Los Angeles Consumer Fraud Defense Lawyers

Defending Those Accused of Consumer Fraud in Los Angeles

If you have been accused of consumer fraud in Los Angeles, it’s likely that your life has been left in shambles. Criminal charges can hurt your relationships with family and friends, make it difficult for you to keep your job or find future employment, and completely destroy your reputation. That’s why it’s so important that you understand everything that you can about consumer fraud charges. This makes it easier to decide how to proceed.

Many of our clients came to us, unsure of what to do next, and left confused and hopeless due to their consumer fraud charges. We at Werksman Jackson & Quinn LLP understand just how devastating these charges can leave you. However, we believe that everyone is innocent until proven guilty. Call our Los Angeles white-collar crime defense lawyers at (213) 688-0460 and find out how we can fight these charges together.

What Are Some Examples of Consumer Fraud?

Consumer fraud is defined as business practices that cause consumers to suffer financial losses. This can be done in many ways, with many different penalties. Unfortunately, there are many different ways that businesses can commit consumer fraud. Some of these include:

Making false promises. Many businesses make false promises to consumers so that they are more likely to buy your products. They may tell consumers that their product will do something that it may not be able to do. This is commonly done with weight loss supplements. Businesses may tell people that they will lose ten pounds in a week without changing anything about their lifestyle.

Price haggling. Some businesses pride themselves on offering products at the best price possible. They always have sales, though they can increase the original price so that consumers think that they are getting a good deal.

Identity theft. Consumer fraud and identity theft can go together, especially with online businesses. Businesses can send emails where consumers click and fill out their information. These businesses (or scammers) can use that information to take their identity. They can use their money and information to buy items, take out credit cards, and much more. This can be crippling on a person.

Bait and switch. A bait and switch scheme is done when a customer orders one product but they get a different one. While most of the time, it is a similar product, other times it is nothing like what was ordered so consumers feel cheated with the product that they get.

What Are The Penalties for Consumer Fraud?

Your penalties won’t be decided until the end of your trial, and there is no way to know how you will be punished before that point. Depending on your exact conviction, you may be looking at either a misdemeanor or a felony case. Either way, you could be facing any of the following penalties:

Fines. Most of the time, you will be subjected to fines if you are convicted of any type of fraud. Depending on your exact crime, your fines could range from a few hundred dollars to over ten thousand dollars.

Probation. If you are lucky, you could be facing probation instead of jail time. However, it still is a punishment. You will be limited in what you are allowed to do and where you are allowed to go. This can last up to a year or more.

Jail time. You could be looking at a few months in your local prison, though you may also be looking at spending up to ten years (or more) in federal prison.

Restitution. If you are convicted of fraud, you may be required to pay money to make up for your fraud. You may have to pay any consumers that you cheated out of money. This will need to be done, on top of the fines that you have to pay.

Besides fines, probation, and jail time, your whole life will change if you are convicted. You are going to have to tell future employers that you are a convicted felon. You may struggle to find a place to live. Landlords may not give you a chance to explain. You aren't going to be able to take out a loan to buy a house or go to school. These may be even worse than spending time in prison.

How Can We Help at Werksman Jackson & Quinn LLP?

If you are looking at consumer fraud charges, it is essential that you hire a skilled lawyer to help you through this difficult time. The Los Angeles criminal attorneys at Werksman Jackson & Quinn LLP have years of experience with criminal defense. We will be able to discuss your case and options so that you can choose how you want to proceed. We will be with you every step of the way if your case ends up in court. Call us today at (213) 688-0460 and find out how we can help you.