Pandemic Darlings The pandemic economy, in original documents
Home Source documents FTC COVID-19 topic page

FTC COVID-19 topic page

Archived source: FTC COVID-19 topic page. Captured from www.ftc.gov.

Cited in: Andrew Smith · Joseph Simons · Noah Phillips

Full text

Refine your results

Displaying 1 - 20 of 633

Cases and Proceedings

National Amendment Assistance, FTC v.

In June 2026, the FTC obtained a temporary restraining order against alleged mortgage debt relief scheme National Amendment Assistance (N.A.A) and its operators over allegations that they claim they can provide mortgage relief assistance under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act to lure and scam homeowners. The FTC alleges N.A.A. and its operators misled consumers into paying unlawful upfront fees in exchange for guarantees of lower mortgage rates and monthly payments that never materialized.

Type of Action

Federal

Last Updated

June 3, 2026

FTC Matter/File Number

252 3119

Case Status

Pending

Press Release

FTC Sends Checks to Consumers Who Bought Certain Products from Golden Sunrise Nutraceutical Between 2017 and 2020

Date

February 11, 2026

The Federal Trade Commission is sending checks to eligible consumers who bought certain products deceptively marketed by Golden Sunrise Nutraceutical, Inc. between July 2017 and July 2020. In June...

Press Release

Frank Romero Agrees to Court Order Requiring Payment to the FTC for Mail Order Rule Violations

Date

August 8, 2025

Frank Romero, the operator of Trend Deploy, will be required to turn over the remaining funds in his bank and retirement accounts as part of a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission, which the...

Press Release

FTC Sends More Than $3.5 Million to Consumers Harmed by ‘The Credit Game’ Credit-Repair Scheme

Date

June 26, 2025

The Federal Trade Commission is sending more than $3.5 million in refunds to consumers harmed by a credit-repair scheme called ‘The Credit Game.’ In 2022, the FTC sued the scheme’s operators, Michael...

Cases and Proceedings

Michael and Valerie Rando, et al., FTC v.

At the request of the Federal Trade Commission, a federal court has temporarily halted a bogus credit repair scheme known as The Credit Game for promoting a series of lies and deceptions. The FTC alleged the scheme’s operators lied to credit reporting agencies regarding information on consumers’ credit reports and pitched consumers a supposed business opportunity that was essentially starting their own bogus credit repair scheme.

In a complaint filed against The Credit Game and its owners, Michael and Valerie Rando, the FTC alleged that the company has illegally charged consumers hundreds and even thousands of dollars for credit repair services of little to no value and told consumers to “invest” their COVID-19 governmental benefits on their unlawful services. In some cases, the company’s “services” included filing false identity theft reports with the FTC and encouraging consumers to take actions that were unlawful. The FTC asked the court to immediately halt the company’s illegal operations, appoint a receiver, and freeze the defendants’ assets. The court issued a temporary restraining order doing so on May 3, 2022.

As a result of a Federal Trade Commission lawsuit, the operators of “The Credit Game,” a credit repair scheme that cost consumers millions of dollars, face a lifetime ban from the credit repair industry in proposed court orders filed today.

Michael and Valerie Rando and their companies, first sued by the FTC in May 2022, would also be required to turn over a wide array of property that would be liquidated and used to provide refunds to consumers harmed by the scam.

The FTC issued more than $3.5 million in refunds to consumers harmed by a credit-repair scheme called ‘The Credit Game.’

Type of Action

Federal

Last Updated

June 26, 2025

FTC Matter/File Number

192 3059

Case Status

Pending

Cases and Proceedings

B4B Corp.

The Federal Trade Commission, jointly with the Department of Justice and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, have sued a New York-based marketer of herbal tea, seeking to permanently block deceptive ads that claim its Earth Tea is clinically proven to treat, cure, and prevent COVID-19.

