Consumer fraud exists everywhere and in any type of business activity or transaction. Any deceptive act or material misrepresentation that is designed to lure or persuade a person to buy a product or service, or which is able to persuade someone to disclose their financial and other identifying information for unlawful use is fraud.
Credit cards are a source of consumer fraud in which companies offer low interest rates to new users without directly disclosing restrictions or conditions that will inevitably greatly increase the interest rates and pile on fees and penalties.
Unsuspecting consumers may have their credit card numbers stolen by store employees or may unwittingly install software on their computers that will steal their bank account numbers, birth dates, passwords, and other information so thieves can represent themselves as you while emptying out your accounts and maximizing your credit cards balances.
Timeshare companies often fail to disclose restrictions on use of the properties, ease of resale, or other fees and costs that can dramatically increase the total cost of your investment and cause financial hardship.
Companies that promise you will make thousands of dollars for menial work and that companies are desperate to hire you are perpetrating consumer fraud and are ads that most email account holders receive on a routine basis.
Insurance companies often engage in consumer fraud by unlawfully increasing premiums, canceling policies to avoid paying claims, or outright denying legitimate claims.
Computer or internet fraud scams are too numerous to list. Anyone with an email account is familiar with lotto notices, that they are beneficiaries of a will leaving them millions, or enticing them into employment opportunities designed to steal their identities.
For people owing thousands in credit card debt, many are easy prey for credit counseling companies that promise to reduce your debt to a fraction of what you owe. Unfortunately, you must pay a fee to these companies who or may not be able to reduce your debt all.
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