What are the Risks of Unethical Marketing?

Marketing practice entails numerous form of risk for the company and society. The primary risks are as follows: 

• Brand/Image – Unethical marketing affects our brand image in the eyes of consumers. 
• Fines – The government levies fines from breaches of consumer protection laws and unfair trade practices. Also, private individuals can bring lawsuits based on unethical marketing practices. 
• Jail Time – Unethical practices that hurt society or individuals are commonly the subject of criminal law. This is particularly true when the unethical behavior relates to fraud. 
• Societal Harm – Marketing practices, such as product design, if done unethically, has the ability to harm the physical or mental well-being of the public. Also, public confidence is harmed when marketers employ unethical practices. 

Related Topics

• What are Ethics?
• Why are Ethics Important to Marketing?
• What is Micro-Marketing?
• What is Macro-marketing?
• In what ways do Ethics Interact with Marketing?
• What are the risks of Unethical Marketing?
• What are the Benefits of Ethical Marketing?