The federal trade commission is facing a busy August, with its latest actions targeting deceptive business practices, consumer scams, privacy concerns, competition issues and unlawful conduct across several major industries. The newest developments include more than $23.8 million in payments to Grubhub drivers and diners and a court action against a large credit repair operation accused of taking nearly $200 million from consumers.
The latest enforcement activity adds to a broader series of cases announced throughout 2026. The agency has pursued matters involving health information, prescription drug pricing, farm equipment repairs, merger reporting, consumer reporting, travel services and financial scams.
For Americans, these cases matter because many of the practices under investigation can affect household finances, personal information, access to services and everyday purchasing decisions.
Latest FTC Developments in August 2026
The agency’s most recent public actions have focused heavily on direct consumer harm.
On August 12, the FTC announced that it was sending more than $23.8 million to drivers and diners affected by Grubhub’s deceptive advertising claims and other unlawful conduct.
Two days earlier, on August 10, the agency announced a court action against a sprawling credit repair operation involving 17 related companies and their principals. The operation allegedly collected nearly $200 million through unlawful upfront and recurring charges.
Another significant development came on August 7, when the agency announced a policy statement stating that it would not pursue claims based on disparate-impact or “unfair discrimination” theories.
Together, these developments provide a clear picture of the agency’s current direction. Consumer fraud, deceptive marketing and competition remain important areas, while the agency has also made changes to its enforcement approach.
More Than $23.8 Million Going to Grubhub Drivers and Diners
One of the biggest recent consumer developments involves Grubhub.
The agency announced that more than $23.8 million would be distributed to drivers and diners who were harmed by conduct involving the food delivery platform.
The payments stem from an earlier enforcement case involving allegations that Grubhub misled consumers about delivery costs, made claims about driver earnings and engaged in other unlawful practices.
The latest development is important because it moves the case beyond enforcement action and into the refund stage.
Refund programs can provide direct financial relief to people who were affected by conduct challenged by the agency. Consumers generally do not need to pay an outside company to receive legitimate government-administered refunds.
The Grubhub development also highlights how enforcement cases can continue long after an initial settlement or court action. A case may involve an investigation, legal action, settlement, distribution of funds and additional compliance requirements.
For drivers and diners who may qualify, the payment process is therefore an important part of the overall case.
Major Credit Repair Case Raises Consumer Concerns
The August 10 credit repair action is another major development.
The agency asked a federal court to temporarily halt a credit repair operation involving 17 related companies and their principals. The defendants allegedly used online advertising and websites to attract consumers who were searching for help with debts or negative credit information.
The operation allegedly promised consumers that it could substantially improve their credit scores by removing negative information from credit reports.
The agency also alleged that the businesses charged consumers upfront fees and recurring fees, resulting in nearly $200 million in charges.
Credit repair has long been a sensitive area because consumers often seek these services when they are already dealing with financial pressure.
A damaged credit history can affect the ability to qualify for loans, rent housing, obtain certain services or secure favorable financial terms. That can make consumers especially vulnerable to companies promising fast results.
The latest case reinforces the importance of carefully evaluating credit repair claims.
Accurate negative information generally cannot simply be removed because a consumer dislikes it. Companies also cannot lawfully mislead people about what their services can accomplish.
What the Credit Repair Case Means for Consumers
The case is particularly significant because of the scale of the alleged operation.
The agency said the defendants used Google search advertisements to reach consumers looking for information about debts and collection accounts. Those consumers were then allegedly directed toward credit repair services.
This type of marketing can create confusion because people searching for legitimate information about a debt may encounter advertisements that appear to offer a solution to their financial problem.
The allegations also involve recurring charges.
Subscription-style billing can become costly when consumers do not understand how often they will be charged or what they will receive in return. Businesses that use recurring payments must clearly communicate important terms and provide lawful ways for consumers to cancel.
The court action temporarily halts the operation while the legal case proceeds. The allegations remain allegations unless and until they are established through the legal process.
New Direction on Disparate-Impact Enforcement
Another major August development involves the agency’s enforcement policy.
