Image

Say you’re interested in learning about your family’s ancestry or your likelihood of developing certain genetically related health conditions. You compare reviews online and order a DNA testing kit. But can you trust the marketing claims and reviews you find? The law, the FTC, and the State of California say you should be able to.

Today, the FTC and California filed a lawsuit claiming CRI Genetics, a California-based DNA testing company, created misleading websites with fake reviews and ratings claiming their DNA tests were more accurate than other companies’. The agencies also say the company used a series of sneaky practices that tricked people into making purchases they didn’t intend and kept them from easily canceling or getting their money back. To settle the case, CRI Genetics will pay $700,000 in fines to the State of California and agrees to no longer make marketing claims without scientific evidence to back them.

If you’re considering using a DNA testing service, here’s what to know.

• Make sure you didn’t get charged for something you don’t want. It’s against the law for a company to charge you for anything without your permission. If it did, contact the company to cancel and get a refund. Make sure you get — and keep — the written confirmation of the refund.
• Think about the source of the reviews you’re reading. What do you know about the reviewers that makes them trustworthy?
• Be wary of companies that say their reports are the most accurate at predicting ancestry. It can be hard to compare accuracy between companies because results depend on the number and types of DNA samples matched with yours.
• Report to the FTC. If you’re doing business with a company and you notice that you can’t easily cancel or get your money back, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.