Federal Regulatory Agencies
Here's a look at documents from federal regulatory agencies
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FCC: Chairman Carr Appoints Dan Daly as Managing Director
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10 -- The Federal Communications Commission issued the following news release on Feb. 9, 2026:
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Chairman Carr Appoints Dan Daly as Managing Director
FCC Managing Director Oversees Agency Operations Including Finances, Human Resources, Contracts, Office of the Secretary, and Information Technology
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Today, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced the appointment of Daniel Daly as agency Managing Director. Daly has been Deputy Managing Director prior to this appointment and has two decades of leadership experience in the Office of Managing Director. He replaced Mark Stephens
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 10 -- The Federal Communications Commission issued the following news release on Feb. 9, 2026:
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Chairman Carr Appoints Dan Daly as Managing Director
FCC Managing Director Oversees Agency Operations Including Finances, Human Resources, Contracts, Office of the Secretary, and Information Technology
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Today, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced the appointment of Daniel Daly as agency Managing Director. Daly has been Deputy Managing Director prior to this appointment and has two decades of leadership experience in the Office of Managing Director. He replaced Mark Stephenswho is retiring.
Chairman Brendan Carr issued the following statement:
"The Office of Managing Director is the linchpin of FCC operations, and I am grateful that Dan Daly has agreed to take on this vital position and lead the outstanding team in OMD. Dan brings deep experience and expertise to this role, and I look forward to continuing to work with him. He has long been a leading steward of agency finances and manager of its complex operations, and I am certain he will excel in this important new position."
Additional Background Information:
Daniel Daly has been in the senior leadership of the Office of Managing Director for two decades having served as Senior Counsel for Financial Operations starting in 2006, Chief of Staff starting in 2009, and, most recently, Deputy Managing Director since 2022. He also served as Acting Chief of Staff of the FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau in 2008 and as Counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform from 2002 to 2006. Dan received the FCC Distinguished Service Medal (Gold Award) in 2024 for sustained extraordinary accomplishments related to the mission and objectives of the Commission. He earned his bachelor's degree from the College of William and Mary and his law degree from George Mason University School of Law.
The Office of the Managing Director is responsible for the administration and management of the Commission. Specifically, the FCC's Managing Director provides oversight of the agency's budget and financial programs, human resources, contracts, purchasing, communications, computer services, physical space, security, and distribution of official FCC documents.
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Original text here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-418558A1.pdf
FCC: Chairman Announces Retirement of Managing Director Mark Stephens
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10 -- The Federal Communications Commission issued the following statement on Feb. 9, 2026:
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Chairman Announces Retirement of Managing Director Mark Stephens
Stephens' Storied FCC Career Spans 35 Years of Financial Stewardship and Saw Numerous Accolades for Excellence
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Today, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr congratulated Managing Director Mark Stephens on his retirement following his decades of outstanding service. The FCC's Managing Director provides oversight of the agency's budget and financial programs, human resources, contracts, purchasing, communications, computer
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 10 -- The Federal Communications Commission issued the following statement on Feb. 9, 2026:
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Chairman Announces Retirement of Managing Director Mark Stephens
Stephens' Storied FCC Career Spans 35 Years of Financial Stewardship and Saw Numerous Accolades for Excellence
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Today, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr congratulated Managing Director Mark Stephens on his retirement following his decades of outstanding service. The FCC's Managing Director provides oversight of the agency's budget and financial programs, human resources, contracts, purchasing, communications, computerservices, physical space, security, and distribution of official FCC documents.
Chairman Brendan Carr issued the following statement:
"With 35 years of service at the FCC, to say Mark Stephens will be missed at the FCC is a huge understatement. For the last decade, he has had one job comprised of a thousand jobs: keep the FCC running and in strong fiscal shape. In short: he has succeeded. In fact, he has excelled through the agency's busy times and shutdowns alike. In the last year, he has been an invaluable counsel to my office, and I want to thank him for his tremendous work and outstanding leadership. I wish him all the best in his retirement."
