Is it immoral for a marketing professional to lie or to deceive people in other ways in a commercial?

[Gabriella V]

For instance ads like "I am thinking of a number...."
They promise free credit report to you . In order to get it you have to put in a lot of personal info. Then they turn around and sell your data as a "lead" to real estate and mortgage agents. To anyone, who is willing to pay $30 or more (if it is "hot") for it.
Where is everybody? No answer since several days....

[Banshee]

Business ethics is a form of the art of applied ethics that examines ethical rules and principles within a commercial context, the various moral or ethical problems that can arise in a business setting, and any special duties or obligations that apply to persons who are engaged in commerce.

Business ethics can be both a normative and a descriptive discipline. As a corporate practice and a career specialisation, the field is primarily normative. In academia descriptive approaches are also taken. The range and quantity of business ethical issues reflects the degree to which business is perceived to be at odds with non-economic social values. Historically, interest in business ethics accelerated dramatically during the 1980s and 1990s, both within major corporations and within academia. For example, today most major corporate websites lay emphasis on commitment to promoting non-economic social values under a variety of headings (e.g. ethics codes, social responsibility charters). In some cases, corporations have redefined their core values in the light of business ethical considerations (e.g. BP's "beyond petroleum" environmental tilt).

http://www.springerlink.com/index/G22M77324303017V.pdf

http://www.commondreams.org/news2001/0716-03.htm

[Amy G]

my momma taught me:everyone wants your money. act accordingly

[Stewy]

Yes this is immoral. Just because they are making money does not condone lying. Legally it my be permissible but I do not see how it is ethical.

[masterplumber75]

Bush and Cheney do it to us all the time.

[Ali 5000]

business is business

[just the facts]

Let the buyer (or receiver) in this case, beware. Another old business adage is, "There is no free lunch".