Consumer Fraud FAQ

What is Consumer Fraud?

Consumer fraud is a broad term used to describe unfair or deceptive business practices, perpetrated by companies with the intent to obtain financial advantage at the expense of consumers. In many cases, these fraudulent companies commit unscrupulous practices against countless numbers of consumers.

Because individuals are not typically in the financial position to pursue independent legal action, our qualified attorneys prosecute these claims as class action lawsuits, helping all consumers aggrieved by a similar act of fraud to obtain compensation for their financial losses.

Whether your loss is relatively small (under $100) or in the range of hundreds or even thousands of dollars, a class action claim can help you recover your losses and hold the deceitful business responsible for their actions.

What are the different types of consumer fraud?

Unfortunately, consumer fraud can be carried out in a number of ways. False and misleading advertising, auto fraud, insurance fraud, unfair debt collection, deceptive internet practices, and the sale of defective products are just a few examples of the types of consumer fraud that exist.

What are some examples of consumer fraud?

Consumer fraud can occur when a company or its representative employs high-pressure or deceptive sales tactics, misrepresents or lies about the capabilities, functioning, or quality of a product or service, offers one product but delivers another (called bait and switch), uses fine print to defraud consumers, improperly bills for a product or service, offers a defective product, and more. For more specific examples of consumer fraud, please see our section on consumer fraud lawsuits.

How are consumers protected against fraudulent business practices?

Both state and federal laws protect consumers from unfair and deceptive business practices. Consumer fraud laws also regulate the way that businesses are allowed to advertise, promote, and sell their products and broadly prohibit deception when dealing with consumers. The Federal Trade Commission works to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid fraud. The federal agency published countless consumer resources, which provide extremely valuable for consumers. State attorneys general offices and state consumer protection agencies also serve to protect the public from fraud.

While these agencies are responsible for investigating consumer fraud complaints, they do not help individual consumers recover their losses. This is best achieved with the help of a qualified consumer fraud lawyer. An experienced attorney can file a consumer fraud class action lawsuit to help all those similarly deceived by a business obtain compensation for financial losses, litigation costs, and more.

What should I do after I have experienced consumer fraud?

The best way to protect your interests is to seek the early advice of a qualified consumer fraud attorney. If you suspect you have been defrauded, it is likely that others have been similarly aggrieved. By speaking with an attorney, you can get answers to your questions and determine the best way to exercise your legal rights. You can also determine what government agencies you should contact to file an official complaint.

It will cost you nothing to speak with an attorney in order to determine your legal rights and a proper course of action. Our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning that if you do participate in a class action lawsuit it will cost you nothing until the firm successfully resolves your case. At that point, a small percentage of the total award will go to the firm. Often attorney fees are even built into consumer fraud settlements or verdicts.

To learn more about consumer fraud, please contact us to speak with a qualified and experienced consumer fraud lawyer.