Additional Background Information:
Mark Stephens served honorably in the U.S. Navy from 1975 to 1979. He was first hired by the FCC as an auditor in the Common Carrier Bureau in 1991. In 2007, he was named Chief Financial Officer and, in 2016, he became Managing Director. During his nearly four decades of federal service, he received the 2024 FCBA Excellence in Government Service Award; FCC Meritorious Service Medal (Silver Award) in 2006 for sustained exceptional accomplishments related to the mission and objectives of the Commission; and the FCC Distinguished Service Medal (Gold Award) in 2012 for sustained extraordinary accomplishments related to the mission and objectives of the Commission.
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Original text here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-418555A1.pdf
FCC Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau Issues Public Notice Announcing Intent to Re-charter Communications Security, Reliability, Interoperability Council & Solicits Nominations for Membership
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10 -- The Federal Communications Commission Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau issued the following public notice (Docket No. DA 26-134) on Feb. 9, 2026:
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By this Public Notice, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission), consistent with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA),/1 announces its intent to re-charter the Communications Security, Reliability, and Interoperability Council (CSRIC or Council) on or before March 26, 2026, following consultation with the General Services Administration. This will be the FCC's tenth charter of CSRIC, established
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 10 -- The Federal Communications Commission Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau issued the following public notice (Docket No. DA 26-134) on Feb. 9, 2026:
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By this Public Notice, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission), consistent with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA),/1 announces its intent to re-charter the Communications Security, Reliability, and Interoperability Council (CSRIC or Council) on or before March 26, 2026, following consultation with the General Services Administration. This will be the FCC's tenth charter of CSRIC, establishedfor a two (2) year term, with an expected first meeting in June 2026. By this Public Notice, we also seek nominations for membership and a chairperson(s) for the Council.
CSRIC X will provide advice and recommendations to the Commission to improve the security, reliability, and interoperability of the nation's communications systems. Specifically, Chairman Brendan Carr will ask CSRIC X to consider and address six topics: National Security Implications of the Dark Fiber Market; Ensuring Submarine Cable Security and Resiliency; Malicious SIM Farm Mitigation; Reducing Common Causes of Sunny Day Outages; Expanding NG911's Multimedia Availability and Increasing 911 Accessibility; and Enhancing Communications Network Security.
In seeking nominations for CSRIC X, Chairman Carr will look to include a broad array of stakeholders in the Council's membership, including representation from the FCC's federal government partners with similar interests.
All organizational or individual members appointed to the Council, or its working groups are subject to an ethics review by the Commission's Office of General Counsel. Some applicants possessing expertise or perspectives of interest to the Council, and who have been appointed to serve on the Council in an individual capacity (and not as the representative of a nonprofit organization, corporation, or other entity) are deemed to be Special Government Employees (SGEs). Such individuals are ineligible to serve if they are federally registered lobbyists. SGEs are subject to a variety of restrictions under the conflict of interest statutes, 18 U.S.C. Sec. 203 et seq., and the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch, 5 C.F.R. Part 2635. SGEs must file confidential employee financial disclosure reports prior to beginning their service and annually thereafter. SGEs will also be subject to ethics restrictions in section 4(b) of the Communications Act, 47 U.S.C. Sec. 154(b), and in the Commission's rules, 47 CFR Part 19 and 5 CFR Parts 3901 and 3902.
All members will have an initial and continuing obligation to disclose any interests in, or connections to, persons or entities that are, or will be, regulated by or have interests before the Commission and shall promptly report to the Council's Designated Federal Officer (DFO) any changes in representation during their tenure on the Council. Council members will not be compensated for their service.
Nominations for membership to CSRIC X should be submitted to the FCC no later than Wednesday, March 11, 2026. Procedures for submitting nominations are set forth below, and applications should be sent by email to CSRIC@fcc.gov .
MISSION
The purpose of the Council is to provide recommendations to the FCC regarding ways the FCC can strive for security, reliability, and interoperability of the nation's communications systems. CSRIC X's recommendations will focus on a range of public safety- and homeland security-related communications matters, including: (1) the security and reliability of communications systems and infrastructure; (2) 911, E911, and NG911; (3) emergency alerting; and (4) national security/emergency preparedness communications, including law enforcement access to communications. CSRIC X will be organized under, and will operate in accordance with, the provisions of FACA. As authorized by FACA, the Council is authorized to facilitate its work through informal subcommittees, or other subgroups of the Council, which shall report their activities and recommendations to the Council as a whole.
