Misrepresentation is observed when there is a

transformation of information to misinformation.

Two types of misrepresentation:
1. Intentional misrepresentation a scenario whereby
the person is fully aware of deliberately misrepresents
things, commonly known as lying.
2. Unintentional misrepresentation a scenario
whereby the person is not aware and does not
deliberately act on misrepresenting things.
Lying is defined as the act of making others believe something that they,
themselves, do not believe in.
Types of Lying:
1. Use of ambiguous terms: Is the act of deliberately using vague terms
or open-ended statements that can have several meanings to mislead
people that one is telling the truth.
2. Use of false statements: Is the act of making a statement from which
false conclusions may be drawn, eventually misleading others.
3. Lying through action: Is a type of lying where the person gets caught
in the act of wrongdoing.
4. Suppression of correct information: Is an intentional or
unintentional act of hiding the correct information which eventually
misleads others.
According to Catholic moral theology, lying becomes sinful only when:
1. It leads the neighbor to error;
2. It breaches a promise; and
3. It violates the nature of speech.
However, lying can be morally justified when it is:
1. Used to protect innocent people;
2. Used to protect national security/important secrets;
3. Used in the name of self defense; and
4. Used in protection of bodily integrity.
Business Practices Involving Misrepresentation and Lying
Classified into other types:
1. Direct misrepresentation is characterized by actively
misrepresenting something about the product or service.
a. Deceptive packaging - In deceptive packaging the
product is so packed that it misleads the customer on various
fronts (in terms of quantity, size, shapes, content etc.).
 b. Adulteration is the unethical practice of corrupting a genuine
commodity by imitating or by adding something to increase its bulk or volume,
or even by substituting an inferior product for superior one for the purpose of
profit or gain.

c. Misbranding or Mislabeling Is the act of copying a products

design to the closest possible way giving an impression that it is the same with
the leading brand.
 d. Short Weighing It can be easily spotted in wet and dry markets. It is
practiced in selling products by different quantities.

e. Shortchanging Is taken directly from a situation where the seller gives the
customer less than the change he should get. It covers all situations from quality to
quantity of goods the buyer should get in exchange for money.

f. Short Measuring- Is a unethical practice observed in products that depend on

length and/or volume.
g. Short Numbering The seller gives the consumer the quantity by piece of
the product less than the number he has paid for. It is often practiced when the product
being sold comes or is packed in a manner that would make counting difficult or
inconvenient for the consumer.
 h. Misleading Advertising - Materially false or
misleading representations concerning a product
or service. Any representation or symbol that
would cause s significant number of the general or
relevant public to misunderstand or make incorrect
decisions, regardless of whether such
representation or symbol is consistent with facts.
2. Indirect misrepresentation is characterized by
omitting adverse information about the product or
service. It is passive deception and not as obvious
compared to direct misrepresentation.
The following are the common practices involved in
indirect misrepresentation:
a. Caveat Emptor means let the buyer beware.
Based on this concept, it is the responsibility of the
consumer to determine for himself the defects of
negative features of the product. Therefore, it is not the
responsibility of the seller to reveal any defect of the
product he is selling, thus, the costumer cannot expect
the seller to voluntarily provide that kind of
information.
 b. Deliberately withholding information in any
business transaction is also an unethical practice. All
parties involved in all business transactions must know
exactly what they are giving away or receiving in
return, in order to be fair.
c. Business Ignorance is a form of passive
deception because the businessman is unable to provide
the customer with the complete information he needs to
make a fair decision.
Ignorance of costs the cost of
manufacture, the cost to sell, and the attendant
administrative costs, is another form of business
ignorance which is just as harmful and inexcusable as
ignorance of the product one is selling.
THANK YOU!