Chicago Business Litigation Lawyer Blog

Oak Brook and Chicago attorney Donna Adler of DiTommaso-Lubin recently appeared Nick Augistine's radio show. Donna spoke about how consumers can help stop businesses "who cheat big in small ways" through the filing of class-action lawsuits. Donna explained class action lawsuits can vindicate consumer rights and stopp consumer frauds in their tracks when filing an individual lawsuit would be too expensive. Donna is committed helping consumers recover fraud damages. Donna discusses some of the consumer fraud and unpaid overtime class-actions and collective action cases she is litigating as a trial lawyer at our firm. Donna has over two decades of experience litigating cases that vindicate consumer and immigrant rights. She also prosecutes and defends complex business lawsuits.

You can listen to the show by clicking on this link.

Our consumer rights private law firm handles individual and class action consumer fraud, wage claim and unpaid overtime cases that government agencies and public interest law firms such as the Illinois Attorney General may not pursue. Class action lawsuits our law firm has been involved in or spear-headed have led to substantial awards totalling over a million dollars to organizations including the National Association of Consumer Advocates, the National Consumer Law Center, and local law school consumer programs. DiTommaso-Lubin is proud of our achievements in assisting national and local consumer rights organizations obtain the funds needed to ensure that consumers are protected and informed of their rights. By standing up to consumer fraud and consumer rip-offs, and in the right case filing consumer protection lawsuits and class-actions you too can help ensure that other consumers' rights are protected from consumer rip-offs and unscrupulous or dishonest practices.

Our Naperville, Downers Grove, Hinsdale, Evanston, Aurora, Waukegan, Joliet, Elmhust, Lombard, Elgin, Highland Park, Northbrook, Wilmette, Wheaton, Oak Brook, and consumer lawyers provide assistance in unfair debt collection, consumer fraud and consumer rights cases including in Illinois and throughout the country. You can click here to see a description of the some of the many individual and class-action consumer cases we have handled. A video of our lawsuit which helped ensure more fan friendly security at Wrigley Field can be found here. You can contact one of our Chicago area consumer protection lawyers who can assist in lemon law, unfair debt collection, wage claim, unpaid overtime, and other consumer, consumer fraud or consumer class action cases by filling out the contact form at the side of this blog or by clicking here.

An excellent video summarizing lemon law rights is below:

If you believe you purchased a car that is a lemon, have been a victim of auto fraud, auto dealer fraud, auto repair fraud or have been deceived into buying a flood car, rebuilt wreck or salvage vechicle DiTommaso-Lubin may be able to help rectify the problem. We or experienced co-counsel are prepared to file suit in the right case anywhere in the country. For a free consultation on your rights as an employee, contact us today.

Our Auto Dealer Fraud, Auto Repair Fraud Auto Fraud, RV Fraud, and Boat Fraud private law firm and our affliated co-counsel handle individual and class action consumer rights, lemon law, and autofraud lawsuits that government agencies and public interest law firms may decide not pursue. Class action lawsuits our law firm has been involved in or spear-headed have led to substantial awards totalling over a million dollars to organizations including the National Association of Consumer Advocates, the National Consumer Law Center, and local law school consumer programs. DiTommaso-Lubin is proud of our achievements in assisting national and local consumer rights organizations obtain the funds needed to ensure that consumers are protected and informed of their rights. By standing up to employee and consumer fraud and rip-offs, and in the right case filing employee or consumer protection lawsuits and class-actions you too can help ensure that consumers' rights are protected from unscrupulous, illegal or dishonest practices.

Our Naperville, Evanston, Aurora, Waukegan, Arlington Heights, Downers Grove, Mount Prospect, Barrington, Lisle, Evanston, Elgin, Elmhurst, Joliet, Elgin, Woodridge, Naperville, Highland Park, Northbrook, Lake Forest, Highland Park, Geneva, St. Charles, Batavia, Wilmette, Wheaton, Waukegan, Oak Brook, Lombard, Hinsdale and Chicago consumer law, auto fraud and lemon law lawyers and attorneys provide assistance in car, RV and automobile and consumer fraud and consumer rights cases including in Illinois and throughout the country. You can click here to see a description of the some of the many individual and class-action consumer cases we have handled. A video of our lawsuit which helped ensure more fan friendly security at Wrigley Field can be found here. You can contact one of our Chicago area consumer rights, predatory lending or consumer protection lawyers who can assist in auto dealer fraud, auto repair fraud, lemon law, auto fraud, RV fraud, wage claim, lemon law, unfair debt collection, junk fax, prerecorded telephone solicitations, and other consumer fraud or consumer class action cases by filling out the contact form at the side of this blog or by clicking here.

Below is a video by a forensic accountant and certified fraud examiner discussing common forms of fraud that cause losses to businesses. The video provides solutions to protecting your business from fraud.

DiTommaso-Lubin's Chicago business trial lawyers have more than two and half decades of experience helping business clients on unraveling complex business fraud and breach of fiduciary duty cases. We work with skilled forensic accountants and certified fraud examiners to help recover monies missappropriated from our clients. Our Chicago business, commercial, and class-action litigation lawyers represent individuals, family businesses and enterprises of all sizes in a variety of legal disputes, including disputes among partners and shareholders as well as lawsuits between businesses and and consumer rights, auto fraud, and wage claim individual and class action cases. In every case, our goal is to resolve disputes as quickly and sucessfully as possible, helping business clients protect their investements and get back to business as usual. From offices in Oak Brook, near Wheaton, Naperville, Evanston, and Chicago, we serve clients throughout Illinois and the Midwest.

If you’re facing a business or class-action lawsuit, or the possibility of one, and you’d like to discuss how the experienced Illinois business dispute attorneys at DiTommaso-Lubin can help, we would like to hear from you. To set up a consultation with one of our Chicago, Wheaton, Elmhurst, Geneva, Aurora, Elgin, Rockford or Naperville business trial attorneys and class action and consumer trial lawyers, please call us toll-free at 1-877-990-4990 or contact us through the Internet.

The below video describes how fake IRS emails are used to scam consumers and businesses.

Our consumer rights and business fraud prevention law firm handles individual and class action unfair debt collection and other consumer fraud cases that government agencies and public interest law firms such as the Illinois Attorney General may not pursue. Class action lawsuits our law firm has been involved in or spear-headed have led to substantial awards totalling over a million dollars to organizations including the National Association of Consumer Advocates, the National Consumer Law Center, and local law school consumer programs. DiTommaso-Lubin is proud of our achievements in assisting national and local consumer rights organizations obtain the funds needed to ensure that consumers are protected and informed of their rights. By standing up to consumer fraud and consumer rip-offs, and in the right case filing consumer protection lawsuits and class-actions you too can help ensure that other consumers' rights are protected from consumer rip-offs and unscrupulous or dishonest practices.