WHO MAY APPLY FOR MEMBERSHIP
The Commission seeks applications from representatives of various sectors of the communications industry, representatives of state, local and tribal government agencies and organizations, and representatives of consumers and community organizations that wish to be considered for membership on CSRIC X. The Commission is particularly interested in receiving nominations and expressions of interest from individuals and organizations in the following categories:
* State, tribal, territorial and/or local government agencies and organizations with expertise in communications, public safety, emergency management and/or homeland security matters;
* Federal government agencies with expertise in communications, public safety, emergency management and/or homeland security matters;
* Communications service providers and/or industry organizations representing communications service providers (to include representation by different types of communications provider interests, e.g., wireless, wireless, satellite, broadcast radio, and television, and by including representation by smaller and rural providers);
* Developers of software applications and operating systems for mobile and desktop computing devices;
* Developers of mobile devices;
* Developers of new technologies;
* Organizations and other entities representing users of communications systems, such as organizations representing the business, finance, energy, education, health care, and similar sectors;
* Consumer or community organizations, such as those representing people with disabilities, the elderly, those living in rural areas, and those representing populations that speak, as their primary language, languages other than English; and
* Qualified representatives of other stakeholders and interested parties with relevant expertise regarding the subject matter.
Members will be selected to balance the expertise and viewpoints that are necessary to effectively address the issues to be considered by the Council.
OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS AND COUNCIL MEETINGS
Members will serve at the discretion of Chairman Carr of the FCC. Members should be willing to commit to a two-year term of service from the date of the re-charter of the Committee. Members will be encouraged to participate in deliberations of at least one (1) informal subcommittee or subgroup, if any are established. The time commitment for participation in any informal subcommittee or other subgroup may be substantial. However, subcommittee or other subgroup meetings may be conducted informally, using suitable technology to facilitate the meetings, subject to oversight by the Designated Federal Officer of CSRIC X.
Meetings of the full Council shall be open to the public and timely notice of each meeting shall be published in the Federal Register and shall be further publicized through other appropriate vehicles. All such meetings will be fully accessible to individuals with disabilities.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE, DEADLINE, AND MEMBER APPOINTMENTS
Organizational Applicants
Applications from nonprofit organizations, corporations, or other entities ("organizational applicants") proposing a nominee should include the following:
* Name, title, and organization of the nominee and a description of the organization, sector or other interest the nominee will represent;
* Nominee's mailing address, e-mail address, and telephone number;
* A statement summarizing the nominee's qualifications and reasons why the nominee should be appointed to the Council;
* A current resume of the nominee; and
* A statement describing the organization the nominee will represent as well as the benefit of having the organization represented on the Council.
For applicants seeking to represent an organization or company, the applicant's nomination to the Council must be accompanied by confirmation on the following two (2) issues:
1. The nomination must be confirmed by a written statement of an authorized person (e.g., organization or company official) that such organization or company supports the application of the nominee to represent it on the Council. The nominating official must possess the executive authority or hold a sufficiently high-level position within the organization or company to select a representative whose actions will be legally binding on the organization or company. For example, this confirmation may be in the following format:
"I am [insert official's name], the [insert official's title] at the [insert name of organization e.g., company, government entity, trade association, etc.], with responsibilities for [concise description of position]. My organization supports [insert proposed member's name], who is currently [an employee of/consultant/attorney to the company], to serve as our representative on the Commission's Communications Security, Reliability, and Interoperability Council."
2. For applicants seeking to represent an entity that is, or who are themselves, a party to an FCC contract or subcontract or providing services for the benefit of the FCC under contract or subcontract, the application must include the following: 1) a general description of the contract/agreement; 2) a description of the product/services that the applicant provides pursuant to the contract/agreement; 3) a list of all parties to the contract/agreement; 4) the name of the Commission contracting officer (if known); and 5) a certification of the applicant that the applicant has provided written notice to the contracting officer and the FCC Manager, Contracts and Purchasing Center, that the applicant or representative nominee, as applicable, has applied for membership on the Commission's Communications Security, Reliability, and Interoperability Council.
