Consumer Alert
Reporting fraud 101: protect your community by reporting scams
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Have you or a family member or friend ever lost money to a scam? You’re not alone: last year scammers pulled in over $8 billion. But there’s a way you can help.
If you think you’ve spotted a scam, tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov to help fight fraud in your community. The FTC uses reports like yours to investigate and bring cases against fraud, scams, and bad business practices, and to spot trends and educate people about scams. To get started, go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov and click on “Report Now.” You can give as much or as little detail about yourself as you’d like. After you submit a report, you’ll get steps you can take to protect yourself or try to get your money back.
Watch the video below for more information about reporting fraud — then share it with your friends and family. And the next time you spot a scam, report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
How to Report Fraud at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
Share this video using the links in the player above or use the YouTube version.
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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.
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I HAVE reported scams that have been sent through the U.S. Postal Service, by the companies that have been barred from making those 'car warranty' robocalls, but YOU (the FTC) WON'T ***DO*** ANYTHING ABOUT THEM!!!
How do I know? THEY'RE NOT AFRAID OF BEING REPORTED! That tells me the FTC made a deal with those scam companies, telling them they can legally use the USPS to scam car owners--even NEW car owners--of their money!
Please explain to me WHEN the FTC decided to ALLOW FRAUD??? I thought your entire purpose for existing was to protect the American consumer??? But you're not doing that anymore.
So, now your purpose is to WASTE TAXPAYER MONEY??
In reply to I HAVE reported scams that… by Catherine Bird
Thank you for reporting scams you spotted. As a result of an FTC lawsuit, the operators of a scam that contacted thousands of people nationwide to pitch expensive "extended automobile warranties" will face a lifetime ban from the extended automobile warranty industry and from all outbound telemarketing.
Read the press release to learn more about the case: www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2023/03/ftc-action-leads-li….
In reply to Thank you for reporting… by FTC Staff
Fraud
In reply to I HAVE reported scams that… by Catherine Bird
I was told by one Caller who laughed at my complaint about their calling at all hours and that they were a scam, that it didn't matter to them what I said. They were based in India. I think, through the mail, is more difficult, but where a company is based is what makes the law of who can prosecute.
Some of the warranty scams have been prosecuted.
Sometimes the only evidence is the number of complaints, and reporting of incidental mail or calls is what makes the difference for when something can be prosecuted.
In reply to I HAVE reported scams that… by Catherine Bird
Respectfully, Catherine,
I'm just as frustrated as you are, but having taken (wasted?) a good deal of time trying to track down information, I've come to realize that pretty much 100% of what's provided by the scammers, (i.e. phone numbers, addresses, websites, etc.) is false. So, even though they try to investigate, it's impossible for them to find anyone.
The other thing that happens is that many sleazy companies sort of provide the service or item they advertise, but in the pages and pages of fine print that accompany any deal these days, they bury statements that radically change their legal responsibilities. They count on the fact that, almost no one even attempts to wade through all the legalese, and of the ones who try, many won't really understand what they're reading, so all of them will click on the "accept" box without understanding what they're agreeing to. Thus, while what these companies do is neither ethical nor moral, it's legal, and there's nothing the FTC can do about it.
I have been scammed on several occasions but reported it and was reimbursed both times. Some of the ads on FB have been caught on my web protection. I am on the lookout and will warn about things that look suspicious. Just saying "Be careful". I wonder why META does not check all the posts before posting, other than the fact that META is, more than likely, making money off of them.
In reply to I have been scammed on… by Linda Sims
I agree. The only time I have been scammed in my life was once on Facebook. Pay Pal said I lost the case because they claimed they sent the package. Even the post office general told me I had been scammed. It was a small amount of money or I would have fought harder. But you are right , be careful, especially on social media.
I get your daily emails. Wanted you to know I think you do a great 👍 job.
I was pulled in a scam from October 2021 to May 2022..I lost about $67,000..I did reported already,and after I reported it to police..now it's still under investigation..But I didn't gear anything from FTC..AS EMBARRESED as I was about what happened to me,I started talking to others,so won't happen to them what happened to me
In reply to I was pulled in a scam from… by Ibolya Gal
Don't feel bad I have gotten fraud reports that I've tried to report I've been hacked several times and tried to report it I finally figured out that someone is apparently Borrowing my identity or something from which they obtained credit that I cldnt even get it's everywhere these days and they are really good at it so don't be embarrassed u were picked as a target it happens I still don't know what all I should even do about it for sure
In reply to Don't feel bad I have gotten… by Edward cheatham
Report identity theft to the FTC at www.IdentityTheft.gov. When you report, you will get a recovery plan to help you work on the problems the theft caused. There website has sample letters and pre-filled forms to send to businesses where someone got credit in your name.
It is a dam shame that this goes on today!! Having just retired last May of 2022, i was tricked/scammed by someone purporting to be my cable company. Bad timing for me, wished i would have seen this sight sooner but was taking care of retirement issues!!!
My Husband and I are retired and both are disabled.
May 2022 we’ were victims of a fraudulent real estate investment scam.
