How to file a fraud complaint

Please enable JavaScript in your web browser; otherwise some parts of this site might not work properly. If you have problems with an item or service you purchased, you have the right to complain. Start your complaint with the seller or manufacturer. If they don't help, seek help from your local government or a consumer organization.

Use these steps to get started. Print email messages or records of any contact you've had with the seller about the purchase. Use USA. Send your complaint to a salesperson or customer service representative. Look for links that say "contact us," "customer service," "about us," or "privacy statement.

Department of Justice Go to source You can call , fax information to , or email disaster leo. Provide your own contact information with your report. Giving investigators the means to contact you ensures that they can conduct a thorough investigation and follow up if they have any questions. Although you may prefer to remain anonymous, including contact information can greatly assist the task force in verifying and substantiating your claims. Method 3. Collect information about the fraud.

Before you begin the online complaint process, take the time to pull together information and copies of evidence you have about the crime. The more information and detail you can provide, the more likely it will be that the crime will be investigated and the perpetrators eventually brought to justice. However, you shouldn't hold off reporting fraud simply because you don't think you have a lot of information. Make sure you convert any such items to digital format, such as by scanning them, before you start your complaint.

The FBI runs a website that collects information on internet crime to be disseminated and analyzed by the FBI and other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. However, IC3 staff may evaluate any complaint of fraud that has a web-based component, even if aspects of the crime occurred offline. Accept the privacy policy. You must agree to the FBI's terms and conditions, as well as understand how your information will be kept secure, before you can proceed with filling out the IC3 complaint form.

If you knowingly and intentionally provide false information, you could be subject to penalties for perjury including fines and jail time. Although IC3 may share information with federal, state, or even international law enforcement agencies, the individual agencies retain discretion regarding whether to follow up on your complaint or initiate any investigation. Enter your information. The complaint form requires you to provide your own name and contact information, as well as factual details about the crime you want to report.

It's important to maintain a high level of accuracy, but at the same time include as much information as possible. A fact that may seem inconsequential to you could be evidence of a similar method that unlocks a pattern consistent in several other cases about which you're unaware.

Submit your complaint. Once you've reviewed your complaint and are satisfied that the information you've provided is correct and complete, you can click the button to submit it to IC3 for evaluation. When your complaint is complete, make sure you download or print a copy of it for your own records, so you'll know what you submitted if an investigator contacts you to follow up.

You'll get an email that confirms receipt of your complaint and assigns you a username and password to access your complaint at any time. However, you have the ability to add information to it if anything else happens regarding the fraudulent activity, or if you learn any new details. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

You Might Also Like How to. How to. How to Protect a Property Title. More References About This Article. Written by:. Jennifer Mueller, JD. Co-authors: 4. To file a complaint, just go to ftc. Or call That's all there is to it.

If you've been ripped off or scammed, complain to the Federal Trade Commission. It can help put the bad guys out of business. Federal Trade Commission Consumer Information.

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