New Jersey Consumer Fraud Lawyer

New Jersey consumers are protected from fraudulent and deceptive business practices through the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act (CFA) which can be enforced by the Attorney General and an experienced New Jersey fraud lawyer. Businesses that willfully deceive their clients can be sued for financial and punitive damages. Under the CFA, victims can pursue compensation that is triple the amount of their original losses as well as attorney’s fees.

Consumer fraud is defined as any misrepresentation, false pretense, deception or other unconscionable business practices. According to the CFA, fraud is committed when there has been misrepresentation, known omission or legal violations. For example, if you bought a car that soon after broke down, have been hit with fees from the bank that you were not aware of, or feel a financial institute has breached a contract, it will aid you to contact our New Jersey consumer fraud lawyer as soon as you realize you are being taken advantage of in your agreement.

Unfortunately, it is often those in the worst financial standing who end up being the victim of consumer fraud. Car dealers often take advantage of those with low credit scores in order to expedite a deal – one that may not be what the buyer intended on signing. Luckily, anyone who feels they may be a victim has the option to file a consumer fraud claim. However, it is advisable to seek legal counsel in the form of a South Jersey personal injury attorney to ensure you secure the best outcome for your claim.

Can I Get My Money Back?

When it comes to a consumer fraud claim, there are many different actions you can take, including class action lawsuits, small claims court, and more. The purpose of this type of claim is to alleviate the damages caused by fraudulent financial deals and to help the consumer avoid injury and eliminate as much wrong doing as possible. There are two common ways consumers file claims: through government agencies and via a lawsuit in court.

Federal and state laws include statutes that prohibit deceptive trade acts. This means the law is on the side of the consumer when it comes to fraud or deceptive agreements. For those who are not pursuing a lawsuit, it is important that they immediately let the appropriate government agency or office know. These government entities usually have the ability to pursue action against the merchant who set up the fraudulent agreement.

It may help to notify multiple offices, as the more people that are aware of the situation, the more likely they are to be successful in an investigation. However, it is important to know that government agencies are often unable to recover financial damages. While some metropolitan areas have the resources to do so, consumers are more likely to win back their money by filing a lawsuit in court.

For smaller cases, small claims court can help. If you purchased something or have set up a financial agreement with a local business, you could prevail in small claims court. More often, though, consumers seeking their money back will have to pursue legal action via a formal lawsuit and sue the company that has wronged them. In this case, which is the most common, it is imperative to seek legal counsel with a skilled South Jersey consumer fraud lawyer at the beginning of the process to set up the most viable case.

Types of Consumer Fraud

Many people may not realize they have become victims of consumer fraud. Too often, consumers are unsure of what constitutes as fraud and wind up accepting financial losses that could have been avoidable or recoverable with the right legal representation. Some of the most common types of consumer fraud cases include:

• Accountants/Investment
• Automobile
• Breach of Contract
• Car Dealer Fraud (Lemon Law)
• Credit Card Fraud
• Data Breaches
• Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practice Act Violations
• Defective Products
• Home Improvement Contractor Fraud
• Identity Theft
• Insurance
• Investor
• Multi-level Marketing
• Truth in Lending Act Violations
• Unfair Repair Practices

If you received a faulty vehicle that resulted in an accident, please reach out to a car accident attorney in South Jersey today to review your case.

Consumer Protection Attorneys 

If you have been deceived into signing an agreement that was not what you had discussed with a vendor, or later learned you bought a defective product, do not settle for the loss. Our team of consumer fraud lawyers in New Jersey has experience in seeking damages for consumers who have been wronged by financial institutions, insurance companies, car dealerships, and many other types of merchants.