Our Naperville, Evantston, Aurora, Waukegan, Joliet, Elgin, Highland Park, Northbrook, Wilmette, Wheaton, Oak Brook, and Chicago business and consumer fraud lawyers provide assistance in fair debt collection, consumer fraud and consumer rights cases including in Illinois and throughout the country. You can click here to see a description of the some of the many individual and class-action consumer cases we have handled. A video of our lawsuit which helped ensure more fan friendly security at Wrigley Field can be found here. You can contact one of our Chicago area consumer protection and business fraud prevention lawyers who can assist in lemon law, unfair debt collection, junk fax, prerecorded telephone solicitations, and other consumer, consumer fraud or consumer class action cases by filling out the contact form at the side of this blog or by clicking here.

If you believe you know someone who has been a victim of auto fraud or has been deceived into buying a flood, rebuilt wreck or salvage vechicle or who has been cheated on car financing or an extended warranty DiTommaso-Lubin may be able to help rectify the problem. We or experienced co-counsel are prepared to file suit in the right case anywhere in the country. For a free consultation on your rights as an employee, contact us today.

Our Auto Fraud, RV Fraud, and Boat Fraud private law firm and our affliated co-counsel handle individual and class action consumer rights, lemon law, and auto fraud lawsuits that government agencies and public interest law firms may decide not pursue. Class action lawsuits our law firm has been involved in or spear-headed have led to substantial awards totalling over a million dollars to organizations including the National Association of Consumer Advocates, the National Consumer Law Center, and local law school consumer programs. DiTommaso-Lubin is proud of our achievements in assisting national and local consumer rights organizations obtain the funds needed to ensure that consumers are protected and informed of their rights. By standing up to employee and consumer fraud and rip-offs, and in the right case filing employee or consumer protection lawsuits and class-actions you too can help ensure that consumers' rights are protected from unscrupulous, illegal or dishonest practices.

As the below video shows it is easy for dishonest cars dealers to sell you a rebuilt wreck or flood vechicle by simply making quick cosmetic fixes.

If you believe you know someone who has been a victim of auto fraud or has been deceived into buying a flood, rebuilt wreck or salvage vechicle or who has been cheated on car financing or an extended warranty DiTommaso-Lubin may be able to help rectify the problem. We or experienced co-counsel are prepared to file suit in the right case anywhere in the country. For a free consultation on your rights as an employee, contact us today.

Our Auto Fraud, RV Fraud, and Boat Fraud private law firm and our affliated co-counsel handle individual and class action consumer rights, lemon law, and auto fraud lawsuits that government agencies and public interest law firms may decide not pursue. Class action lawsuits our law firm has been involved in or spear-headed have led to substantial awards totalling over a million dollars to organizations including the National Association of Consumer Advocates, the National Consumer Law Center, and local law school consumer programs. DiTommaso-Lubin is proud of our achievements in assisting national and local consumer rights organizations obtain the funds needed to ensure that consumers are protected and informed of their rights. By standing up to employee and consumer fraud and rip-offs, and in the right case filing employee or consumer protection lawsuits and class-actions you too can help ensure that consumers' rights are protected from unscrupulous, illegal or dishonest practices.

Our Naperville, Evanston, Aurora, Waukegan, Arlington Heights, Downers Grove, Lisle, Evanston, Elgin, Elmhurst, Joliet, Elgin, Woodridge, Naperville, Highland Park, Northbrook, Wilmette, Wheaton, Waukegan, Oak Brook, Lombard, Hinsdale and Chicago consumer law, auto fraud and lemon law lawyers and attorneys provide assistance in car, RV and automobile and consumer fraud and consumer rights cases including in Illinois and throughout the country. You can click here to see a description of the some of the many individual and class-action consumer cases we have handled. A video of our lawsuit which helped ensure more fan friendly security at Wrigley Field can be found here. You can contact one of our Chicago area consumer rights, predatory lending or consumer protection lawyers who can assist in lemon law, auto fraud, RV fraud, wage claim, lemon law, unfair debt collection, junk fax, prerecorded telephone solicitations, and other consumer fraud or consumer class action cases by filling out the contact form at the side of this blog or by clicking here.

This video describes how senior citizens and disabled persons are often targeted for consumer scams and rip-offs.

Based in Chicago, Wilmette and Oak Brook, Ill., DiTommaso-Lubin handles informercial, stock broker, auto dealer and RV dealer fraud and other consumer fraud and lemon law litigation for clients in Wheaton, Naperville,Wheaton, Waukegan, Evanston, Joliet, Aurora, Elgin, Lisle and in other parts of Illinois, the Midwest and throughout the United States. In addition to helping individuals and families, our Chicago class action attorneys have successfully handled numerous consumer rights class actions. If you believe you're a victim of fraud and misrepresentations or a deceptive business practice, please contact us as soon as possible to learn about your rights at a free consultation.

The Illinois Department of Labor has a great website which provides alot of useful information on fair labor laws including the requirement that employers pay time and half for overtime work for non-exempt employees.

You can find the website here. With regard to federal and Illinois overtime laws, the website provides answers to various questions and links to other areas of the site for answers:

When is overtime pay legally due?

You are entitled to pay at time and one half your regular rate of pay if you worked over 40 hours in a workweek. You will need to ask your employer for their definition of a workweek. For more information, click here. 820 ILCS 105/4a (1) and 56 Ill. Adm. Code 210.400.

Does my employer have to pay me time and one half or double time for working a legal holiday or a Sunday?

No. If working the legal holiday or Sunday puts you over 40 hours in a workweek, then your employer must pay you at time and one half of your regular rate of pay for those hours over 40. However, if your employer’s policy allows for payment of time and one half or double time, then the employer must honor the agreement. For more information, click here. 820 ILCS 105/4a (1).

Who is exempt from being paid overtime?

The following employees are exempt from overtime pay:

Salesmen and mechanics involved in selling or servicing cars, trucks or farm implements at dealerships,
agricultural labor,
government employees,
executive, administrative or professional employees as defined by the Fair Labor Standards Act,
certain employees involved in radio/television in a city with a population under 100,000,
commissioned employees defined by Section 7(i) of the Fair Labor Standards Act,
employees who exchange hours pursuant to a workplace exchange agreement,
employees of certain educational or residential child care institutions.
For further information, click here. 820 ILCS 105/4a (2).

How do I know if I qualify as an executive, administrative or professional employee?

The law provides that two tests must be fully met to determine if you are an executive, administrative or professional employee. First, as a general rule, you must be a salaried employee. For definition of salary, see question below. Second, the primary duties you perform must also be exempt. To determine if your primary duties meet the criteria outlined for the executive, administrative or professional employee, click here.

If I am paid on salary do I still qualify for overtime pay?

Possibly. You are paid a salary if you regularly receive each pay period on a weekly, or less frequent basis, a predetermined amount constituting all or part of your compensation, which amount is not subject to reduction because of variations in the quality or quantity of the work performed. However, an employee being paid on a salary basis is not automatically exempt from receiving overtime pay. The primary duties you perform must also be exempt to disqualify you from overtime pay. For more information, click here.

Can I be required to work overtime?

Yes, unless such work would violate the One Day Rest in Seven Act. For more information on this Act, click here. 820 ILCS 140/2.

Is "comp time" legal?

No. Compensatory time off in place of payment for overtime is not legal in the private sector.

If you believe you might be part of a class of employees forced to work off the clock or have othewise been denied overtime pay, DiTommaso-Lubin may be able to help your pursue your own overtime class action. For a free consultation on your rights as an employee, contact us today.

