What Should I Do if I Think I Am a Victim of a Diet Scam?
Federal and state laws prohibit deceptive trade practices. If you are a victim of a diet scam, you should contact the appropriate government authorities. At the federal level, you should contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). You should also contact your state¿s Attorney General¿s office and consumer protection agency. The more agencies you notify about your situation, the more likely someone will act on your behalf. The National Fraud Information Center can also help you contact the appropriate authorities. What Will the Authorities Do? Unfortunately, the FTC cannot address every individual consumer problem. However, the FTC will take action if there is potential injury or harm to consumers, and it is possible the FTC will act if US consumers are losing millions of dollars to a fraudulent business. If many complaints are being filed against a reputable and legitimate company, the FTC may be pressured to investigate. Will I Get My Money Back?Most likely, no. Most scam artists set up a post office box, collect and cash the checks sent by consumers, then close down and move on to their next victims. By the time any legal action is taken, the scam artists can no longer be found. Even if the company is using a legitimate address, fraudulent diet companies are notorious for their ability to form a corporation, place all claims and warranties in the name of the corporation (thereby insulating themselves from personal liability) and then dissolving the corporations at the first signs of trouble. The company does not generally ¿own¿ any property; chairs, desks, and computers are leased to the corporation. So even if a consumer wins a lawsuit against the corporation, the consumer probably will not recover any monetary awards because the corporation does not own anything of value. Do I Need an Attorney for My Diet Scam Problem?If you believe that you have a strong case against a business engaged in diet scams, you should consider contacting an experienced consumer protection attorney. A consumer protection lawyer can help you sue the offending business. If you have suffered a medical injury as a result of the diet scam, contact a personal injury attorney. A personal injury lawyer can help you recover damages for your injuries. |
