What is the term for providing customers with information that is misleading or false?

The term that best describes providing customers with information that is misleading or false is misleading representation. This concept refers specifically to situations where communication about a product or service is crafted in a way that creates a false sense of reality, potentially influencing consumers' decisions based on inaccurate information. Misleading representations can encompass a range of marketing practices, including facts about the product that are distorted or omitted to make it seem more appealing than it truly is.

Deceptive advertising, while closely related, encompasses more than just the misleading display of facts; it includes any type of ad that could mislead consumers, which may or may not involve a direct misrepresentation of the product itself.

False marketing isn’t a universally recognized legal term and might not capture the legal implications that misleading representation does.

Fraudulent claims often imply intentional deception for personal gain and may involve illegal actions. While they can overlap with misleading representation, not all misleading representations are considered fraudulent since they do not always meet the legal threshold for fraud.

Overall, "misleading representation" specifically captures the essence of providing false or misleading information in a commercial context.