Consumer fraud and Latino immigrant consumers in the United States

Abstract

Disadvantaged consumers are often the victims of consumer fraud; low-income Latinoaa Latino is used to denote immigrants from Mexico, Spanish Caribbean, Central and South America. immigrants are especially likely to be victims due to their lack of English proficiency and inexperience in the local marketplace. A qualitative research study using purposeful sampling was conducted to identify areas of consumer fraud experienced by 45 Latino immigrants. Types of unscrupulous practices are identified, including sales of automobiles, prepaid telephone cards and counterfeit documents. Problems with fraud are discussed in terms of a model of disadvantaged consumers and implications for education are suggested to counteract the identified problems.