Consumer Law in Indiana

Do you need a consumer law attorney in Indiana to fight for your rights and bring fraudsters to justice? We can match you with the right lawyer to help you reclaim your rights.

Common Types of Consumer Fraud in Indiana

Consumer fraud primarily refers to deceptive practices that can cause customers in Indiana to suffer financial, physical, or emotional injury. Fraudulent practices can also occur at the individual level, such as when someone falls victim to lottery scams. Consumer law refers to the regulations that define unlawful actions and how consumers can seek justice.

Sometimes, becoming a victim of consumer fraud in Indiana can also lead to criminal charges against you. For instance, it can be strenuous to clear your name after you donate to a charitable organization involved with money laundering.

The Attorney General of Indiana lists pertinent information on how to prevent and protect yourself from spam scams that have become frequent in the state. These scams entail the use of email to solicit funds, or offer “get rich quick opportunities”. These scammers typically obtain your email address by buying lists from brokers who harvest email addresses from chat rooms, websites, and online service membership directories.

Many people are embarrassed about falling for a scam, and they suffer in silence. But, speaking up can help to bring the persons responsible to justice. Even when it does not, it helps spread awareness and stop other consumers from falling victim to the same fate.

What Types of Fraud are in Consumer Law?

If you suffered damages because of consumer fraud in Indiana , you might be able to file a lawsuit against the responsible parties. Taking a closer look at the most common types of consumer fraud found under consumer law can help you determine if you have a legitimate claim.

Identity Theft

This type of consumer fraud happens when a nefarious Indiana company or individual steals your personal information. They might steal your bank account information, Social Security number, full name, or credit card numbers. One of the most common identity theft methods is data mining.

Once an individual has your personal information, they can open credit cards or make fraudulent charges on existing ones. Some thieves will even open utility accounts in your name as a way to prove residency. After they can accomplish this task, they have even more options to apply for loans or credit cards. Sometimes identity thieves gain access to your bank account and drain all the funds that you have available. There are also reports of scams that access health insurance and place medical charges on the victim’s insurance. Proving that you are a victim of identity theft can be very complicated. Consequently, hiring a dedicated and experienced Indiana consumer law fraud lawyer is essential to proving your innocence.

Fake Organizations

Fake charities are difficult to spot because they use similar techniques that legitimate ones rely on to raise funds. That’s why it’s important for you to understand where your money is going before you decide to donate to an organization. The same is true when investing or purchasing goods and services.

You can identify if any Indiana organization is legitimate if they have registration in the state. Or, the IRS should verify their non-profit status. But, scammers can legitimately register an organization for illegal purposes. Take the time to research how your money gets used before investing in a business or donating to charity.

While the state does not require charitable organizations to register, the Indiana Internal Revenue Service has certain regulatory oversight in regard to charities operating within the state. Indiana Fraud Regulations also grant the Attorney General the power to investigate fraudulent actors posing as legitimate charities. These charity scams play on people’s desire to do good for their community, but they generally have certain tell-tale signs of fraud. These signs include, but are not limited to, only taking donations in cash, withholding information about the charity, or using threatening tactics to obtain a donation.

When it comes to products and services, looking up customer reviews can help. The more reviews a product or service has, the more likely it is a legitimate organization. However, people can buy these illegally. In fact, anyone can build a website or register an empty LLC in Indiana .

Defective Products and Services

Legitimate Indiana companies often create defective products and services. Some common issues are:

  • Products that do not work as intended
  • Products that have harmful design flaws
  • Medications that do not mention all side effects
  • Services that do not deliver on promises

Even when this is not intentional, consumers might become entitled to compensation for the damages caused. This circumstance is why we often hear of car manufacturers issuing recalls and repairs when they realize something has gone wrong.

The Indiana Product Liability Act sets the regulations for lawsuits brought by consumers against the manufacturer of a product when that product has been defective and caused damage or injury. A product is considered defective in Indiana if, at the time of sale, it is in a condition that is unreasonably dangerous, even when used in reasonably expected ways of handling or consumption. There is a 2-year statute of limitations for product liability cases in Indiana, or within 10 years from the time the product was delivered.

Indiana Consumer Protection Laws and How Consumer Law Works

The Federal Trade Commission Act of 1914 is arguably the most important consumer protection law in the United States. It establishes the Federal Trade Commission to protect consumers from deceptive business practices. It does this not just for individual cases, but also to target monopolies.

The FTC’s work includes conducting investigations, collecting complaints, and filing lawsuits. In addition, other federal laws protect public consumers against deceptive transactions. These include the agriculture, real estate, food, and beverage industries. Indiana consumer laws also put measures in place to police false advertising and illegal debt collection practices.

Work With an Experienced Indiana Consumer Law Attorney

Working with a consumer fraud attorney in Indiana can help you understand your rights. The appropriate professional from our network of legal experts will help you understand the FTC guidelines. They will help you discover what types of complaints you can make against the organization that has committed fraud against you.

A qualified Indiana consumer fraud attorney will also guide you through working with law enforcement. The goal is to bring the fraudulent business practices against other customers and yourself to light. Get help and file a claim against the entity that committed consumer fraud against you. We can even help you connect with an attorney across Indiana state lines.

Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an attorney in your area!

How It All Works

Call us or answer the questions on this site. Your category, location, and additional information will help us connect you to a legal professional and we’ll send you the results instantly.

Which Areas of Law?

We have attorneys in over 20 legal categories to choose from.

How Much Does This Cost?

We don’t charge you to be connected. Some legal categories require upfront fees while others do not. The legal professional will determine this with you before you commit to anything.