The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), once a fierce protector of consumers' financial rights, now sits idle. Employees describe a surreal work environment where they are paid but forbidden to do their jobs. The bureau, tasked with overseeing banks and financial services, has been effectively paralyzed by directives from the White House. Under President Tr...
Epic Games, the company behind Fortnite, is in hot water. They've been accused of tricking players into buying stuff they didn't want. Now, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is stepping in to help. The FTC has already given out over $72 million to players who were charged unfairly. But they're not done yet. They're sending out another round of refunds. This time, i...
Fortnite players, listen up! You might be able to get some money back from unwanted purchases. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is sending out over $126 million in refunds. They are also reopening the claim process for those who missed the first round. Epic Games, the company behind Fortnite, had to pay a huge fine. The FTC accused them of using sneaky tricks to m...
Loot boxes in video games are a big deal. They let players spend real money for a chance at random rewards. This has raised eyebrows because it's a lot like gambling. There are worries about people spending too much and developing gambling habits. The UK's previous Conservative government chose to tackle this issue through industry self-regulation. This meant letting...
The cost of health insurance can vary greatly from one state to another. This is not just due to differences in healthcare services. State-level consumer protection policies play a significant role in shaping these costs. These policies can affect the premiums people pay for Medigap plans. Medigap plans are supplemental insurance policies. They help cover costs not p...
Google's advertising empire might be benefiting from your health data. Ever wondered where your personal information goes after you hit submit on a form? It's a mystery for many, but for residents of California, there's a new twist. Blue Shield of California recently disclosed that some of its customers' private health data was shared with Google Analytics. This mean...
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is in a tight spot. Over 1, 400 of its employees were about to be shown the door. But a judge stepped in and said, "Not so fast. " The Trump administration wanted to cut about 90% of the agency's workforce. But Judge Amy Berman Jackson in Washington, DC, put a halt to it. She wants more details on how these layoffs were...
The Australian government has been serious about tackling gambling issues. Since mid-2022, they've made it a rule for online betting sites to send money reports to all their active users. This move is part of a bigger plan to protect consumers and reduce gambling-related problems. The idea is simple: when people see exactly how much they're spending, they can make be...
Finland is shaking up its gambling scene. The government has sent a bill to Parliament. It aims to end the long-standing monopoly held by Veikkaus, the state-owned gambling operator. This move could open the door for private companies to join the online gambling market by 2027. The proposed changes are significant. They include a new licensing system for onl...
JOANN Fabrics and Crafts, a beloved store for over 80 years, is shutting down all of its locations by May 2025. This sad news has led to a new scam targeting customers. Scammers are creating fake websites that look just like JOANN's official site. They offer huge discounts, up to 90% off, on products that seem real. These fake sites have similar URLs to the real JOAN...