In addition, organizational nominees are required to disclose whether they represent clients before the Commission or represent clients in matters that may come before the Council, other than representing the organizational applicant that has nominated them for service on the Council. Each nominee shall provide with the application all details of any such representation.
Individual Applicants
Applications from individual applicants who would serve as SGEs, as defined above, should include the following:
* Name and title of the applicant; current mailing address, email address, and telephone number;
* A statement summarizing the applicant's qualifications and reasons why the applicant should be appointed to the Council. The statement shall include the individual's specific knowledge or expertise that is relevant to the work of the Council;
* A current resume of the applicant;
* A statement that the individual applicant is not a registered federal lobbyist (as noted above, financial and other additional disclosures may also apply to individual applicants);
* An acknowledgement that the individual will not be entitled to receive reimbursement of travel expenses or payment of honoraria or other compensation from the Commission;
* A statement that the applicant does not have a contractual or other financial agreement (including as a subcontractor) with the Commission; and
* A statement that the applicant does not have clients with matters before the Commission or matters that may come before the Council.
Please note this Public Notice is not intended to be the exclusive method by which the Commission will solicit nominations to identify qualified candidates; however, all candidates for membership on the Council will be subject to the same evaluation criteria.
All nominations, including the requisite statements listed above, should be submitted by email to CSRIC@fcc.gov, and should be received by the Commission as soon as possible, but no later than Wednesday, March 11, 2026.
ACCESSIBLE FORMATS
To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice).
More information about the CSRIC can be found at https://www.fcc.gov/about-fcc/advisorycommittees/communications-security-reliability-and-interoperability-council. You may also contact Suzon Cameron, Designated Federal Official (DFO) for CSRIC X, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, at (202) 418-1916, or via the CSRIC e-mail account at CSRIC@fcc.gov.
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Footnote:
1/ 5 U.S.C. Sec. 10.
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Original text here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-134A1.pdf
CPSC Issues Recall Alert Involving Aroeve Brand Air Purifiers
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10 -- The Consumer Product Safety Commission issued the following recall alert on Feb. 9, 2026:
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Name of Product: Aroeve brand air purifiers
Hazard: The air purifiers can overheat and ignite, posing fire and burn hazards to consumers.
Remedy: Replace
Recall Date: February 09, 2026
Units: About 191,390
Consumer Contact: Email at Aroeve-airpure-recall@outlook.com, or online at https://aroeve.com/pages/product-recall-information or https://aroeve.com/ and click "Product Recalls" at the top of the page.
Recall Details
Description: This recall involves Aroeve brand air
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 10 -- The Consumer Product Safety Commission issued the following recall alert on Feb. 9, 2026:
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Name of Product: Aroeve brand air purifiers
Hazard: The air purifiers can overheat and ignite, posing fire and burn hazards to consumers.
Remedy: Replace
Recall Date: February 09, 2026
Units: About 191,390
Consumer Contact: Email at Aroeve-airpure-recall@outlook.com, or online at https://aroeve.com/pages/product-recall-information or https://aroeve.com/ and click "Product Recalls" at the top of the page.
Recall Details
Description: This recall involves Aroeve brand airpurifiers, model MK04. The recalled air purifiers come in black or white. The model, date code, and serial number information are printed on the product label located on the bottom of the air purifiers. The air purifiers subject to this recall were manufactured prior to July 2025 and have a serial number starting with "BN".
Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled Aroeve air purifiers immediately and contact Airova for a free replacement air purifier.
Incidents/Injuries: Airova received 37 reports of the air purifiers overheating including one report of fire. No injuries or property damage have been reported.
Sold Online At: Amazon.com, Shopify.com, TEMU.com, and TikTok.com from September 2024 through June 2025 for between $80 and $134.
Importer(s): Airova, Inc. of Newark, California
Manufactured In: China
Recall number: 26-244
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Original text here: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2026/Airova-Recalls-Aroeve-Air-Purifiers-Due-to-Fire-and-Burn-Hazards
NRC Announces Opportunity to Request a Hearing on Duke Energy Carolinas' Belews Creek Early Site Permit Application
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10 -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the following news release:
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NRC Announces Opportunity to Request a Hearing on Duke Energy Carolinas' Belews Creek Early Site Permit Application
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has announced in the Federal Register the opportunity to request an adjudicatory hearing for Duke Energy Carolinas' Early Site Permit application for the Belews Creek site in North Carolina. The notice covers petitions to intervene in such a hearing.
