New Jersey Consumer Fraud Laws

Consumer fraud claims in New Jersey are investigated by the Office of Consumer Protection and its Consumer Service Center. The major legislation governing the state's policies is the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act.

Illegal Acts

Illegal acts defined in the act are "any unconscionable commercial practice, deception, fraud, false pretense, misrepresentation, or the knowing, concealment, suppression, or omission" of information "in connection with the sale or advertisement of any merchandise." The definition specifies that the practice is illegal "whether or not any person has in fact been mislead."

Specific Frauds

Specific additional practices made illegal are wrongfully implying a person works for the federal or state government, advertising one item or service when intending to sell another in its place, prize notification with strings attached and selling disassembled merchandise as if it was previously assembled.

Food and Geography

The act also mentions "misrepresentation of identity of food in menus or advertisements of eating establishments." New Jersey consumer fraud law also covers implying that a product or service is in one geographic location when it is actually in another.

References

• LemonLawClaims: New Jersey Fraud Act
• StateNJ: CF Laws

Resources

• NJConsumerAffairs