Type of Action

Federal

Last Updated

March 24, 2025

FTC Matter/File Number

2223007

Case Status

Closed

Press Release

FTC Announces Refund Claims Process for Consumers Who Bought Deceptively Marketed Golden Sunrise Nutraceutical Products

Date

January 6, 2025

The Federal Trade Commission is sending refund claim forms to consumers who bought deceptively marketed treatment plans sold by Golden Sunrise Nutraceutical, Inc., including products that falsely...

Press Release

FTC Sends Refunds to Consumers Deceived by False Claims of ‘Next Day’ Shipping on COVID PPE at Height of Pandemic

Date

December 4, 2024

The Federal Trade Commission is sending more than $114,000 to consumers who were deceived by “next day shipping” claims on badly needed personal protective equipment (PPE) by online seller...

Cases and Proceedings

Adjudicative Proceedings

SuperGoodDeals.com, Inc.

The FTC filed a complaint against SuperGoodDeals.com, Inc. and its owner, Kevin J. Lipsitz, alleging that the defendants falsely promised consumers next-day shipping of facemasks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. In addition, the FTC alleged that some of the other merchandise sold through the SuperGoodDeals website were falsely advertised as “authentic” or “certified.”

Kevin Lipsitz, who defrauded consumers by falsely promising “next day” shipping of facemasks and respirators to consumers at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, will be banned from selling personal protective equipment (PPE) and be required to turn over more than $145,000 to the FTC.

In December 2024, the FTC sent more than $114,000 to consumers who were deceived by “next day shipping” claims on badly needed personal protective equipment (PPE) by online seller SuperGoodDeals.com.

Type of Action

Federal

Last Updated

December 4, 2024

FTC Matter/File Number

202 3135

Case Status

Pending

Cases and Proceedings

Zaappaaz LLC

The Federal Trade Commission filed suit against Zaappaaz, the operators of wrist-band.com and other online storefronts, for failing to deliver on promises that they could quickly ship products like face masks, sanitizer, and other personal protective equipment (PPE) related to the coronavirus pandemic.

The lawsuit alleges that the company violated the FTC’s Mail, Internet and Telephone Order Rule (Mail Order Rule), which requires that companies notify consumers of shipping delays in a timely manner and give consumers the chance to cancel orders and receive prompt refunds.

Type of Action

Federal

Last Updated

March 28, 2024

FTC Matter/File Number

202 3136

Case Status

Pending

Press Release

FTC Actions Against Companies Making Deceptive Pandemic Loan Promises Lead to Record $59 Million in Damages

Date

March 18, 2024

The Federal Trade Commission is taking action against two companies – Biz2Credit and Womply – that made false promises to small businesses seeking to take part in the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)...

Press Release

FTC Action Leads to Ban for Company and Its Owner Who Failed to Ship PPE ‘Next Day’ at Height of Pandemic

Date

February 26, 2024

As a result of a Federal Trade Commission lawsuit, Kevin Lipsitz, who defrauded consumers by falsely promising “next day” shipping of facemasks and respirators to consumers at the height of the COVID...

Press Release

FTC Order Will Ban California-based Company from COVID-19 Advertising Claims

Date

February 15, 2024

The Federal Trade Commission today announced a proposed settlement that would ban California-based Precision Patient Outcomes, Inc. (PPO) and the company’s CEO Margrett Priest Lewis from claiming that...

Cases and Proceedings

Adjudicative Proceedings

Treashonna P. Graham, et al, FTC and The State of Florida, v.

The operators of an alleged grant scam called Grant Bae that targeted minority-owned businesses will face a permanent ban from grant-writing and business consulting services as a result of a lawsuit brought against them by the Federal Trade Commission and the State of Florida.

In their complaint against Grant Bae, the FTC and Florida alleged that Grant Bae and its owner, Treashonna P. Graham, scammed businesses out of money, sometimes thousands of dollars each, with false promises of “guaranteed” grant funding and COVID-19 economic benefits that did not materialize.

Type of Action

Federal

Last Updated

January 4, 2024

FTC Matter/File Number

2223048

Case Status

Pending

Press Release

FTC Takes Action Against Makers of an ‘Invisible Mask’ They Falsely Claimed Protected Users from COVID-19

Date

October 24, 2023

The Federal Trade Commission sued to stop four related defendants from deceptively marketing their 1 Virus Buster Invisible Mask (Invisible Mask) that purportedly creates a three-foot barrier of...

