772                              LAWS OF MARYLAND                       [CH. 388

"INVOICE," "BILL," "STATEMENT," OR "REMINDER," TO
CREATE AN IMPRESSION OF EXISTING OBLIGATION WHEN
THERE IS NONE, OR OTHER LANGUAGE TO MISLEAD ANY
PERSON IN RELATING TO ANY SOUGHT AFTER COMMER-
CIAL TRANSACTION.

(b)   The term "merchandise" means any objects, wares, goods,
commodities, intangibles, or real estate.

(c)   The term "service" means building repair and improvement
services, home nursing and other sub-professional services, the re-
pair of automobiles, television sets, and other similar commodities
and the services, and the repair or installation of plumbing, heating,
electrical or mechanical devices.

(d)   The term "person" means any natural person or his legal
representative, partnership, corporation (domestic or foreign), com-
pany, trust, business entity or association, and any agent, employee,
salesman, partner, officer, director, member, stockholder, associate,
trustee, or cestuique CESTUI-QUE trust thereof.

(e)   The term "sale" includes any sale, offer for sale or attempt
to sell any merchandise for cash or credit or any service or offer for
service as it relates to any person, edifice or equipment.

21.

The act, use or employment by any person of any deception, fraud,
false pretense, false promise, misrepresentation, or the concealment,
suppression, or omission of any material fact with intent that others
rely upon such concealment, suppression or omission, in connection
with the sale or advertisement of any merchandise, or service
whether or not any person has in fact been misled, deceived or
damaged thereby, is declared to be an unlawful practice; provided,
however, that nothing herein contained shall apply to the owner or
publisher of newspapers, magazines, publications or printed matter
wherein such advertisement appears, or to the owner or operator of
a radio or television station which disseminates such advertisement
when the owner, publisher or operator has no knowledge of the
intent, design or purpose of the advertiser; and provided, further,
that nothing herein contained shall apply to any advertisement which
is subject to and complies with the rules and regulations of, and the
statutes administered by the Federal Trade Commission.

When it appears to the Attorney General or when it has been duly

verified before the Attorney General, that a person has engaged in

is engaging in or is about to engage in any practice declared to be

unlawful under the provisions of this act or when in the opinion of

the Attorney General it would be in the public interest that an

investigation should be made to determine whether in fact a person
has engaged in, is engaging in or is about to engage in such practice,

he may:

(a) Require such person to file on such forms as he may prescribe
a statement of report under oath in writing stipulating all the facts
and circumstances concerning the sale or advertisement of such
merchandise or service.

22.