Amazon AI scammers duped investors out of millions with ‘passive income’ scheme, FTC alleges

The Federal Trade Commission is going after an e-commerce company that allegedly took millions of dollars from consumers as part of a “passive income” scheme, which spun up Amazon storefronts on their behalf and promised “insane returns” that were higher than the stock market. The FTC said Tuesday it filed a lawsuit against the company, called Click Profit; its […]

Klarna, nearing IPO, plucks lucrative Walmart fintech partnership from rival Affirm

Swedish fintech firm Klarna will be the exclusive provider of buy now, pay later loans for Walmart, taking a coveted partnership away from rival Affirm, CNBC has learned. Klarna, which just disclosed its intention to go public in the U.S., will provide loans to Walmart customers in stores and online through the retailer’s majority-owned fintech startup OnePay, according to people with knowledge […]

PepsiCo buys prebiotic soda brand Poppi for nearly $2 billion

PepsiCo said Monday that it is buying prebiotic soda brand Poppi for nearly $2 billion. While soda consumption has broadly fallen over the last two decades in the U.S., prebiotic sodas, fueled by industry newcomers Poppi and Olipop, have won over health-conscious consumers over the last five years. The category’s growth makes it attractive for Pepsi and […]

Goodbye to ‘bags fly free’ on Southwest Airlines, the last freebie in America

Almost nothing is guaranteed in life. Certainly not weather, electricity, health, tariffs or eggs. But for more than 50 years, American consumers could count on Southwest Airlines letting them check bags for free. Dallas-based Southwest is ending the policy in May. Customers are not happy. “It was the only reason I flew Southwest,” said MaKensey Kaye Alford, a 21-year-old singer and actress who […]