What is false advertising?

False advertising is a type of consumer fraud that occurs when a business deceives consumers by making false or misleading claims about its products, services, or business operations. In Illinois, it is illegal for businesses to make false claims about their products or services in order to deceive consumers. This is known as deceptive advertising. Deceptive advertising includes making unsubstantiated claims about the performance, benefits, or safety of a product or service, or making false statements that mislead the customer. For example, a business cannot falsely claim that its product can cure a specific medical condition or provide any specific health benefits. A business also cannot falsely claim that their product is the highest quality or the only product of its kind in the market. Additionally, businesses cannot use deceptive practices to get customers to purchase a product or service. These strategies may include making false statements about the sale price, using bait and switch tactics, or failing to clearly disclose the terms of a transaction. Businesses that engage in false advertising or other deceptive practices may face serious legal penalties. In Illinois, this can include fines, injunctions, and even criminal penalties. It is important for businesses in Illinois to follow the law and ensure that their advertising is truthful and not misleading.

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What is false advertising?

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