The FTC settled allegations against Stormy Wellington, a high-level multilevel marketing (MLM) participant, for using false and unsubstantiated earnings claims to recruit new members for Total Life Changes and Farmasi MLMs. The stipulated final order prohibits Wellington from making deceptive earnings representations, requires written substantiation of all earnings claims, and mandates notification to her downline participants about the order’s prohibitions. No monetary penalty was imposed.
The stipulated order prohibits Wellington from misrepresenting potential or actual participant earnings, reasons for lack of compensation, or other material facts about MLM business ventures, including via images of luxury purchases or travel. She must substantiate all earnings claims with written evidence and provide such evidence to interested potential participants upon request. Additionally, she is required to notify all her downline MLM participants about the order’s prohibitions on deceptive earnings claims.
In-house legal teams at MLM companies, direct selling firms, or businesses using independent contractors for recruitment should review participant, influencer, and recruitment vendor agreements to prohibit deceptive or unsubstantiated earnings claims. Clauses governing income representations must require written substantiation of all earnings claims, limit statements to actual participant earnings data, and ban misleading implications of guaranteed income. Teams should also add clauses requiring participants to notify their downline of compliance orders, align agreements with mandatory income disclosure requirements, and include indemnification for deceptive earnings claims made by contractors. Marketing and advertising agreements with high-level recruiters should explicitly ban false earnings promises and require retention of substantiation records.
Entity
Stormy Wellington
Industry
OtherOfficial Press Release
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2026/04/ftc-takes-action-against-high-level-mlm-participant-who-deceived-workers-about-amount-money-they-can
2523145wellingtoncomplaint
https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/2523145wellingtoncomplaint.pdf
Wellington Order
https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/Wellington-Order.pdf
Federal Trade Commission Enforcement Page
https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement
"Stormy Wellington"
"April 13, 2026"
"used false or baseless earning claims to recruit workers, most of whom did not earn any money from the venture."
"Wellington will be prohibited from misrepresenting or assisting others in misrepresenting how much money others can earn from various business ventures."
The FTC sent warning letters to 12 companies offering 'nudify' tools that generate nonconsensual intimate images, for failing to comply with the TAKE IT DOWN Act (TIDA) by not providing a mechanism for victims to request removal of such content. The letters urge immediate compliance with TIDA, which requires platforms to remove nonconsensual intimate images within 48 hours of a valid request. Noncompliant companies may face future legal action and civil penalties of up to $53,088 per violation.
The FTC began enforcing the TAKE IT DOWN Act on May 19, 2026, a law requiring covered platforms to establish a process for victims to request removal of nonconsensual intimate images and delete such content within 48 hours of a valid request. The agency launched a consumer complaint portal, issued compliance guidance for businesses and consumers, and sent reminder letters to major platforms including Meta, TikTok, and X about their obligations under the law. No specific penalties or enforcement actions against individual companies were announced in this release.
$6.5M
A federal court held Cliq Inc. and its executives Andrew Phillips and John Blaugrund in civil contempt for multiple violations of a 2015 FTC order requiring the payment processor to prevent enabling consumer fraud. The court found the defendants facilitated fraud by processing transactions for high-risk merchants, avoiding fraud monitoring, failing to conduct required underwriting, and ignoring chargeback thresholds. The court imposed $6.5 million in civil contempt sanctions against the defendants.
$795.8M
The FTC and State of Nevada settled charges with lead defendants of the IM Mastery Academy MLM scheme, including Chris and Isis Terry and their affiliated companies, over false earnings claims used to promote financial training programs and a multi-level marketing venture. The stipulated order imposes a $795.8 million judgment, with defendants surrendering nearly $90 million in assets including luxury real estate, vehicles, jewelry, and a yacht, totaling over $100 million with prior judgments from other involved defendants. The order also bans defendants from selling trading-training services, prohibits false earnings claims, and restricts deceptive practices including negative-option misrepresentations and telemarketing violations.
The FTC and State of Illinois, via the Department of Justice, filed a complaint against B.E.S.T. GDR LLC (d/b/a Premium Home Service) and its owner Yosef Bernath for creating thousands of fake home repair business listings with fabricated five-star reviews to deceive consumers. The defendants allegedly routed consumer calls to unqualified representatives, arranged for unlicensed technicians, and violated the FTC Act, Reviews and Testimonials Rule, Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, and Illinois consumer protection laws. No monetary penalty has been imposed yet as the case is in initial filing stages.
Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson sent letters to over a dozen major technology companies reminding them of their obligation to comply with the Take It Down Act (TIDA) by May 19, 2026. TIDA requires covered platforms to establish a process for victims, including children, to request removal of nonconsensual intimate images, with takedown of content and all identical copies required within 48 hours of a valid request. The FTC also issued supplemental guidance to help companies prepare for compliance and warned that it will monitor and enforce violations of the law.