Common Types of Consumer Fraud in Florida: Protecting Your Rights

Florida consistently ranks as one of the top states for consumer fraud in the nation. In 2024 alone, Floridians reported losses of over $866 million to scammers, with a median loss of $520 per incident. According to recent FTC data, Florida was actually the most fraud-infested state in America last year. Understanding the most common types of fraud can help you protect yourself and know when to seek legal help.

Most Common Fraud Schemes Targeting Floridians

Imposter Scams: Scammers pose as government agencies like the IRS, businesses, tech support, or even family members in distress. They create urgency to trick victims into sending money or sharing personal information. The Florida Attorney General regularly highlights IRS imposters and “grandparent” emergency scams as particularly problematic.

Identity Theft: Criminals steal personal information to open new accounts, file fraudulent tax returns, or make unauthorized purchases. Credit card fraud is the most common form of identity theft, causing significant financial damage and headaches for victims.

Debt Collection Harassment: Aggressive debt collectors often violate federal and Florida laws by using abusive language, calling at all hours, or attempting to collect debts that aren’t legitimately owed. Many consumers don’t realize these tactics are illegal.

Credit Counseling and Debt Relief Scams: Companies promising debt relief often charge excessive fees, make false promises about removing negative information from credit reports, and advise consumers to stop paying creditors directly. These actions frequently violate Florida’s consumer protection laws.

Investment Fraud: These schemes lure victims with promises of guaranteed high returns with little to no risk. The elderly are frequently targeted, and nationally investment scams caused the highest monetary losses of any fraud category ($5.7 billion across the U.S. in 2024).

How Florida Law Protects Consumers

The Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA) prohibits unfair, deceptive, or unconscionable business practices. Under this law, victims can recover actual damages, and if successful, have the violator pay their attorney’s fees and court costs.

Warning Signs of Consumer Fraud

Be alert for these red flags:

• High-pressure sales tactics create artificial urgency
• Requests for unusual payment methods like gift cards or wire transfers
• Unsolicited communications asking for personal or financial information
• Guarantees that seem too good to be true
• Upfront fees before receiving promised services

How Shrader Mendez & O’Connell Can Help

Our experienced consumer protection attorneys can assist you in turning the tables on abusive businesses. We regularly help Floridians facing:

• Unfair and harassing debt collection practices
• Inaccurate credit reporting is affecting your financial standing
• Overcharging by debt negotiation and credit counseling agencies

Many consumer protection laws include “fee-shifting” provisions, meaning the business that committed the fraud can be ordered to pay your attorney’s fees and court costs if your case is successful. This often allows us to take strong consumer protection cases with no out-of-pocket expense to you.

Don’t suffer in silence when fraudsters target you. Taking prompt legal action not only helps recover your losses but also contributes to holding bad actors accountable and preventing future victims from experiencing similar harm.

If you believe you’ve been a victim of consumer fraud in Florida, contact Shrader Mendez & O’Connell at 813-360-1529 or contact us for a free consultation. Let us help you understand your rights and fight for the compensation you deserve.