News & Updates
The Latest on Internet Pharmacies, Supplements, Designer Drugs,
and Other High-Risk Merchants
January is the Season for Risky Weight Loss Products
Losing weight is typically the number one New Year’s resolution — and cybercriminals know it. According to research firm Research and Markets, the largest diet surge is in January as people exit the holiday season and set New Year’s resolutions about their health. For this reason, it’s important for payment service providers and e-commerce platforms to watch out for those selling potentially violative products.
AirPods Popular With Consumers and Counterfeiters
The holiday shopping season is in full swing, and both legitimate retailers and cybercriminals are looking to take advantage of this year’s boost in online commerce. With its popular design and high demand, Apple’s AirPods are a prime target for merchants engaged in intellectual property violations. More than a quarter of suspected IP-infringing merchants LegitScript…
How Typosquatters Trick Holiday Shoppers
December is a peak online shopping season, with Cyber Monday alone reaching billions of dollars in sales. Because the internet is flooded with deals, many shoppers let their guards down and become susceptible to typosquatters, who trick consumers into buying counterfeit products or giving away sensitive information. It’s important for payment service providers to be…
A Q&A With CEO Scott Roth and LegitScript Founder John Horton
Scott Roth was recently appointed Chief Executive Officer of LegitScript, as company founder and long-time CEO John Horton is moving into the roles of Executive Chairman and Chief Strategy Officer. Their combined experiences will help LegitScript better navigate a period of significant growth for the company. In the following Q&A, John and Scott share more…
Moneymaking “Secrets” Are Often Money-stealing Scams
With the coronavirus impacting many people’s jobs around the world, the need for additional income — especially while staying at home — is greater than ever. If there were an easy way to make quick money, all the while sitting in front of your computer for only a few short hours a day, who wouldn’t…
Regulatory Scrutiny of E-cigarettes Elevates Payments Risk
Vaping and e-cigarette use has risen exponentially in recent years, particularly among youth. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has labeled this trend in youth and young adults’ e-cigarette use as an epidemic, which has ultimately contributed to a shift in regulatory and law enforcement scrutiny of tobacco and nicotine sales. Regulatory approaches to merchants…
FTC Steps Up Actions Against Deceptive Marketers Online
Last month, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced actions or settlements against multiple businesses it alleges engaged in various forms of deceptive and misleading online marketing. The variety of businesses — from supplement merchants to student loan consolidators — demonstrates the broad use of deceptive practices and how they continue to flourish online. It’s a…
Coronavirus Fraud Nears $150 Million in Losses in US
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has received more than 200,000 complaints so far this year about fraud related to the COVID-19 pandemic, with losses in the US totaling more than $146 million as of September 24, 2020. According to the Commission’s Consumer Sentinel Network, which has been tracking complaints since January 1, 2020, the median…
CBD Is a Novel Food, but What Does That Mean and Why Does It Matter?
“Novel food” is a classification for food or food ingredients in the European Union (EU). The import and sale of novel foods are regulated in the EU, and noncompliance can result in enforcement by EU Member States or the United Kingdom (UK). Online merchants selling food products or dietary supplements often ship worldwide, including the…
Gargle Medication Highlights Problematic “Flea Market” Websites in Japan
Although there is still no product proven to cure or prevent COVID-19, misinformation abounds, both in the US and abroad. In Japan, the governor of Osaka publicly claimed that gargle medicine containing the antiseptic povidone-iodine can fight coronavirus. Within days, these products all but disappeared from drugstore shelves in Japan. Then, gargle medication started to…