Fraud and Unlawful Trade Practices

The Unlawful Trade Practices Act (UTPA) is a powerful tool for consumers. The law applies when a consumer purchases real estate, goods, or services including healthcare from someone in that business. Some common examples are used cars, loans, and extensions of credit.

Violations of the act generally involve misrepresentation or deception. Some common violations include:

  • misrepresenting the characteristics, benefits and qualities of the product or services offered;

  • making false or misleading statements about prices, including price reductions;

  • causing confusion about important aspects of a transaction, such as the approval, sponsorship or certification of the product by others;

  • representing that used or altered goods are new;

  • discrediting another’s products or services by false or misleading representations about them;

  • false advertising;

  • false representations about the availability of credit;

  • false representations that goods are available for sale when in fact the goods are not available, or available in only a very limited quantity;

  • false or misleading representations about prizes, contests or promotions used to publicize a product, business or service;

  • promises to deliver by a certain time with intent not to deliver as promised;

  • unauthorized service or dismantling of goods or real estate; and

  • telephone or door-to-door solicitation without proper identification.

The UTPA is a powerful remedial statute for consumers. But it also imposes strict requirements, and the statute of limitations in Oregon requires that you file cases soon after you discover the fraud.

Please contact us if you feel you have been been taken advantage of so that we can protect your rights.