Though global law enforcement officials took down two of the world’s largest dark web drug websites in the past few weeks, another site continues to peddle thousands of painkillers and other narcotics. Empire, the dark web site that sells 18,000 drugs, including oxycodone and the powerful synthetic opioid, fentanyl, continues to operate. In such a buzzworthy market, it’s not completely...
After major retailers, like Rite Aid, CVS, and Walgreens, announced their plans to test the market’s interest in CBD products, the former U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner said the pharmacies could expect to run into regulatory problems. For example, Rite Aid started to sell creams, lotions, and lip balms that contain cannabidiol, which is a non-psychoactive ingredient in...
Priority Payout Corp. and the owner of the payment processing company are banned permanently from engaging in processing or assisting in it, and must pay a contempt judgment of $1.8 million, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Priority Payout Corp. owner, Thomas Wells, has agreed to settle FTC charges that he and his company repeatedly violated a 2009 court...
Recently, Discover Financial Services learned the price of some cash rewards for using its credit cards. The credit card company reported in April that its first quarter discount and interchange revenue was $677 million, which was a 5% increase from the same quarter last year. Meanwhile, the company spent more than half of that amount – $446 million – to...
The multibillion-dollar merger/acquisition between Fiserv Inc. and First Data Corp. may have caught many by surprise, but it makes perfect sense. As the financial-institution market in the United States continues to shrink, it forces the consolidation of core-banking solutions and the processors that service those banks. Therefore, Fiserv’s move is smart and creates compelling strategic and financial benefits for the...
The groundwork has been laid for widespread U.S. contactless payments adoption, but what will be the impetus for actually taking shape is a mystery, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston report, “Tap to Pay: Will Contactless Cards Pave the Way for NFC Mobile Payments in the U.S.?” Background on the Contactless Card and Mobile Payments Movement In 2015,...
During the last few years, Mastercard has relied on acquisitions and fintech investments to bolster its skills and competencies. And, according to its company president, it has no plans to slowing down this strategy. Its tactic of acquiring fintechs in all spheres of payment has helped it gain new deals and increase its revenues. In April, Mastercard announced that it...
Apple Pay is nearing another milestone– it is on track to process 10 billion transactions by the end of 2019. Getting a lift from transit systems that are embracing digital wallets and the increase of merchants using contactless payments, Apple Pay saw another quarter of record volume, the company chief executive, Tim Cook, announced recently. Though it is unclear how...
With Brexit no closer to a resolution, financial technology businesses are taking matters into their own hands to prepare for its impact on cross-border trade. With all the uncertainties surrounding the U.S. and Britain, Veem and Tipalti are the most recent fintechs to look for new ways to entice people to trade with China. Recently, Veem, which is a mobile...
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) estimates that consumers lost $24.6 million from tech-support scams in 2015 and 2016. The average consumer loses about $280 on each scam. Last year, the FTC received nearly 143,000 reports about tech support scams. But, an even more revealing statistic is that the FTC found that people 60 and older were five times more likely...