Our consumer rights private law firm handles individual and class action wage claim and other employee and consumer rights cases that government agencies and public interest law firms such as the Department of Labor may decide not pursue. Class action lawsuits our law firm has been involved in or spear-headed have led to substantial awards totalling over a million dollars to organizations including the National Association of Consumer Advocates, the National Consumer Law Center, and local law school consumer programs. DiTommaso-Lubin is proud of our achievements in assisting national and local consumer rights organizations obtain the funds needed to ensure that consumers are protected and informed of their rights. By standing up to employee and consumer fraud and rip-offs, and in the right case filing employee or consumer protection lawsuits and class-actions you too can help ensure that other emploment and consumers' rights are protected from unscrupulous, illegal or dishonest practices.

Our Naperville, Evanston, Aurora, Waukegan, Arlington Heights, Elgin, Elmhurst, Joliet, Elgin, Woodridge, Naperville, Highland Park, Northbrook, Wilmette, Wheaton, Oak Brook, Lombard, Hinsdale and Chicago fair labor and unpaid overtime lawyers and attorneys provide assistance in wage claims, fair debt collection, consumer fraud and consumer and employment rights cases including in Illinois and throughout the country. You can click here to see a description of the some of the many individual and class-action consumer cases we have handled. A video of our lawsuit which helped ensure more fan friendly security at Wrigley Field can be found here. You can contact one of our Chicago area employee rights or consumer protection lawyers who can assist in wage claim, lemon law, unfair debt collection, junk fax, prerecorded telephone solicitations, and other employment, unfair wage, consumer, consumer fraud or consumer class action cases by filling out the contact form at the side of this blog or by clicking here.

The United States Department of Labor has an excellent website which provides detailed information on fair labor laws including the requirement that employers pay time and half for overtime work for non-exempt employees.

The website is located here. With regard to federal overtime laws, the website states:

Overtime Pay

An employer who requires or permits an employee to work overtime is generally required to pay the employee premium pay for such overtime work. Employees covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) must receive overtime pay for hours worked in excess of 40 in a workweek of at least one and one-half times their regular rates of pay. The FLSA does not require overtime pay for work on Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, or regular days of rest, unless overtime hours are worked on such days.

The website contains links to question and answer pages on overtime laws:

FairPay Web Site The Department of Labor has revised and clarified the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The FairPay site contains helpful fact sheets explaining these changes and also includes the revised regulations and an online training program to make this transition easy for employers and employees.

FairPay Fact Sheets By Occupation
Consult these fact sheets for specific information about changes to overtime pay in your occupation.

FairPay Fact Sheets By Exemption
Consult these fact sheets for specific information about changes to overtime pay for certain exempt employees.

Fact Sheet on the Overtime Pay Requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) (PDF)
Provides general information concerning the application of the overtime pay provisions of the FLSA.

"When Is Overtime Due?"
Information about overtime.

"Is Extra Pay Required For Weekend Or Night Work?"
Additional information about overtime pay.

"When Is Double Time Due?"
Additional information about overtime pay.

Handy Reference Guide to the Fair Labor Standards Act
Answers many questions about the FLSA and gives information about certain occupations that are exempt from the Act.

Coverage Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Fact Sheet
General information about who is covered by the FLSA.

If you believe you might be part of a class of employees forced to work off the clock or have othewise been denied overtime pay, DiTommaso-Lubin may be able to help your pursue your own overtime class action. For a free consultation on your rights as an employee, contact us today.

Our consumer rights private law firm handles individual and class action wage claim and other employee and consumer rights cases that government agencies and public interest law firms such as the Department of Labor may decide not pursue. Class action lawsuits our law firm has been involved in or spear-headed have led to substantial awards totalling over a million dollars to organizations including the National Association of Consumer Advocates, the National Consumer Law Center, and local law school consumer programs. DiTommaso-Lubin is proud of our achievements in assisting national and local consumer rights organizations obtain the funds needed to ensure that consumers are protected and informed of their rights. By standing up to employee and consumer fraud and rip-offs, and in the right case filing employee or consumer protection lawsuits and class-actions you too can help ensure that other emploment and consumers' rights are protected from unscrupulous, illegal or dishonest practices.

Our Naperville, Evanston, Aurora, Waukegan, Arlington Heights, Downers Grove, Elmhurst, Joliet, Elgin, Highland Park, Northbrook, Wilmette, Wheaton, Oak Brook, and Chicago fair labor and unpaid overtime lawyers and attorneys provide assistance in wage claims, fair debt collection, consumer fraud and consumer and employment rights cases including in Illinois and throughout the country. You can click here to see a description of the some of the many individual and class-action consumer cases we have handled. A video of our lawsuit which helped ensure more fan friendly security at Wrigley Field can be found here. You can contact one of our Chicago area employee rights or consumer protection lawyers who can assist in wage claim, lemon law, unfair debt collection, junk fax, prerecorded telephone solicitations, and other employment, unfair wage, consumer, consumer fraud or consumer class action cases by filling out the contact form at the side of this blog or by clicking here.

As Illinois consumer rights lawyers we are pleased to see that Illinois Attorney General LIsa Madigan maintains an extensive website with many resources to provide information on important consumer rip-offs and ways for consumers to protect themselves. The website contains links to many publications and articles on consumer rights topics such as id theft, autobuying finance and repair, and consumer alerts and warnings. The website also provides access to consumer complaint forms to file with the Attorney General.

Our consumer rights private law firm handles individual and class action unfair debt collection and other consumer fraud cases that government agencies and public interest law firms such as the Illinois Attorney General may not pursue. Class action lawsuits our law firm has been involved in or spear-headed have led to substantial awards totalling over a million dollars to organizations including the National Association of Consumer Advocates, the National Consumer Law Center, and local law school consumer programs. DiTommaso-Lubin is proud of our achievements in assisting national and local consumer rights organizations obtain the funds needed to ensure that consumers are protected and informed of their rights. By standing up to consumer fraud and consumer rip-offs, and in the right case filing consumer protection lawsuits and class-actions you too can help ensure that other consumers' rights are protected from consumer rip-offs and unscrupulous or dishonest practices.

Our Naperville, Evanston, Aurora, Waukegan, Joliet, Elgin, Highland Park, Hinsdale, Elmhurst, Northbrook, Wilmette, Wheaton, Oak Brook, and Chicago consumer lawyers provide assistance in fair debt collection, consumer fraud and consumer rights cases including in Illinois and throughout the country. You can click here to see a description of the some of the many individual and class-action consumer cases we have handled. A video of our lawsuit which helped ensure more fan friendly security at Wrigley Field can be found here. You can contact one of our Chicago area consumer protection lawyers who can assist in lemon law, unfair debt collection, junk fax, prerecorded telephone solicitations, and other consumer, consumer fraud or consumer class action cases by filling out the contact form at the side of this blog or by clicking here.

The Federal Reserve Board has prepared an excellent summary of consumer rights available under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ("FDCPA") in an online handbook on the FDCPA. You can view the handbook by clicking here.

