Do I Need a Lawyer for Consumer Fraud?

Answer 6 quick questions to get personalized guidance for your California case

Question 1 of 6

What type of consumer fraud did you experience?

False advertising - product/service not as described

Bait and switch - lured with one offer, sold another

Unauthorized charges or hidden fees

Refund denied despite policy or law

Outright scam - paid for goods/services never received

Deceptive auto-renewal or subscription trap

Question 2 of 6

How much money did you lose?

Over $10,000

$2,500 - $10,000

$500 - $2,500

Under $500

Question 3 of 6

Is this a business that defrauded you or an individual scammer?

Established business with physical presence

Legitimate-seeming online business

Questionable company - may be hard to locate

Individual scammer (Craigslist, social media, etc.)

Question 4 of 6

Did the business operate in California?

Yes - California business or sold to CA consumers

Other US state

International company

Unknown / can't determine

Question 5 of 6

Have you already tried to get your money back?

Yes - company refused or stopped responding

Filed credit card chargeback (pending or denied)

Sent demand letter - no satisfactory response

Haven't tried yet

Question 6 of 6

Are there likely other victims of this same fraud?

Yes - appears to be pattern/scheme affecting many people

Probably - company has similar complaints online

Maybe a few others

Likely isolated incident

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You Can Likely Handle This Yourself

California has powerful consumer protection laws with built-in DIY remedies. Start with these steps.

Recommended DIY Steps:

File credit card chargeback if you paid by card (within 120 days)
Send CLRA demand letter (required before lawsuit, 30-day response)
File complaint with CA Attorney General
Report to FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov
Consider Small Claims Court (up to $12,500)

📝 Create CLRA Demand Letter 🔗 File AG Complaint

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You Should Consult a Consumer Protection Attorney

Your case may be strong enough for a lawsuit. California consumer laws can provide attorney's fees recovery, making representation viable.

Why You Need an Attorney:

CLRA and UCL allow recovery of attorney's fees if you win
Class action may be possible if many victims exist
Attorneys can investigate and find business assets
Some consumer attorneys take cases on contingency
Letter from attorney carries more weight

Book $125 Consultation 🕵 Find Consumer Lawyer 📝 Send CLRA Demand First

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Start with CLRA Demand, Then Evaluate

California's CLRA requires you to send a demand letter before suing anyway. Start there and see if the company responds.

Recommended Approach:

Send CLRA 30-day demand letter (required before lawsuit)
File credit card chargeback simultaneously if applicable
Report to CA Attorney General and FTC
If no response to demand, consult an attorney
Check online for other victims (strength in numbers)

📝 Create CLRA Demand 🕵 Consultation

Understanding Consumer Fraud Law in California

California has some of the strongest consumer protection laws in the country. The main statutes are the CLRA (Consumer Legal Remedies Act), UCL (Unfair Competition Law), and FAL (False Advertising Law).

California Consumer Protection Laws

Law	Covers	Key Feature
CLRA	Consumer goods/services	Requires 30-day demand letter before lawsuit
UCL	Any unfair business practice	Very broad - catches most fraud
FAL	False advertising	Any misleading advertising claims

CLRA Demand Letter - Required First Step

Before you can sue under the CLRA, you MUST send a demand letter giving the business 30 days to fix the problem. This is actually good news - many businesses settle when they receive a proper CLRA demand to avoid lawsuits.

What Damages Can You Recover?

Actual Damages: Your financial losses
Restitution: Return of money paid
Injunctive Relief: Court order to stop the practice
Attorney's Fees: Company pays your attorney if you win (CLRA)
Punitive Damages: For intentional fraud (must prove in court)

⚠ Scammers May Be Uncollectible

If you were scammed by an individual or fly-by-night operation, even winning a lawsuit may not get your money back if they have no assets. Focus first on:

Credit card chargeback (fastest remedy)
Criminal report to police/sheriff
FTC and AG complaints (may help others)

DIY Remedies - Your Best Options

Credit Card Chargeback: Call your card issuer, dispute the charge (120 days from purchase)
CLRA Demand Letter: Required before lawsuit, often prompts settlement
Small Claims Court: Up to $12,500, no lawyer needed
AG Complaint: Creates record, may trigger investigation
BBB/Yelp Review: Warn others, sometimes prompts response

Statute of Limitations

CLRA: 3 years from date of violation
UCL: 4 years
Fraud: 3 years from discovery

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