We were scammed out of 20k of our Savings. This has caused a huge financial disparity in our budget not to mention a huge dip in my credit score. I also cashed in one life insurance policy and borrowed against a second policy.
The scams are ongoing throughout each day.
I spent years collecting evidence of sales tax fraud by CT gas station/convenient stores and reporting them to the CT Dept. of Revenue. I wrote to my local and state representatives regarding the millions of revenue being lost, and proposed solutions. I knew the state was aware of this widespread problem as they had published s report years ago regarding the loss of revenue, tactics being used by the business', and possible solutions...but no action was, and still has not, been taken. Frustrated by the lack of acknowledgement to my fraud reports, I honed in on three local business' and collected receipts for months, and then filed reports to CT DRS, enclosing the hundreds of slips of evidence for each of the 3 reports. It worked and a few weeks later, I received a call from a DRS agent letting me know that they had investigated and verified my reports were accurate, and that action, although he could not tell me in detail, had/was being taken. The conversation that pursued with this agent, regarding an implied crooked and broken system within the state department, judicial system ,and legislature...left me outraged, and discouraged. This agent had worked for 17 years in the department, and although less than 3 years from receiving his pension, was seeking other employment because the frustration and stress was affecting his health. From the department gross understaffing, the internal corruption, failure by the courts to convict and impose penalties and punishment, to the commissioner and legislature not taking action by implementing policies , procedures, laws..he couldn't take it anymore. I felt such empathy for this agent, and realized that if he, as an employee within the department for so many years, was sick about the issue, and felt his time was wasted, that little me, a single private citizen, was not going to make a difference. I abandoned my efforts and advocacy. That is my story just for fraud being committed by these business owners against the state. Although, I do my best to shop at and support legitimate business'..they are becoming few and far between. They cant compete with thieves. I asked my state representative, what do they think the chances are, that if these type owners are committing sales tax fraud, what about employment tax fraud, federal tax fraud,property tax fraud, and as my evidence of sales tax fraud also proved. a gross violation of fraud to the consumer. Pay attention people. Ask prices, get and check receipts. One of the stores I reported got their gas pumps and lottery shut down a couple weeks ago. I know why.. but it is not posted or published in the papers to inform the rest of the community they've been being ripped off. The tags on the pumps are generic and don't explain the problem. Just a tank/pump problem.
I reported a fraud and ever since I did I only got one email and i have all the proves that you guys need i mean it's more than 13,000 we're talking about here
In reply to I reported a fraud and ever… by Luatane Gomez Villa
Read the FTC's Frequently Asked Questions about what happens to your report at reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/faq.
The FTC adds your report to a secure database that is shared with 2,800 law enforcement agencies and used for investigations. The FTC and other agencies use your report to investigate and bring cases, but can't resolve cases for individuals. The email you got from the FTC should tell you next steps to take to protect yourself or recover from fraud.
You can also file a report with your state attorney general at www.consumerresources.org/file-a-complaint/.
I was scammed out of 15,000.00 in March 2022 by a group posing as Microsoft. They shut down my computer! I reported the scam to everyone including FTC and Microsoft. Alas no recourse. I blame myself. The two banks involved "investigated" and returned 43.00 to me six mos. later.
I have sent the FTC several emails and no response. The only thing I know is that if they cannot speak perfect English I hang up. Maybe a little swearing first though.
Remember, if it sounds too good to be true it probably is and be extra wary. People are so trusting of anyone who claims to be someone else, get with the times folks, deep fakes are easy! Don't believe everything you see and hear, ESPECIALLY ONLINE!
I get at least 5 to 7 scan text by my phone number, there are a box to report it's a scan. You must collet those reported phone number and start from there to do your job you're paid for. Then move all your personnel to track those number owners.
I prefer to report fraud and scams via email.
Is there any point in reporting scam phone calls when all of the Caller ID information is invalid? I've received as many as 10 calls per day, 90% of which fall into 4 main categories: utility rebates, cable/TV/internet rate reductions, social security/medicare phishing and the ever-popular "you've won millions of dollars" scams. When I'm in the mood, I play along to waste the scammer's time and frequently have seen one individual use multiple Caller IDs over several days. I haven't taken the time to file reports because, as far as I'm aware, there is no way for the FTC to successfully investigate any of them. Should I be filing reports?
I was scammed by Sam Malone for fake advertising supposedly selling legal cvs gummies for chronic pain advertising shark tank approval ad was on 11 alives site in Ga
236-346-4430
Scam says SSN was leaked
Dear ftc.gov administrator, Your posts are always well-structured and logical.
Fox News is committing fraud on the American people by lying and spreading disinformation. They are engaged in an illegal scheme tying monopolistic cable companies up and forcing the greater public to subsidize their propaganda. It violates the Lanham Act (also known as the Trademark Act of 1946). It is the federal statute that governs trademarks, service marks, and unfair competition. It was passed by Congress on July 5, 1946, and signed into law by President Harry Truman. The Act took effect on July 5, 1947.
A famous actress us offering a large sum if money to buy a retirement house in Europe. I cannot identify any abnormality. I asked her to send a letter to the CRA for tax status on large amount given and not taken!