Our consumer rights private law firm handles individual and class action unfair debt collection and other consumer fraud cases that government agencies and public interest law firms such as the FTC may not pursue. Class action lawsuits our law firm has been involved in or spear-headed have led to substantial awards totalling over a million dollars to organizations including the National Association of Consumer Advocates, the National Consumer Law Center, and local law school consumer programs. DiTommaso-Lubin is proud of our achievements in assisting national and local consumer rights organizations obtain the funds needed to ensure that consumers are protected and informed of their rights. By standing up to consumer fraud and consumer rip-offs, and in the right case filing consumer protection lawsuits and class-actions you too can help ensure that other consumers' rights are protected from consumer rip-offs and unscrupulous or dishonest practices.

Our Naperville, Aurora, Waukegan, Joliet, Elgin, Highland Park, Northbrook, Wilmette, Wheaton, Oak Brook, and Chicago consumer civil litigation lawyers provide assistance in fair debt collection, consumer fraud and consumer rights cases including in Illinois and throughout the country. You can click here to see a description of the some of the many individual and class-action consumer cases we have handled. A video of our lawsuit which helped ensure more fan friendly security at Wrigley Field can be found here. You can contact one of our Chicago area consumer protection lawyers who can assist in lemon law, unfair debt collection, junk fax, prerecorded telephone solicitations, and other consumer, consumer fraud or consumer class action cases by filling out the contact form at the side of this blog or by clicking here.

As Illinois consumer attorneys we were pleased to see that the Illinois Attorney General has a very informative website highlighting the protections provided by Illinois and Federal Law against abusive debt collection practices. You can link to the website here.

The Attorney General's website describes how the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Illinois Collection Agency Act and the Illinois Consumer and Deceptive Business Practices Act can protect Illinois residents from debt collector abuse:

If you use credit cards, owe money on a loan or are paying off a home mortgage, you are a “debtor.” If you fall behind on your payments to these creditors, you may be contacted by a debt collector. You should know that the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Illinois Collection Agency Act and the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Practices Act all provide protections guaranteeing that debt collectors treat you fairly. These laws do not, however, forgive any legitimate debt you owe. Personal, family and household debts are covered under the Federal Fair Debt Collection Act. This includes money owed for medical care, charge accounts or car purchases.

Debt Collectors
A debt collector is any person other than the creditor who regularly collects or attempts to collect debts that are owed to others and that resulted from consumer transactions. This includes attorneys who collect debts on a regular basis. A collector can contact you in person, by mail, telephone, telegram or e-mail. However, a collector may not contact you at unreasonable times or places, such as before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m., unless you agree. A debt collector also may not contact you at work if the collector knows that your employer disapproves. A debt collector may contact people other than you or your attorney to find out where you live or work, but may not tell anyone other than you or
your attorney that you owe money.

Once a debt collector has notified you by phone, he or she must, within five days, send you a written notice revealing the amount you owe, the name of the creditor to whom you owe money, and what to do if you dispute the debt. A debt collector may NOT:

• harass, oppress or abuse anyone (i.e., use threats, obscene or profane language, etc.);
• make false statements when collecting a debt (includes implying that you have committed a crime or saying you will be arrested or criminally prosecuted if the debt isn’t paid); or
• engage in unfair practices such as forcing you to accept collect calls or pay for telegrams or collect interest or fees in excess of the debt, unless authorized by the agreement creating the debt.

You can stop a debt collector from contacting you by writing a letter to the collection agency telling him or her to stop. Once the agency receives your letter, it may not contact you again except to notify you that some specific action will be taken.

Disputing a Debt
A debt collector may not contact you if, within 30 days after the collector’s first contact, you send the collector a letter stating that you do not owe the money. If, however, the collector sends you proof of the debt, such as a copy of the bill, the collector can resume collection activities.

Our consumer rights private law firm handles individual and class action unfair debt collection and other consumer fraud cases that government agencies and public interest law firms such as the Illinois Attorney General may not pursue. Class action lawsuits our law firm has been involved in or spear-headed have led to substantial awards totalling over a million dollars to organizations including the National Association of Consumer Advocates, the National Consumer Law Center, and local law school consumer programs. DiTommaso-Lubin is proud of our achievements in assisting national and local consumer rights organizations obtain the funds needed to ensure that consumers are protected and informed of their rights. By standing up to consumer fraud and consumer rip-offs, and in the right case filing consumer protection lawsuits and class-actions you too can help ensure that other consumers' rights are protected from consumer rip-offs and unscrupulous or dishonest practices.

Our Naperville, Aurora, Waukegan, Joliet, Elgin, Highland Park, Northbrook, Wilmette, Wheaton, Oak Brook, and Chicago consumer lawyers provide assistance in fair debt collection, consumer fraud and consumer rights cases including in Illinois and throughout the country. You can click here to see a description of the some of the many individual and class-action consumer cases we have handled. A video of our lawsuit which helped ensure more fan friendly security at Wrigley Field can be found here. You can contact one of our Chicago area consumer protection lawyers who can assist in lemon law, unfair debt collection, junk fax, prerecorded telephone solicitations, and other consumer, consumer fraud or consumer class action cases by filling out the contact form at the side of this blog or by clicking here.

A very informative brochure just published by the Federal Trade Commission contains the following very useful questions and answers regarding the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act:

What debts are covered? Personal, family, and household debts are covered under the Act. This includes money owed for the purchase of an automobile, for medical care, or for charge accounts. Who is a debt collector? A debt collector is any person who regularly collects debts owed to others. This includes attorneys who collect debts on a regular basis. How may a debt collector contact you? A collector may contact you in person, by mail, telephone, telegram, or fax. However, a debt collector may not contact you at inconvenient times or places, such as before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m., unless you agree. A debt collector also may not contact you at work if the collector knows that your employer disapproves. Can you stop a debt collector from contacting you? You can stop a debt collector from contacting you by writing a letter to the collection agency telling them to stop. Once the agency receives your letter, they may not contact you again except to say there will be no further contact or to notify you that the debt collector or creditor intends to take some specific action. Please note, however, that sending such a letter to a collector does not make the debt go away if you actually owe it. You could still be sued by the debt collector or your original creditor. May a debt collector contact anyone else about your debt? If you have an attorney, the debt collector must contact the attorney, rather than you. If you do not have an attorney, a collector may contact other people, but only to find out where you live, what your phone number is, and where you work. Collectors usually are prohibited from contacting such third parties more than once. In most cases, the collector may not tell anyone other than you and your attorney that you owe money. What must the debt collector tell you about the debt? Within five days after you are first contacted, the collector must send you a written notice telling you the amount of money you owe; the name of the creditor to whom you owe the money; and what action to take if you believe you do not owe the money. May a debt collector continue to contact you if you believe you do not owe money? A collector may not contact you if, within 30 days after you receive the written notice, you send the collection agency a letter stating you do not owe money. However, a collector can renew collection activities if you are sent proof of the debt, such as a copy of a bill for the amount owed. What types of debt collection practices are prohibited? Harassment. Debt collectors may not harass, oppress, or abuse anyone or any third parties they contact. For example, debt collectors may not: • use threats of violence or harm; • publish a list of consumers who refuse to pay their debts (except to a credit bureau); • use obscene or profane language; or • repeatedly use the telephone to annoy someone; False statements. Debt collectors may not use any false statements when collecting a debt. For example, debt collectors may not: • falsely imply that they are attorneys or government representatives; • falsely imply that you have committed a crime; • falsely represent that they operate or work for a credit bureau; • misrepresent the amount of your debt; • indicate that papers being sent to you are legal forms when they are not; or • indicate that papers being sent to you are not legal forms when they are. Debt collectors also may not state that: • you will be arrested if you do not pay your debt; • they will seize, garnish, attach, or sell your property or wages, unless the collection agency or creditor intends to do so, and it is legal to do so; or • actions, such as a lawsuit, will be taken against you, which legally may not be taken, or which they do not intend to take. Debt collectors may not: • give false credit information about you to anyone, including a credit bureau; • send you anything that looks like an official document from a court or government agency when it is not; or • use a false name. Unfair practices. Debt collectors may not engage in unfair practices when they try to collect a debt. For example, collectors may not: • collect any amount greater than your debt, unless your state law permits such a charge; • deposit a post-dated check prematurely; • use deception to make you accept collect calls or pay for telegrams; • take or threaten to take your property unless this can be done legally; or • contact you by postcard. What control do you have over payment of debts? If you owe more than one debt, any payment you make must be applied to the debt you indicate. A debt collector may not apply a payment to any debt you believe you do not owe. What can you do if you believe a debt collector violated the law? You have the right to sue a collector in a state or federal court within one year from the date from the date the law was violated. If you win, you may recover money for the damages you suffered plus an additional amount up to $1000. Court costs and attorneys fees also can be recovered. A group of people also may sue a debt collector and recover money for damages up to $500,000, or one percent of the collectors net worth, whichever is less.

