The Federal Trade Commission is cracking down on companies it believes use deceptive digital tactics to manipulate consumers into parting with their money, and a consent order requiring Credit Karma to pay $3 million for promoting phony preapproved credit cards offers is the latest example.

A complaint the FTC filed in September claims Credit Karma misled consumers into applying for the cards through marketing emails sent between February 2018 and April 2021 that falsely said they were “pre-approved” or had “90% odds of approval.” Instead, the FTC says, consumers wasted their time applying for the cards, and their credit scores took a hit.