ASAE to Testify on FTC Business Impersonation Rule

ASAE will be among the interested organizations and individuals giving testimony at a May 4 Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hearing on the agency’s proposed rule prohibiting government and business impersonation.

The FTC proposed the rule last fall to make government and business impersonation scams a violation of the FTC Act and would allow the agency to charge fines or seek civil penalties against scammers who harm consumers in violation of the rule. Fraud reports to the FTC about impersonation scams rose sharply in the past five years, with consumers reporting losing more than $2 billion to these scams.

ASAE is part of a coalition of 235 trade associations and event companies that has urged the FTC to crack down on impersonation fraud. For associations and conference organizers, the scams have included using copyrighted event names and logos to sell attendee lists or lure consumers to fraudulent websites offering hotel bookings.

“ASAE and numerous other associations have been victims of attendee list-selling scams, hotel reservation scams and other attempts to use a trusted brand to bilk consumers,” said ASAE President and CEO Michelle Mason, FASAE, CAE. “The FTC has rightly recognized this type of impersonation as a threat on the rise. ASAE expends a great deal of effort to minimize the risk of this type of crime occurring but any organization can be targeted and fall victim to these scams. An association’s brand and other intellectual property are among our most valuable assets and we appreciate the FTC for recognizing the severity of the issue by issuing this proposed rule.”

Among the other organizations scheduled to deliver testimony at the upcoming FTC hearing are the Consumer Technology Association, Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance, International Association of Exhibitions and Events, Risk Management Society and American Bankers Association.