Which federal agency is primarily responsible for protecting consumers against computer-generated commercial fraud?

• A. Federal Trade Commission
• B. Federal Bureau of Investigation
• C. Securities and Exchange Commission
• D. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that protecting consumers from deceptive and fraudulent business practices, especially online, is the remit of a federal regulator focused on consumer protection and fair advertising. The Federal Trade Commission enforces laws that prohibit deceptive acts or practices in commerce, including computer-generated scams, misleading online advertising, and other deceptive marketing. It has broad authority to investigate, stop, and sanction deceptive schemes and to educate the public to prevent harm.

Other agencies serve different roles: the FBI handles criminal investigations into cybercrime, the SEC oversees securities fraud, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission concentrates on product safety and recalls. Given the focus on safeguarding consumers in the marketplace from online fraud, the FTC is the primary federal agency for this purpose.