A scam occurs when other people make you pay for services or products that you don't need or want. It is difficult to recognize a scam before it happens, but you can report the fraud after it has happened to recover some of what you lost. However, you should report the crime even if you didn't lose anything to prevent the same from happening to other people.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Report Phone and Internet Fraud
Step 1. Report any suspicious email to your email service provider
Most of these providers have an automatic filter that prevents spam from reaching your inbox. However, you can delete any mail that does not automatically go to your spam mailbox by clicking the "spam" or "report as spam" button in your inbox menu. When you use this option to remove spam, many times the provider is automatically alerted.
If the provider was not contacted automatically, you can visit the help section on their home page, find the customer service email, and send them a message
Step 2. Write an email or letter to your local Secret Service office to report scams that require a large amount of money to be transferred
If you receive an email from one of those "Nigerian princes" offering you a large sum of money in exchange for your help with a bank transaction, send a copy of that email to the United States Secret Service. You can send an email to [email protected] or a fax to 202-406-5031. The Secret Service keeps a record of these types of messages for later use in its investigations.
Step 3. If you see the scammers posing as a well-known company or business, send a message to the original company
If you receive an email that asks for personal information, such as your social security number, the company that sent the email is most likely a fake. In these cases, you should contact the original company by email or phone to inform them that someone is trying to impersonate them and thus extract information from their customers.
Step 4. Make sure to use the scam reporting services on the online buying and selling pages
The auction and buy and sell pages usually have a specific section to report scams or fraud. If you see an ad that is obviously a scam, bookmark it and contact customer service for that page.
Step 5. Email or call the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) if you were the victim of a telemarketing fraud
If a business calls you with a suspicious offer, such as a free cruise, quick loans, and credit cards, file a report with the FTC through their website.
You can also contact the FTC if you receive a suspicious email, especially if the fraud involves obtaining personal information from you
Method 2 of 2: Report Fraud Caused by False Companies and "Tax Collectors"
Step 1. Contact the Better Business Bureau (BBB) if you have been the victim of a scam
The BBB is in charge of all reports of scams caused by businesses and charities in the United States and Canada. If you suffered from fraud, contact the BBB offices in your place of residence. If you don't know where the BBB offices are, visit their page and fill out the form to report fraud. Include as much information as you can on this form.
The main objective of the BBB is to protect the consumer against fraud. If you report fraud to the BBB, they will investigate the business in question. If that business engages in fraudulent activity, the BBB will advise other consumers not to get involved with that business
Step 2. Call the FTC's “Homeowner’s Hope” toll-free line or your state attorney general's offices to report fraudulent home loan offers
The “Homeowner’s Hope” toll free line is 1-888-995-HOPE and the FTC number is 877-FTC-HELP. You can contact these organizations to help you recover what you lost and to prevent other people from falling prey to the same group of scammers.
Step 3. Report any fraudulent tax collections to the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
If you discover that someone has committed fraud with their taxes, especially if those people use bank accounts outside the country, report them to the IRS. Contact the main IRS office. It is very important that you report these types of scammers to the IRS. You can reach them by fax at 949-389-5083.
Step 4. Send a message to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) if you know of someone who is selling drugs illegally
You must report the illegal sale of drugs or the sale of counterfeit drugs to the FDA. If you receive an email or see a website that illegally offers drugs, send an email including as much information as possible to [email protected].
Step 5. Fill out a complaint form with the United States Postal Service (USPS)
If you were the victim of mail fraud or someone tries to scam you using the mail, you should report this to the USPS. While they can't help you if the dispute between you and the company is legitimate, they can do something if the company is suspected of fraudulent activity.
Step 6. Contact the police and the FTC if you are a victim of any other type of fraud
If you lost money or had your identity stolen as a result of a scam, it is very important that you report the incident to the police. You also have to file a report with the FTC if the fraud is significant.
Advice
- Join the national “Do Not Call” registry. Thus, you will limit the number of calls you receive from telemarketers. While it doesn't prevent you from being a victim of fraud, it does reduce the chances of that happening.
- Spread the word. There are many online communities, blogs, and forums where you can report a scam to alert other people. You can also visit these communities to learn more about potential scams.