Our consumer rights private law firm handles individual and class action unfair debt collection and other consumer fraud cases that government agencies and public interest law firms such as the FTC may not pursue. Class action lawsuits our law firm has been involved in or spear-headed have led to substantial awards totalling over a million dollars to organizations including the National Association of Consumer Advocates, the National Consumer Law Center, and local law school consumer programs. DiTommaso-Lubin is proud of our achievements in assisting national and local consumer rights organizations obtain the funds needed to ensure that consumers are protected and informed of their rights. By standing up to consumer fraud and consumer rip-offs, and in the right case filing consumer protection lawsuits and class-actions you too can help ensure that other consumers' rights are protected from consumer rip-offs and unscrupulous or dishonest practices.

Our Naperville, Aurora, Waukegan, Joliet, Elgin, Highland Park, Northbrook, Wilmette, Wheaton, Oak Brook, and Chicago consumer lawyers provide assistance in fair debt collection, consumer fraud and consumer rights cases including in Illinois and throughout the country. You can click here to see a description of the some of the many individual and class-action consumer cases we have handled. A video of our lawsuit which helped ensure more fan friendly security at Wrigley Field can be found here. You can contact one of our Chicago area consumer protection lawyers who can assist in lemon law, unfair debt collection, junk fax, prerecorded telephone solicitations, and other consumer, consumer fraud or consumer class action cases by filling out the contact form at the side of this blog or by clicking here.

Our Chicago, Wheaton, Naperville and Waukegan, Illinois consumer fraud attorneys found the below video on 4 common types of consumer fraud to be informative.

Based in Chicago, Wilmette and Oak Brook, Ill., DiTommaso-Lubin handles informercial, stock broker, auto dealer and RV dealer fraud and other consumer fraud litigation for clients in Wheaton, Naperville,Waukegan, Evanston, Joliet, Aurora, Elgin, Lisle and in other parts of Illinois, the Midwest and throughout the United States. In addition to helping individuals and families, our Chicago class action attorneys have successfully handled numerous consumer rights class actions. If you believe you're a victim of fraud and misrepresentations or a deceptive business practice, please contact us as soon as possible to learn about your rights at a free consultation.

One of the best websites to learn about consumer law issues Is the Illinois Attorney General's website. The site contains numerous links to useful consumer protection warnings and links to other top consumer websites. The Illinois Attorney General also provides forms for filing consumer fraud complaints with the Attorney General.

Our consumer rights private law firm handles individual and class action cases that government agencies and public interest law firms such as the Illinois Attorney General may not pursue. Class action lawsuits our law firm has been involved in or spear-headed have led to substantial awards totalling over a million dollars to organizations including the National Association of Consumer Advocates, the National Consumer Law Center, and local law school consumer programs. DiTommaso-Lubin is proud of our achievements in assisting national and local consumer rights organizations obtain the funds needed to ensure that consumers are protected and informed of their rights. By standing up to consumer fraud and consumer rip-offs, and in the right case filing consumer protection lawsuits and class-actions you too can help ensure that other consumers' rights are protected from consumer rip-offs and unscrupulous or dishonest practices.

Our Naperville, Aurora, Waukegan, Joliet, Elgin, Highland Park, Northbrook, Wilmette, Wheaton, Oak Brook, and Chicago consumer lawyers provide assistance in consumer fraud and consumer rights cases including in Illinois and throughout the country. You can click here to see a description of the some of the many individual and class-action consumer cases we have handled. A video of our lawsuit which helped ensure more fan friendly security at Wrigley Field can be found here. You can contact one of our Chicago area consumer protection lawyers who can assist in lemon law, unfair debt collection, junk fax, prerecorded telephone solicitations, and other consumer, consumer fraud or consumer class action cases by filling out the contact form at the side of this blog or by clicking here.

The Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") website provides useful information regarding recognizing telephone and telemarketing frauds. A full copy of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act is also linked to the site and you can view it here. The FTC website states:

Debt Collection FAQs: A Guide for Consumers

If you’re behind in paying your bills, or a creditor’s records mistakenly make it appear that you are, a debt collector may be contacting you.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, enforces the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), which prohibits debt collectors from using abusive, unfair, or deceptive practices to collect from you.

Under the FDCPA, a debt collector is someone who regularly collects debts owed to others. This includes collection agencies, lawyers who collect debts on a regular basis, and companies that buy delinquent debts and then try to collect them.

Here are some questions and answers about your rights under the Act.
What types of debts are covered?

The Act covers personal, family, and household debts, including money you owe on a personal credit card account, an auto loan, a medical bill, and your mortgage. The FDCPA doesn’t cover debts you incurred to run a business.
Can a debt collector contact me any time or any place?

No. A debt collector may not contact you at inconvenient times or places, such as before 8 in the morning or after 9 at night, unless you agree to it. And collectors may not contact you at work if they’re told (orally or in writing) that you’re not allowed to get calls there.
How can I stop a debt collector from contacting me?

If a collector contacts you about a debt, you may want to talk to them at least once to see if you can resolve the matter – even if you don’t think you owe the debt, can’t repay it immediately, or think that the collector is contacting you by mistake. If you decide after contacting the debt collector that you don’t want the collector to contact you again, tell the collector – in writing – to stop contacting you. Here’s how to do that:

Make a copy of your letter. Send the original by certified mail, and pay for a “return receipt” so you’ll be able to document what the collector received. Once the collector receives your letter, they may not contact you again, with two exceptions: a collector can contact you to tell you there will be no further contact or to let you know that they or the creditor intend to take a specific action, like filing a lawsuit. Sending such a letter to a debt collector you owe money to does not get rid of the debt, but it should stop the contact. The creditor or the debt collector still can sue you to collect the debt.
Can a debt collector contact anyone else about my debt?

