In Union legislation the extent of consumer protection is to a large degree determined by the notion that the average consumer is informed, vigilant and reasonable. Due to the primacy of the application of Union law, it is repeatedly demanded that German legislation should also only protect the ‘average’ consumer. Against this background the author examines the fundamental role of consumer protection in Union legislation and looks at the content of the law. Finally, an in-depth discussion of the German doctrine of fraud allows a comparative assessment of the different regulatory provisions and the identification of conflicts between Union law and criminal liability for fraud as defined by German law. The study shows that such clashes are highly improbable and, moreover, with extreme care can be resolved.weiterlesen