미 연방거래위원회, FTC Takes Action Against

미 연방거래위원회가(Federal Trade Commission) 2026-09-08 공개한 'FTC Takes Action Against Payment Processor Humboldt Merchant Services for Knowingly Facilitating Payment Processing for Sham Merchants' 발표를 바탕으로, 확인 가능한 사실을 중심으로 정리했습니다.

어떤 발표인가

Payment processing company Humboldt Merchant Services will pay $12 million and be permanently banned from processing payments for merchants with a heightened risk of potential fraud to settle allegations that Humboldt processed payments for merchants that defrauded consumers.

발표에서 확인되는 내용

• According to the FTC’s complaint , Humboldt processed payments for more than 1,000 merchants that were shell entities that served as fronts or pass-throughs for fraudulent companies engaged in unauthorized billing scams, including Legion Media , which the FTC shut down in 2024.
• “Humboldt was processing payments for companies despite red flags indicating they were scamming consumers,” said Katherine White, Deputy Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.
• “This case underscores the FTC’s commitment to holding companies accountable for knowingly supporting fraudulent businesses.” The FTC’s complaint alleges that Humboldt: Opened and processed payments for merchants it knew, or consciously avoided knowing, were shell companies used by undisclosed third parties engaged in fraud; Opened these sham accounts despite red flags indicating the merchants were shells and typically incurred chargebacks at rates that were almost 10 times higher than what credit card brands view as excessive; and Attempted to increase the volume of transactions processed through these sham accounts by placing them on a lower-risk bank “BIN” (a bank identification number licensed by the credit card networks), used by an affiliated entity, to improve the likelihood that attempted transactions would be approved by cardholders’ banks.
• In addition to paying $12 million for consumer redress, the proposed order will prohibit Humboldt from: engaging in or assisting others who are engaged in credit card laundering; payment processing for four categories of merchants: straw companies; merchants on the Mastercard Alert to Control High-Risk (MATCH) list for reasons including excessive chargebacks, laundering and fraud; merchants that have been subject to law enforcement action; and e-commerce entities that use third-party mailbox providers, such as UPS stores, as their only business location and either use negative option billing, are new or do not have past processing history.
• making or assisting others in providing false or misleading information to obtain payment processing, such as misleading information about merchants in applications for merchant accounts; and engaging in, or assisting those engaged in, tactics to avoid fraud and risk monitoring, including load balancing.

숫자와 고유명사

• Payment processing company Humboldt Merchant Services will pay $12 million and be permanently banned from processing payments for merchants with a heightened risk of potential fraud to settle allegations that Humboldt processed payments for merchants that defr
• According to the FTC’s complaint , Humboldt processed payments for more than 1,000 merchants that were shell entities that served as fronts or pass-throughs for fraudulent companies engaged in unauthorized billing scams, including Legion Media , which the FTC
• “Humboldt was processing payments for companies despite red flags indicating they were scamming consumers,” said Katherine White, Deputy Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection
• “This case underscores the FTC’s commitment to holding companies accountable for knowingly supporting fraudulent businesses.”
• The FTC’s complaint alleges that Humboldt:

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원문 확인

• Federal Trade Commission 공식 자료