Tag Archives: misleading advertising

November 19, 2013

U.S. Federal Trade Commission Gets Court Order to Stop Allegedly Canada-based Fraudulent “Yellow Pages” Directory Scheme

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that it has obtained a federal court order to temporarily halt the operations and freeze the assets of an alleged fraudulent Montreal-based “Yellow Pages” business directory scheme.  In making the announcement, the FTC said: “Hiding behind borders to … Read the rest of this entry »

May 28, 2013

Kellogg’s Settles Class Action Cereal Advertising Suit & A Few Thoughts on Performance Claims in Canada

An interesting performance claims advertising claims case caught my eye today in my daily media sweep.  According to the CBC, HuffPost and others, Kellogg has agreed to pay $4 million to settle a class action lawsuit relating to some of its former marketing claims for … Read the rest of this entry »

May 24, 2013

New Zealand Court Brings the Gavel Down on Car Company in “Shill Bidding” Advertising Case

The potential routes to deception are many.  In misleading advertising cases, commonly challenged conduct includes false price, performance and other product claims (e.g., omitting key limitations or conditions on products or services).  Some of the advertising practices that are regulated or prohibited in Canada include … Read the rest of this entry »

March 12, 2013

Fraud: Competition Bureau Announces Top 2 “2 Good 2 B True Day” Scams: Highlights False Online Testimonials & Mobile “Subscription Traps”

Earlier today, as part of its Fraud Prevention Month efforts in March, the Competition Bureau announced its Top 2 on “2 Good 2 B True Day” scams: false online testimonials; and mobile “subscription traps”. With respect to false testimonials, the Bureau highlighted concerns with testimonials … Read the rest of this entry »

February 22, 2013

Fraudulent Fish Probe Highlights Key Aspects of Canadian Misleading Advertising Law and My Own Fish Fraud Tale

It’s Friday, pouring rain where I am (the normally picturesque, if perennially wet, Vancouver) so something a bit lighter for the blogs today.  Over the past few days, I’ve been seeing reports of a fraudulent fish probe in the U.S. with some rather startling, if … Read the rest of this entry »

January 4, 2013

Ontario to Regulate Debt Settlement Companies, Including New Misleading Advertising Rules for Debt Settlement Firms

On January 4, 2013, Ontario’s consumer protection agency (the Ministry of Consumer Services) announced that it is planning to regulate debt settlement companies and issued proposed regulatory changes for public comments.  In making the announcement, Ontario’s Minister of Consumer Services said: “There is evidence of … Read the rest of this entry »

November 28, 2012

Ontario College Found Liable in Misleading Advertising Consumer Protection Act Class Action

November 28, 2012 In an interesting recent Ontario class action decision issued on November 16th, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice found George Brown College liable, among other things, for violating the Ontario Consumer Protection Act (“CPA”) in relation to representations in a college course … Read the rest of this entry »

September 14, 2012

Competition Bureau Sues Canadian Telecoms for $31 Million and Restitution: Alleged Misleading Price Claims for “Premium Texting Services”

In what can only be described as a growing war against telecom advertising in Canada, the Competition Bureau announced on September 14, 2012 that it began proceedings in Ontario Superior Court against Bell Canada (“Bell”), Rogers Communications (“Rogers”), TELUS Corporation (“TELUS”) and the Canadian Wireless … Read the rest of this entry »