In the civilised (non-US) West, this is simply known as "American Business Practices" (when our own businesses do it, we call it "flagrantly dishonest", or "obtaining financial advantage by deception").
It's part of the shonky, US-originated raft of shady business practices - e.g., "Up to" (X% off, Y% improvement in dandruff, Z% reduction in fine lines).
In fact, the Yank practice of "puffery" is now so widely understood, as to be considered worthy of running as a defence... e.g., S&P's defence of the DoJ's lawsuit; S&P's defence in Australian courts (which, given that Australia is part of the civilised (i.e., non-US) West, got thrown out with costs, then rejected on appeal).
Slashdot Mirror
In the civilised (non-US) West, this is simply known as "American Business Practices" (when our own businesses do it, we call it "flagrantly dishonest", or "obtaining financial advantage by deception"). It's part of the shonky, US-originated raft of shady business practices - e.g., "Up to" (X% off, Y% improvement in dandruff, Z% reduction in fine lines). In fact, the Yank practice of "puffery" is now so widely understood, as to be considered worthy of running as a defence ... e.g., S&P's defence of the DoJ's lawsuit; S&P's defence in Australian courts (which, given that Australia is part of the civilised (i.e., non-US) West, got thrown out with costs, then rejected on appeal).