Cases and Proceedings

American Screening, LLC

The Federal Trade Commission filed suit against American Screening for failing to deliver on promises that it could quickly ship products like face masks, sanitizer, and other personal protective equipment (PPE) related to the coronavirus pandemic.

The lawsuits allege that the companies violated the FTC’s Mail, Internet and Telephone Order Rule (Mail Order Rule), which requires that companies notify consumers of shipping delays in a timely manner and give consumers the chance to cancel orders and receive prompt refunds.

Type of Action

Federal

Last Updated

September 7, 2023

FTC Matter/File Number

202 3158

Case Status

Pending

Cases and Proceedings

Blessings in No Time

The Federal Trade Commission and the state of Arkansas sued the operators of a “blessing loom” investment program, alleging that it has operated as an illegal pyramid scheme that bilked tens of millions of dollars from thousands of consumers, and targeted African Americans and harmed people struggling financially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In their joint complaint, the FTC and Arkansas charged that the operators of Blessings in No Time (“BINT”) have lured people into joining their program by falsely promising investment returns as high as 800 percent. The complaint alleges that some BINT members paid as much as $62,700 to participate. In reality, though, as in other pyramid schemes, the vast majority of participants have lost money, the complaint alleges.

BINT’s operators are banned from the business of multi-level marketing as a result of enforcement actions taken by the Federal Trade Commission and the State of Arkansas alleging the operation of an illegal pyramid scheme.

Type of Action

Federal

Last Updated

July 26, 2023

FTC Matter/File Number

2123043

X210020

Case Status

Closed

Press Release

At FTC’s Request, Florida District Court Permanently Bars Deceptive COVID-19 PPE Marketer from Selling Any Protective Goods or Services to Consumers

Date

June 5, 2023

The United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Ocala Division, issued an order permanently banning defendant Frank Romero from offering for sale or selling any protective goods...

Cases and Proceedings

doTERRA - Wong

The Federal Trade Commission has brought lawsuits against three current and former high-level distributors – so-called “Wellness Advocates” – of the Utah-based multi-level marketing company doTERRA International, LLC, for making claims that the company’s essential oils and dietary supplements could treat, prevent, or cure COVID-19. The distributors, all current or former healthcare practitioners, made the claims in a series of webinars in early 2022 and touted their medical expertise in recommending the products.

The three complaints, filed by the Department of Justice on behalf of the FTC, allege that the defendants made numerous claims about the ability of various doTERRA products to prevent, treat, or cure COVID-19, in violation of the FTC Act and the COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act.

Type of Action

Administrative

Last Updated

March 3, 2023

Docket Number

. 2:23-cv-00063

Case Status

Pending

Cases and Proceedings

doTERRA - Busch

The Federal Trade Commission has brought lawsuits against three current and former high-level distributors – so-called “Wellness Advocates” – of the Utah-based multi-level marketing company doTERRA International, LLC, for making claims that the company’s essential oils and dietary supplements could treat, prevent, or cure COVID-19. The distributors, all current or former healthcare practitioners, made the claims in a series of webinars in early 2022 and touted their medical expertise in recommending the products.

The three complaints, filed by the Department of Justice on behalf of the FTC, allege that the defendants made numerous claims about the ability of various doTERRA products to prevent, treat, or cure COVID-19, in violation of the FTC Act and the COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act.

Type of Action

Administrative

Last Updated

March 3, 2023

Docket Number

2:23-cv-00009

Case Status

Pending

Displaying 1 - 20 of 633

File and source

File
coronavirus-covid-19_721e491d4e7a36c2.html
Size
1,036,006 bytes
SHA-256
e1e13d9a11c12fa32056d213f70a2a20998d07396274c4b826903601c187135c
Our copy
coronavirus-covid-19_721e491d4e7a36c2.html
Original
www.ftc.gov
Back to top