United States of America: Adopted FTC Trade Regulation Rule on Impersonation of Government and Businesses

On 15 February 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) adopted the Trade Regulation Rule on Impersonation of Government and Businesses. The rule prohibits the false impersonation of a government entity or officer. It also prohibits the misrepresentation of affiliation with, including endorsement or sponsorship by, a government entity or officer. The rule will become effective 30 days from the date it is published in the Federal Register. Under the adopted rule, the FTC will have the power to initiate federal court proceedings directly to compel persons found to impersonate government entities to reimburse the proceeds obtained from fraudulent actions.