The financial rights of citizens and residents can be breached and damaged by businesses promoting fraudulent services, products, investments, and opportunities. These unlawful activities can be classified as consumer and financial fraud. Protecting yourself and your neighbors against fraud and exercising your individual rights concerning financial and consumer fraud starts with you.
A consumer and financial rights lawyer can help individuals with cases and complaints involving consumer and financial fraud and possibly recover damages for losses or loss of profits.
Some examples of consumer and financial fraud include:
- Business Opportunities Fraud, Small Business Scams
- Mortgage Loans, Title Loans, and Home Refinancing Scams
- Fair Credit Reporting, Credit Card Fraud
- Stock, Investment and Insurance Fraud
- Negative Option (you pay unless you cancel) Marketing Plans
- Tax Evasion Schemes
- Identify Theft/ Fraud
- Unfair and Deceptive Business Practices
- Internet and Email Fraud
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says the top internet and email scams include: Online Auctions, Credit Card Theft/Fraud, Internet Access Services scams, International Modem Dialing, Travel and Vacation offers, Health and Diet products, Pyramid Schemes, Business Opportunities, and Investment services or programs. Read tips from the
FTC on fraud prevention and protection.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has also released some guidelines against
Internet Fraud and Internet Investment Scams.
You should be aware that a statute of limitations, which is a deadline imposed by law, may limit the time remaining for you to file a potential claim for consumer or financial fraud.
Consumer Credit Fraud Articles
Planned Parenthood Sued for Alleged Financial Fraud
A former Planned Parenthood executive is alleging that the Los Angeles organization defrauded taxpayers out of approximately $180 million. The former executive, Victor Gonzalez, served as Planned Parenthood's Los Angeles affiliate vice president for finance and administration until he tried to make his superiors aware of illegalities that he says he had discovered. When he made this attempt, he was fired from his job.
Mortgage Broker Accused of Deceptive Lending
A couple who simply wanted to lower the cost of their mortgage payments has now been forced out of their home. As a result, the Illinois Attorney General has filed a lawsuit against Advantage Mortgage Consulting that alleges the lender used a number of schemes to convince customers that they would pay lower mortgage payments. Instead of mortgage payments going down, the couple, Ozell, 86, and J.W. McBee, 67, says that their payments increased to the point they could not afford their home.
Homeowners Have Added Protection Against Mortgage Fraud
The Governor of New York, Eliot Spitzer, is an advocate of homeowners throughout his state. He has just revealed a comprehensive proposal to assist homeowners throughout New York who have been hard hit by predatory loans and astronomical subprime rates on loans. The nation's Feds have failed to properly address the loan issue, so New York as well as other states have stepped up to the plate to offer a solution.
Bank Conspired with own Customers in Scheme
In a conspiracy that involved the officers, employees, and some customers of Sterling Financial, an internal investigation has uncovered that the fraudulent scheme cost the financial institution $200 million. Also investigating the scheme are the Securities and Exchange Commission as well as the U.S. Attorney's office in one of the biggest bank frauds in Lancaster history.
Consumer and Financial Fraud: If it seems Too Good to be True…
We've all seen them - the pitches on TV for free seminars. However, rather than a sweet deal, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns that this kind of in-your-face allure has all the makings of consumer and financial fraud.
Credit Card Theft: An "Inside Job"
Consumer or Financial Fraud in the News
JAN-8-08: Illinois Attorney General has filed a
consumer fraud lawsuit against an Internet-based sporting goods retailer. It is alleged that the company failed to provide customers with purchased products, among other complaints. [
SPECTATOR: CONSUMER FRAUD]
NOV-13-07: A lawsuit accusing a Garrett couple of
fraudulently selling illegally obtained unauthorized defective products has been filed by the parent company of Invisible Fence. It is alleged that the couple "dumpster dived" for rejected products at the company's inspection facility. [
JOURNAL GAZETTE: CONSUMER FRAUD]
OCT-20-07: Class action status is being sought in a lawsuit filed by 11 former members of Kimkins Diet Web Site. The plaintiffs allege that Kimkins founder Heidi "Kimmer" Diaz misrepresented the diet plan through
false advertising, fraud, and unjust enrichment. [
CALORIE LAB: CONSUMER FRAUD]
OCT-6-07: A
fraud lawsuit is underway on behalf of people that may have been duped into investing in Florida real estate through Millionaire University. Investors were told the University and it's affiliates "would build a home and sell it for a profit to pay off construction loans and lock in a long-term mortgages. [
MLIVE: FINANCIAL FRAUD]
OCT-5-07: A lawsuit has been filed against the United States largest coupon handler, International Outsourcing Services, alleging damages resulting from a
coupon fraud scheme. Plaintiffs include consumer products giants such as Johnson & Johnson, General Mills & PepsiCo. [
WCCO: FINANCIAL FRAUD]
OCT-2-07: A New York woman has filed suit against Apple Inc. alleging
price discrimination in the aftermath of the company's price reduction of the iPhone. According to her suit, the woman feels that all early purchasers of the phone were treatly unfairly because they will be unable to sell the phones for the same price as those who purchased after the price cut. [
CNN: CONSUMER FRAUD]
SEP-28-07: Bristol-Myers Squibb has agreed to a $515 million civil settlement in an aggressive health care
fraud case. Six whistleblowers filed lawsuits alleging a broad array of infractions, such as promotion of off-label drug uses and bribery. [
HERALD: FRAUD]
SEP-26-07: Three suspects accused of stealing credit card numbers from Applebee's restaurant earlier this year have been indicted for
financial identity fraud. Two servers from the restaurant were providing the stolen card numbers to a third party who was purchasing
fraudulent cell phone accounts, likely for black market sales. [
OBSERVER: FINANCIAL FRAUD]
SEP-25-07: A Missouri man has been arrested and accused of operating a residential care facility even though a previous felony conviction bars him from running homes that receive Medicaid money. The man had already spent time in jail for
conspiring to defraud Medicare and Medicaid. [
NEWS LEADER: FRAUD]
AUG-31-07: Delphi Corp., former executives and underwriters will pay $342.1 million to settle a
securities fraud lawsuit brought by the company's investors. The settlement will be given to investors and current and former employees who invested in Delphi through their retirement plans. [
BLOOMBERG: FINANCIAL FRAUD]
AUG-28-07: At least 113 lawsuits have been filed against Coast Bank of Florida and its parent company alleging
fraud and breach of fiduciary duty. The suits involve the sale of homes to investors for no money down and a construction company that was unable to finish building most of the homes. [
BRADENTON: FRAUD]
Consumer or Financial Fraud Legal Help
If you have suffered as a result of consumer or financial fraud, please click the link below to send your complaint to a lawyer to evaluate your claim at no cost or obligation.
