How to Prevent FTC Intimidation Tactics

How to Prevent FTC Intimidation Tactics

Dealing with the FTC can be scary. Their investigations and interviews often feel like intimidation tactics. But you have rights! And there are things you can do to protect yourself. This article will give you some tips on how to prevent FTC intimidation during probes and interviews.

What to Do During an FTC Investigation

First, stay calm. Easier said than done, I know! But panicking won’t help. Take a few deep breaths. The FTC isn’t out to get you, they just want information.

Next, get a lawyer. Seriously, this is so important. The FTC has tons of experienced lawyers on their side. You need someone equally experienced on yours. A good lawyer can help make sure you don’t accidentally say something bad. They can also object if the FTC tries intimidation tactics.

Now, cooperate fully with the investigation. Hand over all the documents they request. Answer their questions honestly. Resisting or avoiding the probe will just drag it out and make you look bad.

But, don’t go overboard cooperating either. Only provide what they specifically ask for. Volunteering extra stuff can get you in trouble too. Your lawyer will help figure out what’s appropriate to share.

If the investigation reveals problems in your business, fix them! This shows the FTC you’re taking their concerns seriously. It may even lead to a more lenient outcome. Just make sure you run changes by your lawyer first.

Handling FTC Interviews

FTC interviews can be intense. Their questions are designed to catch you off guard and get you to admit to misconduct. Having a lawyer present will help a lot.

Before the interview, prep with your lawyer. Go over likely questions and practice answering them. Make sure you understand your rights too.

During the interview, stay calm and stick to the facts. Don’t speculate or exaggerate. If you don’t know or don’t remember something, just say so. It’s better than guessing wrong.

If you start to feel flustered or intimidated, ask for a break. Take a few minutes to collect yourself. Your lawyer can also object if the questioning gets too aggressive.

After the interview, go over it with your lawyer. Make sure you didn’t misspeak about anything important. Your lawyer can follow up with the FTC to clarify any concerns.

Don’t Be Afraid to Assert Your Rights

The FTC has an important job to do. But they must follow rules too. You have rights that protect you from truly unfair intimidation tactics.

For example, the FTC can’t stop you from communicating truthful info to the public. So they can’t gag you from issuing press releases or alerts during an investigation.

They also can’t make unreasonable document demands. If they ask for too much irrelevant stuff, your lawyer can object. The courts can limit the scope of their requests.

Most importantly, never hesitate to get legal advice. The law is on your side too. Don’t let the FTC bully you into giving up your rights.

Watch Out for Scams Impersonating the FTC

Real FTC investigations will come on official letterhead and be signed by FTC staff. But scammers sometimes pretend to be the FTC too.

Some will call demanding money to renew fake licenses or pay fines. Others send invoices for products you never ordered. They can be very intimidating on the phone.

Don’t fall for these scams! The real FTC won’t cold call demanding money. Anything suspicious should be checked with your lawyer first.

You can also report scams to the FTC at FTC.gov/Complaint. Spread the word to employees too, so no one falls victim.

Final Tips

Dealing with the FTC is never fun. But you have rights and protections. Remember these tips:

• Stay calm
• Get a lawyer immediately
• Cooperate fully with legitimate requests
• Assert your rights when appropriate
• Watch out for FTC impersonator scams

With the right preparation, you can handle an FTC probe or interview without feeling intimidated. And a good lawyer will make sure your rights are protected.