What constitutes consumer fraud?

Consumer fraud is characterized by deceptive practices conducted by individuals, typically aimed at benefiting themselves at the expense of merchants or companies. This includes activities such as using false identities, counterfeit documents, or other fraudulent means to secure goods or services without paying for them. Therefore, when fraudulent acts are committed by a consumer against a merchant, it clearly falls under the definition of consumer fraud.

In contrast, using a credit card for legitimate purchases does not involve deception and thus does not constitute fraud. Legal reimbursement processes are standard practices for resolving disputes; they do not imply fraudulent behavior. Sharing personal data without consent might relate to privacy violations or identity theft, but it does not directly correlate to consumer fraud as it does not reflect the act of an individual deceitfully gaining from a transaction with a merchant.