On August 7, the FTC announced that it would not pursue claims based on disparate-impact or “unfair discrimination” theories.
The policy statement represents a significant clarification of how the agency intends to approach certain discrimination-related claims.
Disparate-impact theories generally focus on whether a policy or practice produces unequal effects on a protected group, even when there is no allegation that the business intentionally designed the practice to discriminate.
The agency’s August policy statement narrows the circumstances in which it will pursue claims under that theory.
This is an important policy development because enforcement priorities can influence how businesses evaluate compliance risks.
It also demonstrates that the agency’s work is not limited to individual consumer refund cases. Policy statements can affect how companies, lawyers and compliance teams interpret the agency’s future enforcement direction.
Privacy Enforcement Remains a Major Issue
Privacy has remained another important area of activity in 2026.
In July, the FTC and state officials sued Hims & Hers over alleged deceptive and unlawful privacy practices.
The complaint alleged that the telehealth company shared sensitive health information with third-party advertising platforms while making representations about privacy.
The case also included allegations involving billing and subscription cancellation.
The privacy portion of the case is especially notable because health information can be highly sensitive. Consumers often provide personal details to telehealth companies because they expect that information to receive appropriate protection.
The case remains active, and the allegations have not been finally determined by a court.
Still, the action demonstrates the continuing attention being given to the way companies collect, use and share personal information.
Hims & Hers Case Also Involves Billing Practices
The case extends beyond privacy.
The complaint also alleges that some consumers could face charges for prescription treatments after completing an online intake process without receiving the consultation they expected.
Another part of the case concerns subscription cancellation.
Recurring billing has become a frequent consumer-protection issue as more businesses move services online. Customers can sign up within minutes, but cancellation can sometimes become more difficult.
The agency has repeatedly examined whether companies provide clear information about recurring charges and meaningful cancellation options.
The Hims & Hers case places those issues within the growing online health services market.
Because the case is still being litigated, consumers should distinguish between allegations and findings that have been established through a final legal decision.
Pharmacy Benefit Managers Remain Under Pressure
Competition enforcement has also been active in the prescription drug market.
In July, the agency reached a major settlement with Caremark Rx and Zinc Health Services involving allegations concerning pharmacy benefit manager practices and insulin pricing.
The settlement includes requirements intended to increase transparency and change certain business practices.
The agency said the agreement could result in up to $8.5 billion in consumer savings over 10 years. It also identified the possibility of up to $4.5 billion in additional savings connected with point-of-sale rebates during the same period.
The case is part of a larger examination of the country’s major pharmacy benefit managers.
PBMs sit between different parts of the prescription drug system and can influence how medicines are priced, reimbursed and distributed.
The agency’s actions in this area reflect concerns about how complex rebate arrangements can affect drug costs and competition.
Farm Equipment Repair Case Brings Attention to Right-to-Repair
Another major competition case involved Deere & Company.
In July, the agency and five states secured a settlement in an antitrust lawsuit concerning repair restrictions on farm equipment.
The settlement requires Deere to provide farmers and independent repair providers with important repair resources.
Those resources include capabilities related to electronic systems, fault codes, reprogramming and technical repair information.
Modern farm equipment relies heavily on computer systems and software. That means repair access can be very different from repairing older mechanical equipment.
The settlement is designed to give farmers more options when maintaining and repairing their equipment.
For agricultural businesses, repair costs can directly affect operating expenses and the amount of time equipment remains unavailable.
The case therefore connects competition enforcement with a practical issue facing farmers.
Merger Reporting Rules Remain Important
The agency also continues to enforce federal requirements governing certain mergers and acquisitions.
In July, it announced $12 million in penalties involving alleged violations of pre-merger reporting requirements in connection with an acquisition involving Edwards Lifesciences and JC Medical.
Certain qualifying transactions must be reported to federal regulators before they can close.
These requirements give regulators an opportunity to review transactions that could affect competition.
Companies that fail to comply with applicable reporting obligations can face significant financial consequences.