If an attorney is representing you about the debt, the debt collector must contact the attorney, rather than you. If you don’t have an attorney, a collector may contact other people – but only to find out your address, your home phone number, and where you work. Collectors usually are prohibited from contacting third parties more than once. Other than to obtain this location information about you, a debt collector generally is not permitted to discuss your debt with anyone other than you, your spouse, or your attorney.
What does the debt collector have to tell me about the debt?

Every collector must send you a written “validation notice” telling you how much money you owe within five days after they first contact you. This notice also must include the name of the creditor to whom you owe the money, and how to proceed if you don’t think you owe the money.
Can a debt collector keep contacting me if I don’t think I owe any money?

If you send the debt collector a letter stating that you don’t owe any or all of the money, or asking for verification of the debt, that collector must stop contacting you. You have to send that letter within 30 days after you receive the validation notice. But a collector can begin contacting you again if it sends you written verification of the debt, like a copy of a bill for the amount you owe.
What practices are off limits for debt collectors?

Harassment. Debt collectors may not harass, oppress, or abuse you or any third parties they contact. For example, they may not:

* use threats of violence or harm;
* publish a list of names of people who refuse to pay their debts (but they can give this information to the credit reporting companies);
* use obscene or profane language; or
* repeatedly use the phone to annoy someone.

False statements. Debt collectors may not lie when they are trying to collect a debt. For example, they may not:

* falsely claim that they are attorneys or government representatives;
* falsely claim that you have committed a crime;
* falsely represent that they operate or work for a credit reporting company;
* misrepresent the amount you owe;
* indicate that papers they send you are legal forms if they aren’t; or
* indicate that papers they send to you aren’t legal forms if they are.

Debt collectors also are prohibited from saying that:

* you will be arrested if you don’t pay your debt;
* they’ll seize, garnish, attach, or sell your property or wages unless they are permitted by law to take the action and intend to do so; or
* legal action will be taken against you, if doing so would be illegal or if they don’t intend to take the action.

Debt collectors may not:

* give false credit information about you to anyone, including a credit reporting company;
* send you anything that looks like an official document from a court or government agency if it isn’t; or
* use a false company name.

Unfair practices. Debt collectors may not engage in unfair practices when they try to collect a debt. For example, they may not:

* try to collect any interest, fee, or other charge on top of the amount you owe unless the contract that created your debt – or your state law – allows the charge;
* deposit a post-dated check early;
* take or threaten to take your property unless it can be done legally; or
* contact you by postcard.

Can I control which debts my payments apply to?

Yes. If a debt collector is trying to collect more than one debt from you, the collector must apply any payment you make to the debt you select. Equally important, a debt collector may not apply a payment to a debt you don’t think you owe.
Can a debt collector garnish my bank account or my wages?

If you don’t pay a debt, a creditor or its debt collector generally can sue you to collect. If they win, the court will enter a judgment against you. The judgment states the amount of money you owe, and allows the creditor or collector to get a garnishment order against you, directing a third party, like your bank, to turn over funds from your account to pay the debt.

Wage garnishment happens when your employer withholds part of your compensation to pay your debts. Your wages usually can be garnished only as the result of a court order. Don’t ignore a lawsuit summons. If you do, you lose the opportunity to fight a wage garnishment.
Can federal benefits be garnished?

Many federal benefits are exempt from garnishment, including:

* Social Security Benefits
* Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Benefits
* Veterans’ Benefits
* Civil Service and Federal Retirement and Disability Benefits
* Service Members’ Pay
* Military Annuities and Survivors’ Benefits
* Student Assistance
* Railroad Retirement Benefits
* Merchant Seamen Wages
* Longshoremen’s and Harbor Workers’ Death and Disability Benefits
* Foreign Service Retirement and Disability Benefits
* Compensation for Injury, Death, or Detention of Employees of U.S. Contractors Outside the U.S.
* Federal Emergency Management Agency Federal Disaster Assistance

But federal benefits may be garnished under certain circumstances, including to pay delinquent taxes, alimony, child support, or student loans.
Do I have any recourse if I think a debt collector has violated the law?

You have the right to sue a collector in a state or federal court within one year from the date the law was violated. If you win, the judge can require the collector to pay you for any damages you can prove you suffered because of the illegal collection practices, like lost wages and medical bills. The judge can require the debt collector to pay you up to $1,000, even if you can’t prove that you suffered actual damages. You also can be reimbursed for your attorney’s fees and court costs. A group of people also may sue a debt collector as part of a class action lawsuit and recover money for damages up to $500,000, or one percent of the collector’s net worth, whichever amount is lower. Even if a debt collector violates the FDCPA in trying to collect a debt, the debt does not go away if you owe it.
What should I do if a debt collector sues me?

If a debt collector files a lawsuit against you to collect a debt, respond to the lawsuit, either personally or through your lawyer, by the date specified in the court papers to preserve your rights.
Where do I report a debt collector for an alleged violation?

Report any problems you have with a debt collector to your state Attorney General’s office (www.naag.org) and the Federal Trade Commission (www.ftc.gov). Many states have their own debt collection laws that are different from the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Your Attorney General’s office can help you determine your rights under your state’s law.
For More Information

To learn more about debt collection and other credit-related issues, visit www.ftc.gov/credit and MyMoney.gov, the U.S. government’s portal to financial education.

The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters consumer complaints into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure online database and investigative tool used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.

If you are a victim of debt collector harrassment or fraud and believe you may have a claim under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act our Illinois based consumer fraud, class-action and unfair debt collection private sector lawyers may be able to assist you obtaining redress. Click here to contact us and fill out a form telling us about the facts of your case.

Our firm and attorneys we work with have helped a number of victims of unfair debt collection practices obtain redress with awards of statutory damages and actual damages for emotional distress with the debt collectors paying attorneys fees and costs.

Our consumer rights private law firm handles individual and class action cases that government agencies and public interest law firms such as Trial Lawyers for Public Justice may not be able to pursue. Class action lawsuits our firm has been involved in or spear-headed have led to substantial awards totalling over a million dollars to organizations including the National Association of Consumer Advocates, the National Consumer Law Center, and local law school consumer programs. DiTommaso-Lubin is proud of our achievements in assisting national and local consumer rights organizations obtain the funds needed to ensure that consumers are protected and informed of their rights. By standing up to unfair collection practices, consumer fraud and consumer rip-offs, and in the right case filing Fair Debt Collection Practices Act or consumer protection lawsuit or and class-action you too can help ensure that other consumers' rights are protected from corporate misdeeds.

