California Auto Fraud – Credit Application, Forged Signature & Income Lies

Some California dealers will say almost anything to “make the numbers work” for a car deal—including lying on your credit application or adding signatures you never gave. Credit application fraud and forged signatures can leave you in a loan you can’t afford, expose you to default, and damage your credit.

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How Credit Application Fraud Happens

Typical patterns we see in California credit and signature fraud include:

• Inflated income or fake employment. The dealer exaggerates your income or job status on the credit app so a lender will approve you.
• Multiple applications without consent. Your information is submitted to numerous lenders or on different terms you never agreed to.
• Forged signatures or misused e-signatures. You find contracts or add-on agreements bearing a signature that doesn’t look like yours—or you never saw that document at all.
• Missing copies of key paperwork. You’re not given copies of what you supposedly signed, or you only receive partial documents.
• Terms that don’t match your understanding. The interest rate, loan term, or amount financed is very different from what you were told at the dealership.

Why This Matters Under California Law

California law requires honesty and fair dealing in auto sales and financing:

• Credit applications must be truthful. Falsifying income or employment can be fraud and can expose you to a loan that was never suitable.
• Your consent is mandatory. Dealers cannot sign forms for you, “click through” e-sign documents without your review, or create contracts you never agreed to.
• Disclosures must match reality. The written contract must reflect the actual terms of the deal as you understood them, not a rewritten version created for lender approval.
• These practices can support real claims. When a dealer lies to a lender using your name, or forges your signature, you may have powerful claims under California auto fraud and consumer laws.

Safe Harbors – When It Might NOT Be a Case

We focus on clear misconduct—not regular underwriting or small corrections. You may not have a strong case if:

• The dealer accurately typed the income and job information you provided, even if a lender later declined you.
• You reviewed and signed all pages (paper or electronic), received copies, and the contract reflects what you agreed to.
• Your concern is mainly “buyer’s remorse” about the loan amount or interest rate, without any specific misrepresentation or forgery.

If you suspect the dealer changed numbers behind your back, added a signature you did not give, or filed extra applications without telling you, that’s different—and should be reviewed.

Evidence That Helps Your Case

For credit application and signature fraud, the most useful evidence includes:

• Copies of any credit applications or “credit statements” you were given.
• The full retail installment sales contract (RISC) and any add-on contracts.
• Your own pay stubs, tax returns, or bank records showing your true income.
• Emails or texts between you and the dealer about “getting you approved.”
• Credit reports showing multiple inquiries or accounts you didn’t expect.

What You Could Recover

Depending on the facts, potential remedies in California may include:

• Cancellation or restructuring of the contract in serious fraud cases.
• Compensation for increased finance costs or credit damage.
• Statutory damages where consumer-protection laws were violated.
• Attorney’s fees and costs in appropriate cases.

Frequently Asked Questions

I see a signature on a contract I know I didn’t sign. What should I do?

Preserve the document and any other paperwork you have, and contact an attorney immediately. Forged or altered signatures are a significant red flag and can support strong claims in California.

The dealer told me they “had to bump my income a little” to get me approved. Is that fraud?

It can be. Dealers are not allowed to lie to lenders in your name. If the income listed on the application is higher than what you actually earn, and you did not consent to that misstatement, it’s worth a legal review.

Does my city in California matter?

No. Credit application and signature fraud rules are statewide. Whether the deal happened in Southern California, the Bay Area, or anywhere else, California law still applies.

I wasn’t given copies of all my paperwork. Is that suspicious?

It can be. Not providing full copies is a common way to hide add-ons or altered terms. We’ll want to see whatever you have and may compare it to what the dealer or lender has on file.

If your income was exaggerated, documents were signed without your consent, or loan terms don’t match what you agreed to, call (888) 536-6628 or start your FREE Case Review and we’ll examine your credit application and contracts under California law.

Attorney advertising. Not legal advice. Results depend on facts and law, and past results do not guarantee future outcomes.