“Dell Inc. deceived customers in a massive ‘bait and switch’ scheme to increase sales of its computer and electronic products, a New York state judge ruled Tuesday,” Karina Frayter reports for CNN.

“State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo sued Dell in 2007 on behalf of hundreds of customers who claimed that the electronics company lured them into buying products with promises of attractive deals and promotions,” Frayter reports. “In reality, the lawsuit alleged, most customers were denied or misled into believing that they had been approved for low interest or financing rates.”

Frayter reports, “In a 26-page decision, Supreme Court Justice Joseph C. Teresi found in favor of the consumers. ‘Dell has engaged in repeated misleading, deceptive and unlawful business conduct, including false and deceptive advertising of financing promotions and the terms of warranties, fraudulent, misleading and deceptive practices in credit financing and failure to provide warranty service and rebates,’ Teresi said in his decision.”

Frayter reports, “The court will hold further proceedings to determine how much restitution Dell will have to pay its customers.”

Full article here.

Read the judge’s ruling here.

The Consumerist also has more about beleaguered Dell’s repeated misleading, deceptive and unlawful business conduct here.

[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader "webbyswim" for the heads up.]