TAMPA, Fla. (Legal Newsline) – The Federal Trade Commission is suing two firms selling weight-loss products over claims they allegedly sent unsolicited emails that spoofed the recipients’ contact lists and then directed them to fake news websites.
The Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit June 2 in U.S. District Court for the Tampa Division of the Middle District of Florida against Tachht Inc., Teqqi LLC, Colby Fox (individually and as owner and officer of Tachht and Teqqi) and Christopher Reinhold (individually and as manager of Teqqi), alleging misrepresentation and violations of the Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act and FTC acts.
According to the complaint, emails sent by both companies contain headers making it appear as though the messages came from people the targets knew. Once the recipients clicked on the links, the suit says they were directed to fake news websites promoting the products. The FTC claims many of the emails had misleading subject lines and lacked any notification about how to unsubscribe.
The FTC seeks an injunction, to freeze the defendants’ assets and appoint a receiver and restitution determined by the court for consumer injury. It is represented by attorneys Matthew H. Wernz and Guy G. Ward of the FTC in Chicago.
U.S. District Court for the Tampa Division of the Middle District of Florida Case number 8:16-cv-01397