikTok For Violating Children’s Privacy – 2024

The U.S. FTC Goes After TikTok For Violating Children’s Privacy

TikTok has Repeatedly Disregarded U.S. Law on Protecting Children!

Primary Category with link to search

Authors:
• SCARS Editorial Team – Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
• U.S. FTC – Federal Trade Commission

About This Article

The FTC and DOJ have filed a lawsuit against TikTok and its parent company ByteDance, accusing them of violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and a 2019 FTC consent order.

The lawsuit alleges that TikTok failed to notify and obtain parental consent before collecting personal information from children under 13.

Despite knowing millions of children used the platform, TikTok allegedly continued to collect and use their data unlawfully, including through “age unknown” accounts bypassing age gates.

FTC New Impersonation Scams Rule Effective Today – 2024

FTC New Impersonation Scams Rule Effective Today

Government taking action Against Scams!

Authors:
• SCARS Editorial Team – Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
• Federal Trade Commission

About This Article

The FTC’s new rule targeting government and business impersonation scams takes effect today, April 1st, 2024, aiming to combat the soaring losses reported by consumers, which surpassed $1.1 billion last year alone.

The rule addresses the most common tactics employed by scammers, such as fake account security alerts and phony subscription renewals, and highlights the rise in text and email-based scams alongside declining phone calls. Notably, bank transfers and cryptocurrency payments have become the predominant methods used by victims, prompting the FTC to propose stronger measures, including prohibiting the impersonation of individuals and facilitating scams.

FTC: Alexa Data Abuse – 2023

FTC: Alexa Data Abuse

Author:
• Elisa Jillson, U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – reprinted

Article Abstract

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) underscores critical violations in Amazon and Ring’s handling of consumers’ private data, voice recordings, and video footage. Amidst AI’s burgeoning presence, the complaints highlight companies’ negligence towards customer privacy, breaching the FTC’s Biometric Policy Statement. Emphasizing the pivotal nexus of AI and privacy, the FTC urges caution in data collection, stressing the need for consumer control.

SCARS Editorial Team2024-01-10T15:01:22-05:00June 21st, 2023|Categories: • GOVERNMENT / REGULATORY, 2023, ARTICLE, U.S. Federal Trade Commission, USA|Tags: Amazon Alexa, Data Abuse, FTC, Privacy|0 Comments

U.S. Federal Trade Commission