ASAE Testifies on FTC Business Impersonation Rule

ASAE President and CEO Michelle Mason, FASAE, CAE, gave 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.

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.

“An association’s brand and other intellectual property are among our most valuable assets and ASAE appreciates the FTC for recognizing the severity of the issue by issuing this proposed rule, said Mason.

Among the other organizations that testified at the FTC hearing were the Consumer Technology Association, Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance, International Association of Exhibitions and Events, Risk Management Society and American Bankers Association.