Marketers of “FREE” iPad settles with FTC

FREE!!! The most abused word used to generate sales on the internet. Abuse of that word is a scam. Those that are deceived by that type of scam may be described as a one of the 'fools', 'marks' or 'suckers' born every minute. The earliest mention of the phrase has been found in the January 1806 edition of the European Magazine.

Even if the repayment was suspended, it is still payable if they violate the terms of the suspension. It is a deterrent to recidivism.

The spammers/scammers almost always get off scott free because they can't pay large fines, but's what's the problem with collecting something smaller that still hurts? They paid their affilliates and presumably paid their own rent, food bill, lights, water, etc., and get off scott free because there's nothing left. How about future earnings? Garnish their pay if they ever get an honest job. Go to their houses and punch them in the face. Do SOMETHING that has some meaning to all the folks who they try to scam! Otherwise it's just another case where all the rest of us get no justice.

Why cant they shut down the phone numbers being used - like immediately? Someone has to pay for the number. Provider should be told to shut em down!

it is always the way. people who work hard and save pay for the lazy and indigent thieves.

As a note, despite the current Pro Business/ Anti Consumer agenda of the government, the FTC still refers cases to local Attorney Generals for investigation and possible prosecution.

The FTC fines merely serve as a means to fund FTC investigations and all are paid by large corporations who consider it a cost of doing business in "Frontier" markets of developing tech.

Even when prosecuted by State and Federal courts, the fines will never come close to impacting a company's ability to profit, regardless of the morality of their intentions. Corporations contribute the vast majority of campaign contributions in our country and as long as that can continue through "Soft Money Contributions" which is legalized money laundering by campaigns from corporate donors. Unless those laws change you will see more and more reprehensible people elected because they are willing to put corporations ahead of citizens. It's why Elizabeth Warren can never defeat Trump, but Biden would stand a chance. Bloomberg could beat him in electoral votes but would likely lose the popular vote(your vote doesn't matter). This isn't a rant, it's your chance to wake up and contact your representatives about "Soft Money Reform" and protect your rights. This is the last stand, soon the FTC won't be funded by these corporate puppets.

Either pay up - PAY SOMETHING - Or its jail time for the perps.  These kinds of punishments will never stop these thieves from doing it again, nor will it stop the others. Ridiculous!! I mean WHAT IS THE POINT of it all if they just slap their hands and let them off the hook.  Oh right - "Don't do it again - you hear"!  That's laughable and It's disgusting!

Why cant they also  make it a law that NO PHONE number can come into your phone without the name of where or whom it is coming from.  This is another reason they can get away with these things, because a lot of them operate under numerous phone numbers that cant be traced that easily and they can just disconnect them and use another number.  No phone numbers should be given out without them knowing that their information will be forthcoming with their phone call or text - especially the 1-800 numbers.  There used to be a time when you could find out who was calling you from the number and now you can't find that out unless you pay for it and sometimes you still might not get the correct information.  That - too - can be a scam! - That's another problem with all of it.  The consumer has to pay for everything, even their own rights!  I feel that if someone is calling my phone or texting me on MY NUMBER that I have a right to know who the person is!  That would stop some of it quickly because it would be a lot easier to sue the person or press charges because you already have thier information.  After all - they have no right to bother me unless there is a good reason for it.  Almost all calls that you dont know who they are coming from are scams nowadays and they do nothing to protect the consumer whatsoever - and they wonder why so many identities are stolen and people are ripped off!  Something else that would help a great deal is stop allowing these internet companies and any site that wont let you do something unless you give them your phone number and that is TRUE WITH ALL OF THE SITES ANYMORE.  Everyone wants your phone number and requires it for you to proceed with anything when they really dont have to have it, but they want to sell your info and call you on the phone and sell you stuff you dont want or scam you.  Why are they allowed to do that? When the internet first came about - This WAS NOT the case.  Now it is the norm.  There is just way too much leeway to do whatever the hell you want to people anymore.

FTC should have turned this over for federal prosecution. Failure to report this to the IRS should be a crime for them not reporting.

Amazing that this story is from 2013 and yet I've received 2 of these texts in the last 2 days.

In this age of Fascism, only the innocent are treated as criminals!

I agree !!! and Yes here it is Nov. 2020 the most horrid devastating year for the whole world , and yes thy are still doing this to many vulnerable people. Worse than ever before. Government  do not give a damn about it .law doesn't have time. And the scammers are going full force.

Not too happy with the results, they should have been ordered to pay the full amount that the court ordered them to pay even if they did not have the money. Their assets or personal property should have been taken away in order to comply with the court order and demand to collect the money.

A new version of this made the rounds again yesterday through work emails in Mississauga Ontario...
... reported to various parties of interest.

What the point in point in reporting. If they haven't done anything since the start of the antichrist Obama became president..Who started this gangster [***]. .hmmm?!and all his slaves could stay in hell. Heaven on earth please!!!😡😱👹👽👽🖕😢😅🥰😘💋