consumer fraud
Swindling the public
Consumer fraud is deception practiced against individuals in commercial transactions—sellers misrepresenting products, hiding defects, charging for services not rendered, or using bait-and-switch tactics.
The term covers schemes from fake warranties to identity theft.
Consumer protection laws exist specifically to combat it: The attorney general's office investigates consumer fraud complaints.
- Federal Trade CommissionAgency overseeing marketplace fairness
- identity theftStealing personal data criminally
- pyramid schemesFraudulent investment recruitment chains
- phishingFraudulent credential harvesting
- bait-and-switchFraudulent substitution tactic
false advertising · financial losses · counterfeit goods · con artist · online scams · cognitive biases · deceptive marketing · fake reviews · legal remedies · chargebacks · enforcement agencies · wire transfer · complaint · telemarketer · predatory lending · refund · money back guarantee · misleading
- fraudscam, swindle, con, deceive, cheat
- financial frauddefalcation, embezzler, peculation, fraudster, embezzlement
- business wrongsunfair competition, passing off, predatory pricing, price fixing, bid rigging
- corporate crimesinsider trading, price fixing, embezzlement, antitrust violations, antitrust violation
- white-collar crimeswhite-collar crime, insider trading, market manipulation, Ponzi scheme, price fixing
- class actionsclass action, class member, class members, class period, class representative
consumer fraudfair dealing
Honest, equitable conduct principle
ethical business practices · consumer protection · transparent pricing · fair trade · business integrity
consumer fraudconsumer protection
Laws defending purchasers' interests
consumer advocacy · consumer rights · buyer protection · consumer education · regulatory oversight