16 CFR 238.0 : Commercial Practices (§ 0.1 To Parts 1751-1799) — (§ 0.1 To Parts 902-999) — Federal Trade Commission (§ 0.1 To Parts 902-999) — Guides And Trade Practice Rules (Part 17 To § 260.17) — Guides Against Bait Advertising (§ 238.0 To § 238.4) — Bait advertising defined. 1

4 Aug 2016

Bait advertising is an alluring but insincere offer to sell a product or service which the advertiser in truth does not intend or want to sell. Its purpose is to switch consumers from buying the advertised merchandise, in order to sell something else, usually at a higher price or on a basis more advantageous to the advertiser. The primary aim of a bait advertisement is to obtain leads as to persons interested in buying merchandise of the type so advertised.

16 CFR 238.0