Many people think that consumer fraud only happens to customers who are unaware of the different types of fraudulent activity. However, even the savviest customer can fall victim to consumer fraud. But what, exactly, is consumer fraud?
Consumer fraud is defined as any deceptive practice that results in financial or other losses for consumers in the course of a seemingly legitimate business practice. According to the Federal Trade Commission, consumers report millions of dollars in theft and fraud each year.
Consumer fraud can take place in various forms, including:
- In person
- By telephone
- Through mail
- By email
One of the most commonly reported forms of consumer fraud is identity theft, which has risen 47 percent since 2014. In 2015, the Consumer Sentinel Network collected more than 3 million consumer fraud complaints. The top categories for these complaints included:
- Fraudulent debt collection
- Identity theft
- Impostor scams
- Fraudulent telephone and mobile services
- False prizes, sweepstakes and lotteries
- Banks and lenders
- Shop-at-home and catalog sales
- Auto-related complaints
- Television and electronic media
- Credit bureaus
If you believe you or a loved one has fallen victim to consumer fraud, it’s important to know that having the right consumer fraud attorney on your side can help strengthen your case. That’s where the experienced litigation team at Markoff Leinberger comes into play.
Our consumer fraud lawyers have the knowledge and skill necessary to fight for the justice and compensation you deserve.
To schedule your initial consultation with our legal team, give our office a call at (888) 517-9115. We are proud to serve clients in Chicago, surrounding Illinois communities and around the world.
