Hearings

Subcommittee: Curbing COVID Cons: Warning Consumers about Pandemic Frauds, Scams, and Swindles

April 27, 2021
10:00 AM

WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), the Chair of the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security, will convene a hearing titled, “Curbing COVID Cons: Warning Consumers about Pandemic Frauds, Scams, and Swindles,” at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 27, 2021. The hearing will examine scams related to COVID-19 and Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) actions to stop these scams.  In particular, the hearing will raise awareness of ongoing schemes such as identity theft, fake personal protective equipment, fraudulent vaccination claims, and robocalls; the FTC’s education efforts around these scams; the FTC’s use of its new civil penalty authority for COVID-related scams; and the FTC’s threatened “13(b)” consumer redress authority.

Witnesses:

  • Mr. Daniel Kaufman, Acting Director, Bureau of Consumer Protection, FTC
  • Mr. William Kovacic, Global Competition Professor of Law and Policy, Professor of Law, Director - Competition Law Center, The George Washington University Law School
  • Ms. Bonnie Patten, CEO, Truth in Advertising
  • Mr. Kevin Rhodes, Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, 3M
  • Ms. Cynthia Alexander, Assistant Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division, Washington Attorney General’s Office

*Witness list is subject to change

Hearing Details:

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

10:00 a.m. EDT

Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security  

SR-253

This hearing will take place in the Russell Senate Office Building 253. Witness testimony, opening statements, and a live video of the hearing will be available on www.commerce.senate.gov. 

In order to maintain physical distancing as advised by the Office of the Attending Physician, seating for credentialed press will be limited throughout the course of the hearing. Due to current limited access to the Capitol complex, the general public is encouraged to view this hearing via the live stream.

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Testimony

  • Ms. Bonnie Patten

    CEO
    Truth in Advertising
    Download Testimony (329.53 KB)

  • Ms. Cynthia Alexander

    Assistant Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division
    Washington Attorney General’s Office
    Download Testimony (475.00 KB)

  • Mr. Kevin Rhodes

    Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel
    3M
    Download Testimony (485.12 KB)

  • Mr. Daniel Kaufman

    Acting Director, Bureau of Consumer Protection
    FTC
    Download Testimony (239.73 KB)

  • Mr. William Kovacic

    Director
    Competition Law Center, The George Washington University Law School
    Download Testimony (200.26 KB)