Deceptive

EU Takes Action Against Shein for Deceptive Pricing Practices Amid Growing Scrutiny of Chinese E-Retailers

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Brussels, Belgium – The European Commission has identified significant violations of consumer protection laws by the Chinese e-commerce platform Shein, renowned for its low-cost offerings, following a comprehensive investigation conducted in collaboration with national consumer protection agencies. Investigators determined that Shein employs deceptive pricing tactics, including misleading original prices and the use of perpetually resetting countdown timers designed to create a false sense of urgency among shoppers. These practices entice consumers to make purchases under the impression they are securing legitimate bargains. In addition to pricing issues, the Commission’s report highlighted serious transparency shortcomings on … Read more

Illinois Cracks Down on Energy Fraud: Direct Energy Settles for $12M Over Deceptive Practices

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Chicago, IL — Direct Energy Services, LLC has agreed to a $12 million settlement with the state of Illinois, resolving accusations of deceptive business practices. The lawsuit, initiated by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, claimed that the company engaged in misleading enrollment practices and charged customers excessively high electricity rates. The legal action asserted that Direct Energy violated the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act by enlisting customers without their explicit consent and, at times, billing them at rates more than 230% above the default utility rates. This settlement marks a significant victory … Read more

Lawsuit Alleges Repeat of Deceptive Scheme by Previous Offender

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Los Angeles, California – In a substantial legal action, a recent lawsuit has accused a defendant of replicating a dubious scheme strikingly similar to one they allegedly orchestrated before. The suit, lodged this week in federal court, points fingers at the accused for what plaintiffs describe as a deceptive repetition of a previously exposed fraud. In 2016, the alleged con was unveiled when authorities disrupted a program that promised substantial returns on investments in technologies for environmental sustainability. Reports at that time profiled multiple investors who reportedly incurred significant losses, a scandal that seemingly faded … Read more

High-Stakes Verdict Looms as Frank Founder Faces Fraud Charges Over Alleged Deceptive $175M Sale to JPMorgan

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New York — The founder of financial aid platform Frank, Charlie Javice, stands at the crux of a complex legal battle as closing arguments are due Wednesday in her trial on charges of fraud. Federal prosecutors in Manhattan have accused Javice, 32, and her top executive, Olivier Amar, 50, of fabricating user data to sell the website to JPMorgan Chase for $175 million. The trial comes with a potential prison sentence of up to 30 years if convicted of fraud and conspiracy charges. The allegations center around Javice’s claim in 2021 that Frank had amassed … Read more