Consumer Law in Ohio
Do you need a consumer law attorney in Ohio 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 Ohio
Consumer fraud primarily refers to deceptive practices that can cause customers in Ohio 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 Ohio 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.
Ohio’s Attorney General has published a comprehensive guide to common consumer scams in Ohio. For example, scammers can trick you into paying money to qualify for a loan, credit card, or government grant. In addition, computer repair scams offer to fix a non-existent virus in your computer. Once they have access to your computer, they install malicious software, often locking your computer until you pay a ransom to unlock it. Furthermore, romance scams occur over weeks or months. After you meet someone online, they eventually ask you to send money to help pay for some emergency.
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 Ohio, 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 Ohio 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 Ohio 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 Ohio 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.
Under Ohio Code, you cannot commit any deceptive or misleading act or practice while planning, conducting, or executing any solicitation of contributions for a charitable organization. In addition, you cannot use a name, symbol, or statement that is so closely related to another charitable organization to confuse or mislead. Furthermore, you cannot mislead someone into believing the solicited funds will be used for a charitable purpose if that is not true. Of note, a man convicted of running a fake US Navy veterans charity was sentenced to 28 years in prison by an Ohio judge in 2013.
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 Ohio.
Defective Products and Services
Legitimate Ohio 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.
Under Ohio Code, the plaintiff must establish all of the following criteria in order for the manufacturer to be liable for compensatory damages:
- The product was defective in construction, in design, due to inadequate instruction, or because it did not conform to the manufacturer’s representation
- A defective aspect of the product was a proximate cause of the harm
- The manufacturer designed, constructed, assembled, or rebuilt the actual product that was the cause of harm
Keep in mind, Ohio’s statute of limitations for product liability actions is two years.
Ohio 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. Ohio consumer laws also put measures in place to police false advertising and illegal debt collection practices.
Work With an Experienced Ohio Consumer Law Attorney
Working with a consumer fraud attorney in Ohio 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 Ohio 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 Ohio state lines.
Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an attorney in your area!
Are you curious to learn about other areas of Ohio law? We can help.