The enforcement action serves as a reminder that merger compliance is not simply a procedural matter. Companies involved in large transactions must carefully determine whether federal notification rules apply.
Travel Industry Also Faces Consumer Scrutiny
Online travel services remain another area of enforcement attention.
In July, companies operating Hopper travel apps agreed to pay $35 million to resolve allegations involving unauthorized fees and deceptive statements concerning fees and product benefits.
Digital travel platforms compete heavily on advertised prices, discounts and special offers.
That makes transparency especially important.
Consumers need to know what they will actually pay before completing a purchase. If additional fees appear later or important conditions are not clearly disclosed, consumers may feel misled.
The Hopper case reflects the broader push toward clearer online pricing and advertising practices.
Consumer Reporting Continues to Draw Enforcement Attention
Tenant screening and consumer reporting are also important areas for consumers.
In July, RentGrow agreed to pay $2.25 million to resolve allegations involving the Fair Credit Reporting Act and federal consumer-protection law.
Tenant screening reports can influence whether someone obtains an apartment or rental home.
Errors in such reports can therefore have serious consequences for consumers.
Federal rules impose obligations on companies that prepare and use consumer reports. The latest enforcement activity shows that these requirements continue to receive federal attention.
The agency has also pursued other consumer-reporting matters involving major businesses, demonstrating that compliance expectations extend beyond traditional credit bureaus.
Made-in-USA Claims Remain Under Review
The agency has also continued to challenge misleading claims about products being made in the United States.
Earlier in 2026, the agency announced several enforcement actions involving products marketed as American-made despite allegations involving imported components or products.
Country-of-origin claims can influence purchasing decisions, especially when consumers intentionally seek products manufactured domestically.
Businesses that use unqualified American-made claims therefore need to ensure those statements meet applicable requirements.
The issue also has a competition component. Companies that invest in domestic manufacturing can be placed at a disadvantage if competitors make similar claims without meeting the same standards.
How the FTC Protects Consumers
The agency has two broad responsibilities: consumer protection and competition.
Consumer protection work includes cases involving:
- Deceptive advertising
- Fraud and scams
- Unfair billing
- Privacy violations
- Credit reporting
- Subscription practices
- Financial products
- Health-related marketing
- Business opportunities
Competition enforcement covers areas such as mergers, monopolization and other conduct that can harm competitive markets.
The agency can pursue cases through administrative proceedings or federal courts, depending on the circumstances and the legal authority involved.
Possible outcomes can include monetary penalties, consumer refunds, injunctions, settlements, changes to business practices and other forms of relief.
What Consumers Should Watch Next
The latest enforcement activity suggests that consumers should continue paying attention to several areas.
Online advertising remains a major source of consumer exposure. Search advertisements, social media promotions and influencer marketing can all shape purchasing decisions.
Recurring billing is another important issue. Consumers should review subscription terms before agreeing to automatic payments and keep records of cancellation requests.
Financial services deserve particular caution. Companies promising to repair credit, eliminate debt or quickly improve financial circumstances should be examined carefully before consumers pay fees.
Privacy is also becoming increasingly important as more services collect sensitive information through websites and mobile applications.
Federal Trade Commission Activity Shows a Broad Enforcement Agenda
The latest 2026 cases show that the agency’s work extends across almost every part of the American economy.
Food delivery workers, diners, people seeking credit repair, telehealth customers, farmers, renters, travelers and prescription drug users have all appeared in recent enforcement matters.
The agency is also adjusting its policy approach under its current leadership, making the August policy statement on disparate-impact claims another important development to watch.
At the same time, the latest consumer cases show that enforcement remains focused on practical financial and commercial harms.
The Grubhub payments provide direct relief. The credit repair case seeks to stop an alleged operation that collected substantial amounts from consumers. The Hims & Hers lawsuit addresses alleged privacy and billing issues. The Caremark and Deere settlements focus on competition and business practices.
These developments make August an important month for anyone tracking consumer protection and competition policy in the United States.
The latest developments are still unfolding, so share your thoughts in the comments and stay informed as new updates emerge.