Two N.Y. Companies Settle Charges They Pushed Cell Phone Shields With False Claims
Newsday
August 06, 2003

Two companies settled charges they made false and misleading claims about their cell phone radiation shields, the government said Wednesday.

As part of its settlement with the Federal Trade Commission, one of the companies, Rhino International Inc., agreed to pay $342,665 to consumers who purchased its "WaveScrambler" patch, the government said.

Both Rhino, based in Sag Harbor, N.Y., and Safety Cell Inc. of New York City are required by separate settlements to have adequate scientific evidence to back future claims about their products, the FTC said.

Neither company could be reached immediately for comment.

Both companies marketed shields touted as protecting cell phone users from radiation, the government said.

Rhino said its WaveScrambler could block 99 percent of electromagnetic waves emitted by cellular phones and cordless phones, the FTC charged. Safety Cell said its "WaveGuard" blocked most of the electromagnetic energy emitted from cell phones.

The FTC won suits earlier this year against two companies it accused of similarly misleading statements about their cell phone shields. Stock Value 1 Inc. of Boca Raton, Fla., and Comstar Communications Inc. of West Sacramento, Calif., were barred from making such claims.