The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) protects consumers by stopping unfair, deceptive or fraudulent activities in the marketplace. The agency investigates complaints, files lawsuits against wrongdoers and educates the public about their rights. The FTC reports that it filed more than 100 law enforcement actions in 2015 and refunded more than $22 million to consumers.
Because the FTC is a civil law enforcement agency, it does not have the power to put people in jail. Thus, it partners with other agencies that case, such as the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Attorneys, and other federal and state criminal law enforcers. If an action pursued by the FTC includes the violation of criminal laws, the agency notifies criminal prosecutors.
The FTC’s Criminal Liaison Unit (CLU) was created to assist with the criminal prosecution of consumer fraud. It has been in existence for ten years and has successfully prosecuted hundreds of fraudsters and scammers who have taken advantage of consumers.
According to the FTC website, here’s a quick by-the-numbers look at 2015:
- FTC staff worked on 75 requests for cooperation from criminal law enforcement partners.
- Thirty-four defendants received jail sentences totaling 175 years.
- The average sentence was 5.15 years.
- One defendant got a 25-year sentence.
Although the FTC is a great resource for consumers, we are stand ready to take immediate action on your behalf. Fitzgerald & Campbell handles debt collector harassment cases on a “contingency fee” basis, which means you pay us nothing unless we are successful! There is no charge to you for us to represent you. If we win, we will get paid. If we lose, we will not get paid. It is that simple. The law provides that if your case is successful, the creditor or collector will pay your reasonable attorney fees. Call us today toll free at (844) 431-3851 or contact us online to schedule a free initial consultation.