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Int'l Business Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Int'l Business Times
FTC Issues Nearly $126M in Refunds to Fortnite Players Over Deceptive Charges
Nearly one million Fortnite players in the US are getting refunds this week after the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ruled that the game's maker, Epic Games, used unfair tactics to charge people without permission. The refunds are part of a larger settlement agreement reached in 2022. On June 25 and 26, the FTC announced that it would send out 969,173 payments totaling nearly $126 million, CBS News said. These payments will go to players—or their parents—who were tricked into buying items in the game they didn't mean to purchase. Some of the players were kids who used their parents' credit cards without understanding what was happening. This is the second round of payments. The first wave was in December 2024, when over $22 million was returned to more than 629,000 Fortnite users. The refunds come from a $245 million settlement that Epic Games agreed to pay after the FTC accused the company of using "dark patterns." These are sneaky design tricks that confuse users into spending money. The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is sending out over 969,000 payments worth more than $126 million to Fortnite gamers charged for unwanted items. — Alex (@PlanoGaming) June 25, 2025 FTC Reopens Fortnite Refund Claims Until July 9 The FTC also fined Epic $275 million in a separate case for breaking children's online privacy rules—bringing the total amount to more than $520 million. If you think you may be eligible for a refund but didn't apply earlier, there's good news: the FTC has reopened the claim process until July 9. You can apply at . To file a claim, you'll need your Epic Account ID or the claim number sent by the FTC. Anyone under 18 must have a parent or guardian file the request on their behalf, PC Gamer said. Refunds will be issued either by check or through PayPal. Checks must be cashed within 90 days, and PayPal refunds should be accepted within 30 days. The FTC says this case is a warning to all companies that target kids or use misleading tools to make money. Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, said in a previous statement, "Protecting children and ensuring companies follow the law will remain a top priority." Originally published on
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fortnite players could be eligible for some cash: How to get a refund
The Federal Trade Commission announced Wednesday, June 25 it is sending more than $126 million in refunds to Fortnite players who were charged for unwanted purchases while playing the game. The agency also said it is reopening the process for Fortnite players, or their parents or guardians, to submit a claim stemming from the FTC's 2023 settlement with Epic Games, the game's developer. Epic Games agreed to pay $245 million to settle the FTC's allegations that the developer used "deceptive practices" to trick players into making unwanted purchases. The FTC issued its first round of refunds in December 2024, which saw the agency send over 629,000 payments totaling more than $72 million. In the latest round of refunds, the agency says it will send nearly 970,000 checks and PayPal payments to consumers who have filed a valid claim. "Today's announcement brings the total amount of refunds the FTC has issued to consumer related to Epic's deceptive billing practices to nearly $200 million," the FTC said in a news release June 25. The FTC said consumers selected their payment method when they completed their claim form. Check recipients should cash their checks within 90 days, as indicted on the check, while PayPal recipients should redeem their payments within 30 days, the agency said. Eligible consumers who have not yet submitted a claim have until July 9, 2025, to submit one at Fortnite, best known for its Battle Royale mode in which up to 100 players can fight it out to the last one standing, is free to download and play. But the game charges players for a slew of in-game items and experiences – known among gamers as microtransactions – such as costumes and dance moves. Microtransactions are a common feature in video games and one many gamers have come to expect and understand. But according to the FTC, Epic Games used a design tactic known as "dark patterns" that concealed in-game purchases, allowing children to rack up unauthorized charges without parental consent. In some cases, just the single accidental press of one button led players of all ages to incur charges that they hadn't agreed to, the FTC says. This could occur for players who tried to wake the game from sleep mode or who pressed a button to merely preview a purchasable item, the agency said in a complaint, which outline offenses from 2017 to 2022. Epic Games also was accused of locking customers who disputed unauthorized charges out of their accounts, causing them to lose access to all the content they purchased. Under a proposed administrative order with the FTC, Epic agreed to pay $245 million, which will be used to refund consumers. The settlement, reached in December 2022, represents the FTC's largest refund amount in a gaming case. Contributing: Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fortnite refund: How to file a claim, get a check from FTC
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Data breach at Cumberland County Hospital in Kentucky could impact patients, employees
Cumberland County Hospital, based in Burkesville, Kentucky, issued a national alert June 2 about a data security incident that may have exposed personal information of patients and current and past employees. "There was unauthorized access to our files on our computer system that contain personally identifiable information, including health information," the hospital said in a news release. Information that may have been hacked includes: name, date of birth, address, phone number, email address, race or ethnicity, Social Security number, medications, diagnoses, treatment notes, dates of service and other information. For employees, past or present, the breach could be deeper and also include tax forms, bank information and other personal information. "The electronic medical records system the hospital and its partners use to record and bill for patient care was not involved, the hospital alert says. Anyone treated at or employed by the hospital is encouraged to follow recommendations by the Federal Trade Commission regarding identity theft protection and details on how to place a fraud alert or security freeze on a credit file. Go to the "Advice and Guidance" section of the website. Tennessee residents can contact the Tennessee Identity Crimes Unit at 1150 Foster Ave., Cooper Hall, Nashville, through the email or visit the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security webpage for "Identity Theft Resources." Anyone who has questions or believes their personal data might be affected can call 866-461-3127. Beth Warren covers health care and can be reached at 502-265-8248. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Kentucky hospital data breach could expose patients to identity theft
CBS News
24-02-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Millions of Avast antivirus software customers are getting a refund. Here's why.
Millions of Americans who purchased antivirus software from Avast may be eligible for compensation due to a $16.5 million settlement by the company with the Federal Trade Commission, the regulatory agency announced on Monday. Nearly 3.7 million consumers who bought the software from Avast between August 2014 and January 2020 can expect emails to arrive in their inboxes this week or next notifying them of their eligibility to apply for compensation, the FTC stated. According to regulators, Avast for years collected information on customers through its antivirus software and browser extensions including data on: religious beliefs health concerns political leanings locations financial status Avast claimed its software would protect user privacy by blocking third-party tracking, but sold the their information without people's consent to more than 100 third-parties through a subsidiary called Jumpshot, the FTC alleged in 2024. Starting Monday, the agency will send email notices to nearly 3.7 million people who may qualify for a refund. Eligible consumers can file a claim online at If you get an email with a claim number, you can apply for a payment online at Those who need help filing a claim can call the refund administrator at 1-866-290-0165. To be eligible, consumers must file a claim by June 5. Payments will depend on factors including how many people file a claim.
