National Consumer Protection Week: What You Should Know

The first week of March marks National Consumer Protection Week. It’s a prime moment to focus public attention on fraud, deceptive practices, and the rights people have when companies take advantage of them — and a good occasion to step back and talk about what consumer protection actually means in practice, because it’s broader than most people realize.

When most people hear “consumer protection,” they think phone scams, identity theft, and fake charities. Those are major problems, and the FTC does important work there, but consumer protection law covers a much wider landscape that affects people every time they shop, whether they know it or not. In a market with seemingly infinite options, companies often seek to differentiate themselves from competitors through claims about their products: the ingredients they contain or intentionally exclude, how “natural” or “clean” they are, and the products’ and ingredients’ origins.

In a hypercompetitive market, companies trying to differentiate their brand or product may stretch the truth to make their claims. When they do, they’re engaging in a type of false advertising and unfair business practice that preys on innocent consumers. These aren’t edge cases — they’re widespread, profitable, and exactly what consumer protection laws exist to address. The companies engaged in these practices are often betting that no one will look closely enough to call them on it. That’s where consumer protection attorneys come in.

Federal agencies like the FTC play a critical role, but they can’t catch everything. Class action and consumer protection litigation allows individuals to hold companies accountable when regulators can’t, don’t, or won’t act. These cases create financial incentives for businesses to get their marketing right in the first place and not deceive consumers.

If you’ve bought a product based on a claim that turned out to be false or misleading, you may have legal options. Consumer protection statutes in most states allow individuals to bring false advertising claims based on their purchases. The harm is the deception itself: consumers suffer an economic injury when they pay more for a product than they otherwise would have.

NCPW is a good time for a reminder to pay close attention to what companies are saying versus what they’re actually delivering. Read labels, ask questions, and if something doesn’t add up, talk to a lawyer. We’re here for that conversation.