CFPB warns remittance transfer providers about false ads

The CFPB yesterday announced it has issued a new circular warning remittance transfer providers that false advertising about the cost or speed of sending a remittance transfer can violate federal law. The Bureau said that companies in the marketplace are charging junk fees on international money transfers and making false claims about the speed of transfers. The circular highlights several marketing practices relating to sending international money transfers that may violate the Consumer Financial Protection Act’s (CFPA) prohibition on deceptive acts or practices. This prohibition is enforced by the CFPB, states, and other regulators. Guidance in the circular applies both to traditional providers of international money transfers and to “digital wallets” that offer the capability to send money internationally from the United States.

Specifically, today’s circular addresses the following practices by remittance providers, including digital wallet providers that offer remittance services, that consumers have complained to the CFPB about and that the CFPB has observed in its market monitoring:

• Falsely marketing “no fee” or “free” services
• Burying promotional conditions in fine print
• Deceptively advertising how long transfers will take