WASHINGTON—The U.S. Federal Trade Commission said it charged two firms with making false claims about devices purporting to protect consumers against mobile-phone radiation.
The FTC said it filed a lawsuit to shut down Stock Value 1, of Boca Raton, Florida, and Comstar Communications, of Sacramento, California. Stock Value 1 sells the “SafeTShield” and “NoDanger” products, while Comstar markets “WaveShield,” “WaveShield 1000” and “WaveShield 2000.” The FTC said the two firms claimed their gadgets reduce up to 99 percent of radiation from cell phones.
“These companies are using a shield of misrepresentation to block consumers from the facts,” said J. Howard Beales III, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.
Beales said attempts to reach settlements with the two firms were unsuccessful. He said more FTC investigations of other radiation shield makers are in progress and that the agency knows of no company whose product curbs mobile-phone radiation. Mobile-phone firms themselves have patents to reduce radiation.
A woman who identified herself as a receptionist for Stock Value 1 said the owners of the company are out of town. Calls seeking comment from Comstar were left on the company’s answering machine.
