false advertising
Misleading marketing claims
False advertising is the practice of making misleading, deceptive, or outright untrue claims about a product or service to attract customers.
It covers exaggerated benefits, hidden fees, fake testimonials, and bait-and-switch tactics.
In many jurisdictions, false advertising violates consumer protection laws: The company was sued for false advertising after claiming their supplement cured cancer.
Causing false beliefs
- deceptiveCreating false impressions
- misrepresentationFalse or misleading statement
- exaggerationOverstating beyond reality
- pufferyOverblown self-promotion
bait-and-switch · fine print · disclaimer · overselling · hype · half-truths · overstatement · distortion
Dishonest money-making scheme
- hoaxDeliberate deception for effect
- shamFraudulent imitation
- counterfeitFraudulent imitation
- bogusCounterfeit or fraudulent
phony · fake · swindle · con · charlatan · quackery · snake oil · imposture
Intentional deceptive falsehoods
- misinformationFalse data spread unintentionally
- spinRapid rotation around axis
- fake newsIntentionally deceptive media content
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
brainwashing · indoctrination · agitprop · psyops · astroturfing · sloganeering · yellow journalism · sensationalism
Civil court proceeding
- FTCCommerce regulatory agency
- class actionLawsuit filed for many
- settlementResolved dispute or colony
- liabilityLegal or financial obligation
consumer protection · regulation · complaint · penalty · fine · injunction · cease and desist · damages
misleading
Causing false beliefs
- deceptiveCreating false impressions
- misrepresentationFalse or misleading statement
- exaggerationOverstating beyond reality
puffery · bait-and-switch · fine print · disclaimer · overselling · hype · half-truths · overstatement · distortion · inaccuracy
scam
Dishonest money-making scheme
- hoaxDeliberate deception for effect
- shamFraudulent imitation
- counterfeitFraudulent imitation
bogus · phony · fake · swindle · con · charlatan · quackery · snake oil · imposture · fraud
disinformation
Intentional deceptive falsehoods
- misinformationFalse data spread unintentionally
- spinRapid rotation around axis
- fake newsIntentionally deceptive media content
manipulation · brainwashing · indoctrination · agitprop · psyops · astroturfing · sloganeering · yellow journalism · sensationalism · fearmongering
lawsuit
Civil court proceeding
- FTCCommerce regulatory agency
- class actionLawsuit filed for many
- settlementResolved dispute or colony
liability · consumer protection · regulation · complaint · penalty · fine · injunction · cease and desist · damages · disclosure
- consumer hassleshidden fees, long lines, out of stock, late delivery, overcharging
- ad rulesad disclosure, ad ban, deceptive ads, misleading labels, disclaimers
- auto scamsodometer rollback, bait and switch, flood damage, dealer markup, hidden fees
- Drug Scandalsthalidomide, fen-phen, OxyContin, opioid epidemic, opioid crisis
- unfair competitionpassing off, palming off, trademark infringement, misappropriation, deceptive practices
- deceptionlie, lies, lying, fake, fraud
false advertisingethical marketing
Commerce conducted with integrity
consumer protection · fair dealing · consumer advocacy · informed consent
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