Petitions must be filed by April 10, by anyone whose interest may be affected by the proposed
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 10 -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the following news release:
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NRC Announces Opportunity to Request a Hearing on Duke Energy Carolinas' Belews Creek Early Site Permit Application
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has announced in the Federal Register the opportunity to request an adjudicatory hearing for Duke Energy Carolinas' Early Site Permit application for the Belews Creek site in North Carolina. The notice covers petitions to intervene in such a hearing.
Petitions must be filed by April 10, by anyone whose interest may be affected by the proposedpermit and who wishes to participate as a party in the proceeding. Additional information on the hearing process is available on the NRC website.
The NRC staff has determined that the application contains sufficient information for the agency to formally docket it and begin its detailed technical reviews. Docketing the application is not an indication of whether the NRC will grant the ESP.
The company submitted the application on Dec. 30, 2025, seeking an ESP that would accommodate advanced small modular reactors, including designs that cool the core with liquid metals, molten salts or high-temperature gases. The permit would encompass a maximum total output of 2,250 megawatts electric. The 1,000-acre site is adjacent to the Belews Creek Steam Station, an existing coal/natural gas power plant. Information about the NRC's interactions with Duke regarding the Belews Creek project is available on the NRC website.
An ESP resolves certain site safety, environmental protection, and emergency preparedness issues independent of a specific nuclear plant design. An ESP does not allow nuclear power plant construction or operation; Duke would have to successfully apply separately for a construction permit and operating license or combined operating license in the future.
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The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission was created as an expert, technical agency to protect public health, safety, and security, and regulate the civilian use of nuclear materials, including enabling the deployment of nuclear power for the benefit of society. Among other responsibilities, the agency issues licenses, conducts inspections, initiates and enforces regulations, and plans for incident response. The global gold standard for nuclear regulation, the NRC is collaborating with interagency partners to implement reforms outlined in new Executive Orders and the ADVANCE Act to streamline agency activities and enhance efficiency.
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Original text here: https://www.nrc.gov/sites/default/files/cdn/doc-collection-news/2026/26-018.pdf
FTC Reminds Data Brokers of Their Obligations to Comply with PADFAA
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 -- The Federal Trade Commission issued the following news release:
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FTC Reminds Data Brokers of Their Obligations to Comply with PADFAA
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The Federal Trade Commission sent letters to 13 data brokers warning them of their responsibility to comply with the Protecting Americans' Data from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2024 (PADFAA).
PADFAA prohibits data brokers from selling, releasing, disclosing, or providing access to personally identifiable sensitive data about Americans to any foreign adversary, which include North Korea, China, Russia, and Iran, or any entity controlled
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 -- The Federal Trade Commission issued the following news release:
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FTC Reminds Data Brokers of Their Obligations to Comply with PADFAA
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The Federal Trade Commission sent letters to 13 data brokers warning them of their responsibility to comply with the Protecting Americans' Data from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2024 (PADFAA).
PADFAA prohibits data brokers from selling, releasing, disclosing, or providing access to personally identifiable sensitive data about Americans to any foreign adversary, which include North Korea, China, Russia, and Iran, or any entity controlledby those countries. The law defines personally identifiable sensitive data to include health, financial, genetic, biometric, geolocation, and sexual behavior information as well as account or device log-in credentials and government-issued identifiers such as Social Security, passport, or driver's license numbers.
"The FTC is committed to enforcing PADFAA and ensuring companies are complying with its requirements," said Christopher Mufarrige, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection. "These letters should send a message to all data brokers to be aware of the law's requirements and ensure they are not engaging in practices that violate it."
The letters note that the agency has identified instances in which some of the letter's recipients have "offered solutions and insights involving the status of an individual as a member of the Armed Forces. Such information is subject to PADFAA's requirements."
The letters warn the companies to conduct a comprehensive review of their business practices to ensure they comply with PADFAA, adding that a violation of the act may result in an enforcement action by the FTC, which could include civil penalties of up to $53,088 per violation.
