FTC, VISA, BBB Condemn Bad Billing

[RawAlex]

I actually think this is the FTC's shot across the bow.

I think they have spotted a problem which is too big for them to reign in just by enforcement alone, so they are making a very public announcement to give companies a chance to fall more in line with what they are doing, or to face the consequences. I also think they already have a couple of dozen good targets in their sights, and within a short period of time they will be knocking on doors and collecting evidence. I would not be shocked to see one or more adult companies get caught up in this.

There is a further issue here for some of the players who have moved their shell companies off shore but continue to operate their businesses from the US: Tax evasion. That is the hammer that comes with many FTC investigations, where even if they don't force on the original issue, they will give the IRS something to work with. It can get ugly. Some of the biggest pre-checked cross sellers in the porn business are operating in the US and trying to hide things offshore. They are a prime, juicy target.

[Toby]

Originally Posted by RawAlex

...I also think they already have a couple of dozen good targets in their sights, and within a short period of time they will be knocking on doors and collecting evidence. I would not be shocked to see one or more adult companies get caught up in this...

Generally speaking, by the time any Fed agency makes such an announcement they already have most everything they need to drop the hammer on anyone they have in their cross-hairs. Same can be said for VISA. It may just take awhile before any details are made public.