The FTC protects consumers by stopping unfair, deceptive or fraudulent practices in the marketplace. We conduct investigations, sue outfits and individuals that break the law, and inform people and businesses about their rights and responsibilities. In 2017, the FTC filed more than 70 law enforcement actions, obtained more than 145 orders against defendants, and refunded more than $269 million to consumers.
The FTC is a civil law enforcement agency. That means that, while we can’t put people in jail, many of our partners can and do, including the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Attorneys, and other federal, state, and local criminal law enforcers. When FTC cases include behavior that also violates criminal laws, we let criminal prosecutors know.
That’s where the FTC’s Criminal Liaison Unit (CLU) comes in. It helps increase the criminal prosecution of consumer fraud. Since it was formed fifteen years ago, the FTC’s CLU has contributed to the successful prosecution of over one thousand defendants, including fraudulent telemarketers, phantom debt and mortgage relief scammers, immigration fraudsters and others who prey on American consumers and small businesses.
Here’s a quick by-the-numbers look at 2017:
- FTC staff worked on 165 requests for cooperation from criminal law enforcement partners.
- Prosecutors charged 95 new defendants
- Prosecutors obtained 41 guilty pleas or convictions with an average sentence of 53 months
- Six defendants received sentences of more than seven years
We have more information about the CLU and the people whose efforts in criminal law enforcement have made a significant contribution to the protection of American consumers.
It is your choice whether to submit a comment. If you do, you must create a user name, or we will not post your comment. The Federal Trade Commission Act authorizes this information collection for purposes of managing online comments. Comments and user names are part of the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) public records system, and user names also are part of the FTC’s computer user records system. We may routinely use these records as described in the FTC’s Privacy Act system notices. For more information on how the FTC handles information that we collect, please read our privacy policy.
The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. We review all comments before they are posted, and we won’t post comments that don’t comply with our commenting policy. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect.
We don't edit comments to remove objectionable content, so please ensure that your comment contains none of the above. The comments posted on this blog become part of the public domain. To protect your privacy and the privacy of other people, please do not include personal information. Opinions in comments that appear in this blog belong to the individuals who expressed them. They do not belong to or represent views of the Federal Trade Commission.
In reply to I just received a call from a by fkgold
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In reply to I just received a call from a by fkgold
I for one am so impressed with all the intense work you all do Thank you from the bottom of my heart Awesome
In reply to Post on Facebook June 10, by ircountry
When you submit a complaint at FTC.gov/complaint, and give your email, you will receive an automatic email reply that says we recieved your complaint. The email will give a number for your complaint, in case you want to come back later and add details.
The information you provide is added to a secure online database that the FTC and other law enforcement agencies use for investigations. The FTC announces enforcement actions on FTC.gov/News. If the information you provide is used by a different law enforcement agency, it would be announced by that agency.
You can receive FTC Scam Alerts by email and stay ahead of new scams.
In reply to When you submit a complaint by FTC Staff
In reply to The first paragraph is true, by Ards woman
The Consumer Sentinel database is available to any federal, state or local law enforcement agency. Information in the Sentinel database is not posted here on the public consumer blog.
In reply to Post on Facebook June 10, by ircountry
The FTC is not an enforcement agency, however it does refer cases to various enforcement officials. Here's an idea on how the FTC should operate: 1. receive a complaint 2. complete a for for other agency referral 3. eMail that form to the consumer with instruction how to complete the form, sign it and provide instructions where to send it.
In reply to The FTC is not an enforcement by Unhappy Camper
The FTC is a civil law enforcement agency. It conducts investigations, sues outfits and individuals that break the law, and informs people and businesses about their rights and responsibilities.
In 2017, the FTC filed more than 70 law enforcement actions, obtained more than 145 orders against defendants, and refunded more than $269 million to consumers.
In reply to The FTC is a civil law by FTC Staff
In reply to If i want to file a compliant by shar
You can file a complaint with the FTC for free. Call 1-877-382-4357 to make a complaint.
The FTC will add your complaint to other complaints. The FTC might investigate the scammers who took your money. The FTC might get money back.
But the FTC does not get money back for every person who files a complaint.
In reply to You can file a complaint with by FTC Staff