BALTIMORE, MD—A bipartisan coalition of attorneys general, including Maryland’s Anthony G. Brown, sent a letter (PDF) to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) urging the agency to update and strengthen the rules that technology companies must follow when collecting personal data about children online. The letter argues that the current rules, outlined in the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which […]
BALTIMORE, MD—The Kroger Company and Albertsons Companies are facing a lawsuit from the Maryland Attorney General’s office over their proposed merger. The lawsuit claims that the merger violates the Clayton Act, which prohibits the merger of businesses that would substantially reduce competition or create a monopoly. The merging of the two companies would create the largest national supermarket chain in […]
SUNBURY, PA—Weis Markets is notifying customers after skimming devices were found in two of the grocery chain’s Baltimore-area locations. On November 1, 2023, Weis Markets discovered a skimmer at its store located at 7848 Wise Avenue in Dundalk. On the same day, Weis found a second skimmer at its store located at 1080 Maiden Choice Lane in Baltimore. Upon discovering […]
BALTIMORE, MD—Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown, along with 16 other Attorneys General and the Federal Trade Commission, this week sued Amazon.com, Inc. alleging that the online retail and technology company is a monopolist that uses a set of interlocking anticompetitive and unfair strategies to illegally maintain its monopoly power. The coalition of Attorneys General and the FTC say Amazon’s […]
BALTIMORE, MD—The Office of the Attorney General is once again warning that businesses in Maryland have been receiving a letter entitled “2023 Certificate of Good Standing Request Form.” The letter requests a fee in exchange for a letter of good standing with an “official seal of the Secretary of State.” This letter is a scam and is the same fraudulent […]
WASHINGTON, DC—The U.S. Marshals Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are alerting the public of several nationwide imposter scams involving individuals claiming to be U.S. marshals, court officers, or other law enforcement officials. They are urging people to report the calls their local FBI office and file a consumer complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, which has the ability […]
GRAND FORKS ND—A telephone scam is targeting residents nationwide in an attempt to gain banking information from unsuspecting residents. U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents and officers nationwide are continuing to receive numerous calls from residents concerned about unsolicited calls from scammers posing as U.S. Border Patrol agents and U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers. Residents are reporting the calls […]
BALTIMORE, MD—Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh this week announced that the state’s Consumer Protection Division, along with 17 other State Attorneys General and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), joined a multistate agreement resolving allegations that national jewelry retailer Harris Jewelry targeted and defrauded military servicemembers and veterans. The states and the FTC alleged that the jewelry company used deceptive […]