Our Naperville, Aurora, Waukegan, Joliet, Northbrook, Wilmette, Wheaton, Oak Brook, and Chicago consumer attorneys provide assistance in debt collector harrassment, consumer fraud and consumer rights cases including in Illinois and throughout the country. You can click here to see a description of the some of the many individual and class-action consumer cases we have handled. A video of our lawsuit which helped ensure more fan friendly security at Wrigley Field can be found here. You can contact one of our Chicago area consumer protection or unfair debt collection practices lawyers who can assist in lemon law, unfair debt collection, junk fax, prerecorded telephone solicitations, and other consumer, consumer fraud or consumer class action cases by filling out the contact form at the side of this blog or by clicking here.

The website for the United States Postal Service outlines many tips to avoid becoming a victim of mail fraud or ponzi schemes or indentity theft. You can click here to link to the website. The website has this to say about investment fraud and ponzi schemes:

Investment Fraud (Ponzi Schemes) Fraudulent investment schemes are often marketed by telephone salespersons armed with high pressure and sophisticated selling techniques. Some swindlers surround themselves with the trappings of legitimacy -- rented office space, a receptionist, investment counselors, and professionally designed color brochures describing the investment.

Seniors are a prime target for fraudulent investment schemes since many have saved a good amount of money for their retirement years. Fraudulent schemes require you to invest your money -- often lots of it. Most promise you either a large increase in the value of your investment or higher-than-market interest on your capital, or both.

These schemes are fraught with danger: in most cases, you will never again see the funds you invested. And you may not even receive the promised interest. If you do receive interest, you will often be paid late. Often, unbeknownst to you, your interest will be paid from the investments of others who are newly brought into the program in order to keep it alive. The swindler hopes these payments will allay any suspicions you might have as to the strength of your investment.

If answers to any of the following questions are yes, you may be dealing with a swindler who wants you to put money in to a fraudulent investment:

Does the salesperson make it sound as you can't lose?

Are you promised an unusually high rate of return or interest payment on your capital?

Are you pressured to make a decision immediately or within a short period of time because new investment units "are selling fast?"

Does the salesman have any prior successful experience in the investment area he is promoting?
Protect yourself. Be suspicious of any deal that promises fantastic return at little risk. Know whom you are dealing with. If you are not sure, check the company's reputation with your local Better Business Bureau, Postal Inspector's Office, or District Attorney's Consumer Protection Unit. Protect your retirement nest egg. If you've been the victim of an investment fraud where the mail was used, contact your local postmaster or the nearest Postal Inspector.

An informative video interview of US Postal Inspector Wanda Shipp provides additional insights for avoiding mail and investment fraud scams which are often targeted at senior citizens:

The Postal Inspection Service's website states that Postal Inspectors base investigations of mail fraud on the number, pattern, and substance of complaints received from the public. The Postal Inspection Service carefully reviews the information you provide. It may share the information with other agencies when there is a possible violation within their jurisdiction. If you feel you've been victimized in a fraud scheme that involves the U.S. Mail, submit a Mail Fraud Complaint Form to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service by clicking here to link to that webpage.

The Postal Service states that If money is lost through a fraudulent scheme conducted via the mail, Inspectors lack the authority to ensure you receive a refund and can’t require that products, services, or advertisements--on the Internet or elsewhere--be altered.

If you are a victim of mail fraud, investment fraud, investment broker fraud, a ponzi scheme, other forms of consumer fraud, unfair debt collection practices, or purchased a lemon automobile, rv or boat our Illinois based consumer fraud and class-action private sector lawyers may be able to assist you obtaining redress if the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, FTC, Illinois Attorney General or other government agency is unable to help you get your money back.

Class action lawsuits our firm has been involved in or spear-headed have led to very large consumer recoveries and in addition substantial awards totalling over a million dollars going to national and local consumer rights organizations including the National Association of Consumer Advocates, the National Consumer Law Center, and local law school consumer programs. DiTommaso-Lubin is proud of our achievements in assisting national and local consumer organizations and law school legal aid clinics obtain the funds needed to ensure that consumers are protected and informed of their rights. By standing up to consumer fraud and consumer rip-offs, and in the right case filing consumer protection lawsuits and class-actions you too can help ensure that other consumers' rights are protected from corporate misdeeds.

Our Naperville, Waukegan, Wilmette,Wheaton, Oak Brook, and Chicago consumer attorneys provide assistance in consumer fraud and consumer rights cases including in Illinois and throughout the country. You can click here to see a description of the some of the many individual and class-action consumer cases we have handled. A video of our lawsuit which helped ensure more fan friendly security at Wrigley Field can be found here. You can contact one of our Chicago area consumer protection lawyers here who can assist in lemon law, tele-marketing fraud, infomercial scams and frauds, unfair debt collection, junk fax, pre-recorded telephone solicitations, and other consumer, consumer fraud or consumer class action cases by filling out the contact form at the side of this blog or by clicking here.

The below video provides useful tips for avoiding internet fraud when purchasing a car online:

Our Naperville, Wheaton, Oak Brook, and Chicago consumer attorneys provide assistance in lemon law, breach of warranty auto-dealer, auto-fraud, RV fraud, and boat fraud cases. Click here to review examples of some of the consumer fraud and class action cases we have litigated. We represent consumers in cases where the sellers have concealed that cars, Rvs or boats have been in serious accidents, in a flood or have other hidden defects which the sellers concealed at the time of sale. We also litigate many other types of consumer fraud and consumer rights cases in Illinois and throughout the country. You can click here to see a description of the some of the many individual and class-action consumer cases we have handled. A video of our lawsuit which helped ensure more fan friendly security at Wrigley Field can be found here.

Class action lawsuits our firm has been involved in or spear-headed have led to substantial awards totalling over a million dollars to organizations including the National Association of Consumer Advocates, the National Consumer Law Center, and local law school consumer programs. DiTommaso-Lubin is proud of our achievements in assisting national and local consumer rights organizations obtain the funds needed to ensure that consumers are protected and informed of their rights. By standing up to consumer fraud and consumer rip-offs, and in the right case filing consumer protection lawsuits and class-actions you too can help ensure that other consumers' rights are protected from corporate misdeeds.

You can contact one of our Chicago area consumer protection lawyers here who can assist in lemon law, unfair debt collection, junk fax, prerecorded telephone solicitations, and other consumer, consumer fraud or consumer class action cases by filling out the contact form at the side of this blog or by clicking here.

One of the best websites especially for lawyers to learn about consumer law issues and to review first rate legal briefs prepared by the top attorneys in the country who specialize in consumer rights issues is the website of Trial Lawyers for Public Justice.

The website contains a section with briefs prepared by Trial Lawyers for Public Justice on a number of important consumer law issues that have nation impact. You can click here to look at that section and read any of the briefs contained in that section. The website also has a page with descriptions of some key cases and landmark consumer rights victories by Trial Lawyers for Public Justice.

Our consumer rights private law firm handles individual and class action cases that government agencies and public interest law firms such as Trial Lawyers for Public Justice may not be able to pursue. Class action lawsuits our firm has been involved in or spear-headed have led to substantial awards totalling over a million dollars to organizations including the National Association of Consumer Advocates, the National Consumer Law Center, and local law school consumer programs. DiTommaso-Lubin is proud of our achievements in assisting national and local consumer rights organizations obtain the funds needed to ensure that consumers are protected and informed of their rights. By standing up to consumer fraud and consumer rip-offs, and in the right case filing consumer protection lawsuits and class-actions you too can help ensure that other consumers' rights are protected from corporate misdeeds.

