Skip to main content

People use their mobile devices for everything from making calls and sending emails and text messages to maintaining contact lists, taking photos, surfing the web, and finding the best travel routes. You count on your device to help with your daily routine, and you expect that your information will be private and secure.

Well, some mobile device companies deal with privacy and data security better than others. For example, today, the FTC announced a settlement with BLU Products, Inc., which sells mobile devices through online and brick-and-mortar retailers, such as Amazon and Best Buy. According to the FTC, BLU deceived consumers about their privacy policies and data security. It told consumers that it would only share data with service providers if they had a business need to get the information. But, it allowed a China-based service provider called ADUPS to collect the content of text messages, real-time location information, call and text message logs with full phone numbers, contact lists, and lists of applications installed and used from consumers’ devices, even though the Chinese company didn’t have a business need for this information.

BLU also told consumers it maintained appropriate security measures. However, according to the FTC, the transmission of consumers’ personal information from BLU devices to ADUPS happened because BLU failed to put in place appropriate security procedures to protect consumers’ devices. For example, BLU failed to oversee the security practices of its service providers.

If you’re shopping for a mobile device, or any product, do some research. Do an online search to see what others are saying about the company and the products they sell. Enter the name of the company with words like review, privacy, scam, or complaint. Look through several pages of search results. For more tips, see Comparing Products Online.

Search Terms

It is your choice whether to submit a comment. If you do, you must create a user name, or we will not post your comment. The Federal Trade Commission Act authorizes this information collection for purposes of managing online comments. Comments and user names are part of the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) public records system, and user names also are part of the FTC’s computer user records system. We may routinely use these records as described in the FTC’s Privacy Act system notices. For more information on how the FTC handles information that we collect, please read our privacy policy.

The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. We review all comments before they are posted, and we won’t post comments that don’t comply with our commenting policy. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect.

  • We won’t post off-topic comments, repeated identical comments, or comments that include sales pitches or promotions.
  • We won’t post comments that include vulgar messages, personal attacks by name, or offensive terms that target specific people or groups.
  • We won’t post threats, defamatory statements, or suggestions or encouragement of illegal activity.
  • We won’t post comments that include personal information, like Social Security numbers, account numbers, home addresses, and email addresses. To file a detailed report about a scam, go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

We don't edit comments to remove objectionable content, so please ensure that your comment contains none of the above. The comments posted on this blog become part of the public domain. To protect your privacy and the privacy of other people, please do not include personal information. Opinions in comments that appear in this blog belong to the individuals who expressed them. They do not belong to or represent views of the Federal Trade Commission.

Kimmikay0
May 02, 2018
Hacked completely thru metro pcs
Bb43C
May 05, 2018

In reply to by Kimmikay0

Ever since I switched to boost I've been being cyber bullied and have reported it to boost and FTC and I am on the government do not call list, but still having issues with fraudulent calls.
catchcrooks
August 20, 2019

In reply to by Kimmikay0

I was and still being hacked thru t-mibile/metro pcs. Someone at FTC should've able to do something. Also 2 debit cards/2 credits never received to my po box.
JAMES R
May 02, 2018

DEAR CITIZEN TRESSLER - we must warn each and every fellow AMERICAN about the fact that the so called - free GOV CELLPHONES, being distributed with the BLU BRANDING, are everywhere, DATA MINING USA by CHInA INC. NOBODY IS PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT IS GOING ON SO SAD for american security all around

Mssnooker
May 08, 2018
On May 7th I rec'd 9 calls from a company professing to be Apple Inc. I looked up Apple and spoke to a rep. no way would they make cold calls. This was a cam telling me not to use any of my Apple products. Since I don't own any I already knew this was a scam or pshing. Each time they called, all 9 times it was a different #. Be aware.
Markfaraj88
June 12, 2018
Please don’t call
msocharlie04
May 17, 2019
stop robo calls
lynn
May 17, 2019
Here’s the e mail I recieved today ...... Congratulations!!! Your email emerged winner of ($850,000.00) in the recent Publishers Clearing House global sweepstakes email lottery. To take your winning cheque you are hereby required to fill in your details below and email it to the contest department: pchwinalert @usa. com *Given Names: *Mailing Address: *Telephone: *Gender: *Age: Yours Sincerely Deborah Holland Official Winners Selection Notice