The lead staffers on this matter include Katherine McCarron and Bhavna Changrani with the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection.
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Original text here: https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2026/02/ftc-reminds-data-brokers-their-obligations-comply-padfaa
CFTC Targets Relationship Investment Scams with National and International Initiatives this Valentine's Week
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 -- The Commodity Futures Trading Commission issued the following news release:
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CFTC Targets Relationship Investment Scams with National and International Initiatives this Valentine's Week
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WASHINGTON -As Valentine's Day approaches, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's Office of Customer Education and Outreach is leading national and international awareness efforts to warn the public about relationship investment scams, a form of fraud that costs Americans an estimated $10 billion each year.
The national, interagency DatingOrDefrauding? social media awareness
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 -- The Commodity Futures Trading Commission issued the following news release:
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CFTC Targets Relationship Investment Scams with National and International Initiatives this Valentine's Week
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WASHINGTON -As Valentine's Day approaches, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's Office of Customer Education and Outreach is leading national and international awareness efforts to warn the public about relationship investment scams, a form of fraud that costs Americans an estimated $10 billion each year.
The national, interagency DatingOrDefrauding? social media awarenesscampaign warns Americans to be skeptical of any requests from new online friends or romantic interests. The campaign highlights a common warning sign: requests to send crypto assets, or other forms of payment, to invest in scams through fake crypto websites.
In addition to the CFTC, participating organizations include:
* Federal agencies: Department of Justice Criminal Division, Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration, FBI, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation - Office of Inspector General, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, IRS Criminal Investigation, National Credit Union Administration, Securities and Exchange Commission, Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and U.S. Secret Service.
* State agencies: Minnesota Department of Commerce, Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services, Virgin Islands Lieutenant Governor's Office, Washington Department of Financial Institutions, and Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions.
* Non-governmental organizations: FINRA, NFA, and North American Securities Administrators Association.
Warning signs of relationship investment scams include an online friend or love interest who:
* Is unable to meet in person.
* Moves conversations off social or dating platforms to encrypted messaging apps.
* Claims to be, or know, an expert crypto trader.
* Offers to help the victim trade or invest money.
"Foreign criminals are exploiting dating apps, social media, messaging platforms, and artificial intelligence to steal money from American citizens," CFTC Chairman Michael S. Selig said. "Keep your friends and family safe by warning them about this scam and encouraging them to keep their crypto assets safe by using trusted and secure software systems and U.S.-regulated intermediaries."
OCEO is also collaborating with the International Organization of Securities Commissions on a global initiative to raise public awareness and reduce victimization from the scams. The Valentine's week campaign builds on a similar effort conducted in October 2025, when 16 jurisdictions across five continents carried out coordinated educational outreach.
Initiatives timed around Valentine's Day are particularly effective, as scammers often exploit emotional vulnerability and the desire for companionship. By providing the information needed to recognize and avoid relationship investment scams, the initiatives, which will run from Wednesday through Saturday, aim to reduce victimization and financial loss during a potentially high-risk period.
About Relationship Investment Scams
Relationship investment scams are a type of romance fraud. Often referred to by the perpetrators as "pig butchering," these schemes rely on dating apps, social media platforms, messaging apps, and even random "wrong number" text messages to target potential victims. The scammers use fake profiles, images, videos, and voices to appear trustworthy, attractive, and professional. After establishing frequent contact and building emotional connections, they claim to earn significant profits trading crypto assets, precious metals, or foreign currency and offer to help victims do the same.
Victims are ultimately directed to fraudulent trading platforms controlled by organized criminal networks, resulting in substantial financial losses.
More information and resources about relationship investment scams are available at CFTC.gov/LearnAndProtect.
About the Office of Customer Education and Outreach
OCEO is responsible for helping people and potential customers spot, avoid, and report fraud. This requires the office to work closely with internal and external stakeholders to monitor and identify current and developing fraud trends, develop timely and effective educational materials, messages, and outreach strategies, and alert the public to products, situations, or behaviors that could make them targets for crime. The CFTC's full repository of customer education materials is available at CFTC.gov/LearnAndProtect.
-CFTC-
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Original text here: https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/9181-26