Our Naperville, Aurora, Waukegan, Joliet, Northbrook, Wilmette, Wheaton, Oak Brook, and Chicago consumer attorneys provide assistance in consumer fraud and consumer rights cases including in Illinois and throughout the country. You can click here to see a description of the some of the many individual and class-action consumer cases we have handled. A video of our lawsuit which helped ensure more fan friendly security at Wrigley Field can be found here. You can contact one of our Chicago area consumer protection lawyers here who can assist in lemon law, unfair debt collection, junk fax, prerecorded telephone solicitations, and other consumer, consumer fraud or consumer class action cases by filling out the contact form at the side of this blog or by clicking here.

The FBI maintains a number of web pages on fraud and internet fraud topics. The FBI web page on internet fraud provides tips for avoiding those scams "to protect yourself and your family from various forms of Internet fraud." The following are the tips provided on the FBI's web page:

Avoiding Internet Auction Fraud

Understand as much as possible about how the auction works, what your obligations are as a buyer, and what the seller's obligations are before you bid.
Find out what actions the web site/company takes if a problem occurs and consider insuring the transaction and shipment.
Learn as much as possible about the seller, especially if the only information you have is an e-mail address. If it is a business, check the Better Business Bureau where the seller/business is located.
Examine the feedback on the seller.
Determine what method of payment the seller is asking from the buyer and where he/she is asking to send payment.
If a problem occurs with the auction transaction, it could be much more difficult if the seller is located outside the US because of the difference in laws.
Ask the seller about when delivery can be expected and if there is a problem with the merchandise is it covered by a warranty or can you exchange it.
Find out if shipping and delivery are included in the auction price or are additional costs so there are no unexpected costs.
There should be no reason to give out your social security number or drivers license number to the seller.
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Avoiding Non-Delivery of Merchandise
Make sure you are purchasing merchandise from a reputable source.
Do your homework on the individual or company to ensure that they are legitimate.
Try to obtain a physical address rather than merely a post office box and a phone number, call the seller to see if the number is correct and working.
Send them e-mail to see if they have an active e-mail address and be wary of sellers who use free e-mail services where a credit card wasn’t required to open the account.
Consider not purchasing from sellers who won't provide you with this type of information.
Check with the Better Business Bureau from the seller’s area.
Check out other web sites regarding this person/company.
Don’t judge a person/company by their web site.
Be cautious when responding to special offers (especially through unsolicited e-mail).
Be cautious when dealing with individuals/companies from outside your own country.
Inquire about returns and warranties.
The safest way to purchase items via the Internet is by credit card because you can often dispute the charges if something is wrong.
Make sure the transaction is secure when you electronically send your credit card numbers.
Consider utilizing an escrow or alternate payment service.
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Avoiding Credit Card Fraud
Don't give out your credit card number(s) online unless the site is a secure and reputable site. Sometimes a tiny icon of a padlock appears to symbolize a higher level of security to transmit data. This icon is not a guarantee of a secure site, but might provide you some assurance.
Don't trust a site just because it claims to be secure.
Before using the site, check out the security/encryption software it uses.
Make sure you are purchasing merchandise from a reputable source.
Do your homework on the individual or company to ensure that they are legitimate.
Try to obtain a physical address rather than merely a post office box and a phone number, call the seller to see if the number is correct and working.
Send them e-mail to see if they have an active e-mail address and be wary of sellers who use free e-mail services where a credit card wasn’t required to open the account.
Consider not purchasing from sellers who won't provide you with this type of information.
Check with the Better Business Bureau from the seller’s area.
Check out other web sites regarding this person/company.
Don’t judge a person/company by their web site.
Be cautious when responding to special offers (especially through unsolicited e-mail).
Be cautious when dealing with individuals/companies from outside your own country.
The safest way to purchase items via the Internet is by credit card because you can often dispute the charges if something is wrong.
Make sure the transaction is secure when you electronically send your credit card numbers.
You should also keep a list of all your credit cards and account information along with the card issuer’s contact information. If anything looks suspicious or you lose your credit card(s) you should contact the card issuer immediately.
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Avoiding Investment Fraud

Don't invest in anything based on appearances. Just because an individual or company has a flashy web site doesn't mean it is legitimate. Web sites can be created in just a few days. After a short period of taking money, a site can vanish without a trace.
Don’t invest in anything you are not absolutely sure about. Do your homework on the investment to ensure that it is legitimate.
Do your homework on the individual or company to ensure that they are legitimate.
Check out other web sites regarding this person/company.
Don’t judge a person/company by their web site.
Be cautious when responding to special investment offers (especially through unsolicited e-mail).
Be cautious when dealing with individuals/companies from outside your own country.
Inquire about all the terms and conditions.
If it sounds too good to be true it probably is.
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Avoiding Business Fraud

Purchase merchandise from reputable dealers or establishments.
Try to obtain a physical address rather than merely a post office box and a phone number, call the seller to see if the number is correct and working.
Send them e-mail to see if they have an active e-mail address and be wary of those that utilize free e-mail services where a credit card wasn't required to open the account.
Consider not purchasing from sellers who won't provide you with this type of information.
Purchase merchandise directly from the individual/company that holds the trademark, copyright, or patent.
Beware when responding to e-mail that may not have been sent by a reputable company.
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Avoiding the Nigerian Letter Scam

Be skeptical of individuals representing themselves as Nigerian or foreign government officials asking for your help in placing large sums of money in overseas bank accounts.
Do not believe the promise of large sums of money for your cooperation.
Guard your account information carefully.

If you are a victim of internet fraud, consumer fraud, unfair debt collection practices, or purchased a lemon automobile, rv or boat due to fraud or material misstatements our Illinois based internet fraud, consumer fraud and class-action private sector lawyers may be able to assist you obtaining redress if the FBI, FTC, Illinois Attorney General or other government agency is unable to help you get your money back.

Class action lawsuits our firm has been involved in or spear-headed have led to very large consumer recoveries and in addition substantial awards totalling over a million dollars going to national and local consumer rights organizations including the National Association of Consumer Advocates, the National Consumer Law Center, and local law school consumer programs. DiTommaso-Lubin is proud of our achievements in assisting national and local consumer organizations and law school legal aid clinics obtain the funds needed to ensure that consumers are protected and informed of their rights. By standing up to consumer fraud and consumer rip-offs, and in the right case filing consumer protection lawsuits and class-actions you too can help ensure that other consumers' rights are protected from corporate misdeeds.

Our Naperville, Wheaton, Oak Brook, and Chicago consumer attorneys provide assistance in consumer fraud and consumer rights cases including in Illinois and throughout the country. You can click here to see a description of the some of the many individual and class-action consumer cases we have handled. A video of our lawsuit which helped ensure more fan friendly security at Wrigley Field can be found here. You can contact one of our Chicago area consumer protection lawyers here who can assist in lemon law, tele-marketing fraud, infomercial scams and frauds, unfair debt collection, junk fax, pre-recorded telephone solicitations, and other consumer, consumer fraud or consumer class action cases by filling out the contact form at the side of this blog or by clicking here.