FTC Spoofs Credit Report Commercial

March 11, 2009

The FTC is taking aim at what it believes is a potentially deceptive TV commercial for FreeCreditReport.com, a financial Web site owned by credit bureau Experian, by publicizing a spoof advertisement for AnnualCreditReport.com -- the only authorized source to get a free annual credit report under federal law. The FTC's video, which was posted on YouTube earlier this week, highlights the differences between AnnualCreditReport.com and other sites that require users to pay hidden fees or agree to additional services. The FTC's video has been viewed 8,252 on YouTube, which is roughly equivalent to the number of times the ad for FreeCreditReport.com airs over the course of an afternoon on MSNBC, or so it seems.

Juliana Gruenwald

Tech Writer

E-Mail: jgruenwald@nationaljournal.com.

Juliana Gruenwald has been covering tech and telecom issues for more than a decade for National Journal, Interactive Week, BNA and Congressional Quarterly. This is her second stint with National Journal. She was recruited by NJ in 1998 to help launch its first tech policy publication, Technology Daily. She left in 2000 to cover international tech and telecom issues for Ziff Davis Media's Interactive Week magazine. She started her career at United Press International as the wire service's first Helen Thomas Intern. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Minnesota. A Minneapolis native, she misses the lakes but not the cold.

Josh Smith

Tech Reporter

E-Mail: joshsmith@nationaljournal.com.

Josh Smith covers technology policy as a staff reporter for National Journal. He previously interned at National Journal Daily, a Senate press office, and the Deseret News in Salt Lake City where he covered the state legislature, courts, and crime. In 2009 he graduated with honors from Southern Utah University after managing an award-winning student newspaper as editor-in-chief. Josh has received state, regional and national awards for his political and policy reporting, including first place in CapitolBeat’s 2009 Best of Statehouse Reporting college competition. A native of drop-dead-gorgeous Utah, Josh lives in Virginia with his wife, Amber.

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