Whats an Astroturf Group?
An Astroturf group is an organization created by industry lobbyists that attempts to pose as a legitimate grassroots organization. These “sock-puppet” groups advocate for industry-backed interests while pretending to have the well-being of consumers in mind. Often times these groups engage in multi-million dollar smear campaigns against legitimate organizations working for the interests of consumers. While their baseless attacks are always proven to be mere innuendos and outlandish claims, they do tend to distract the American public from the real issues and truth. The best tactic against these Astroturf groups is to expose their industry ties and clear bias. Please check back as we highlight more Astroturf groups and help preserve responsible lending practices. To learn how to spot an Astroturf group, please check out this article in The Consumerist.
