The primary tool the Office of the Attorney General uses to protect Texas consumers is the Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA). Houston Deceptive Trade Practices Defense Attorneys.The Act gives consumers a way to sue sellers for false, misleading and deceptive business practices. For complaints about false, misleading, or deceptive business practices. What Are Deceptive Trade Practices? The DTPA is extremely broad and protects consumers from most, but not all, acts that are determined to be false, misleading, or deceptive acts or practices. This chapter lists many practices that are deceptive or misleading for consumers. The DTPA provides that. By definition, unfair trade practices are unlawful business actions that are deceptive, fraudulent, or harmful to consumers. One such statute is the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Act, more commonly known as the "DTPA".