Online comparison tools can help consumers choose the best credit card, bank account or other financial product, but if the results are manipulated — tweaked because of behind-the-scenes payments — they may be illegal.
That’s the warning sent out Thursday by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Such undisclosed coercion, which could be driven by financial benefit for the companies providing the tools, may be a violation of the Consumer Financial Protection Act, the agency said.
“The CFPB is working to ensure that digital advertisements for financial products are not disguised as unbiased and objective advice,” CFPB Director
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