720 ILCS 5/17-5.7 – Deceptive Advertising
This law makes it illegal to use false or misleading advertisements to trick people into buying, selling, or signing up for something.
This Illinois law says that businesses and people cannot advertise anything in a dishonest or deceptive way. It covers fake claims about products, services, real estate, or job offers and includes rules for truthful gas pricing signs. Breaking this law can lead to criminal charges or fines.
(a) It is against the law for anyone to make or share an advertisement that contains false or misleading information about something they are selling, buying, or offering–like products, services, jobs, or real estate. This includes ads in newspapers, on TV, radio, or online.
Sentence: Class A misdemeanor.
(b) It is also illegal to advertise something with no real intent to sell it at the stated price or to sell it at all. The State’s Attorney or Attorney General can stop this kind of advertising through a court order.
Sentence: Class A misdemeanor.
(c) Anyone advertising land for sale or rent outside Illinois must clearly state how close the land is to public places like schools, highways, stores, electric power, and water supply–or say that some of these things aren’t nearby. If they don’t, they break this law and can be stopped by court order.
Sentence: Class A misdemeanor.
(d) Newspapers, radio stations, TV channels, websites, or advertising agencies that publish ads in good faith, without knowing the ads are false, are not punished under this law.
(e) Gas station owners must list the full price of gasoline, including all taxes, on any sign at their station, and that price must match what’s on the pump. The sign must also show the brand of gas. Failing to do so violates this subsection.
Sentence: petty offense.
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