In Episode 9 of ComplianceTalk, Michele Shuster and Chad Blackham examine a wave of enforcement activity signaling that regulators at every level, from federal agencies to state attorneys general to self-regulatory bodies, are tightening their grip on business practices across multiple fronts at once.
On the marketing side, Kalshi’s referral to the FTC for undisclosed influencer payments is a reminder that paid endorsement relationships require proper disclosure. Businesses that bypass self-regulatory programs like the BBB’s National Advertising Division may find themselves facing federal scrutiny instead. Similarly, voice service providers that are ignoring industry traceback requests are drawing civil investigative demands from the AG Anti-Robocall Task Force, a coalition of all 50 state attorneys general that is actively pursuing non-compliant companies.
The episode also digs into the FTC’s latest fraud report, which found $3.5 billion lost to imposter scams alone in 2025, part of a staggering $16 billion in total fraud losses, with bank, business, and government impersonators all playing a role. On the telemarketing front, a new FCC proposed rulemaking could significantly reshape how businesses use foreign call centers, with potential requirements around call origination ratios, foreign-origin labeling, and English proficiency standards. The episode closes on junk fees, where New Jersey’s executive order requiring an agency-wide review of junk fee practices signals a broader, more aggressive state-level approach that others may soon follow.
