Lots of small businesses need to advertise locally. So, if someone told your business that it could advertise through well-known local firms or organizations, that might interest you. But unfortunately, sometimes the results are not as promised.
The FTC announced today that it reached a settlement with Production Media, a company that allegedly used deceptive tactics to get businesses to buy ads. Those ads were printed on folders that would supposedly be distributed by local realtors and used by local schools. The company’s telemarketers, says the FTC, made the offer attractive by making it sound like no two similar businesses would have ads in the same folder. Except, later, businesses found their ad alongside a competitor’s ad. If their folder got printed at all. And, when businesses tried to get a refund, many couldn’t.