How to Report an Internet Fraud or Scam

Internet fraud and scams are on the rise. There probably are very few people who read this article who have not had at least a phishing email arrive in the inbox of their email account. According to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), they received over 275 thousand complaints in 2008 of internet related crimes, schemes, scams and fraud. That was a 33% increase from the previous year and a 600% increase since 2000. There are many forms that internet fraud can come in. The main forms reported up to now, in the order of frequency, are non-delivery of merchandise or money, auction fraud, debit or credit card fraud, confidence (con-men) fraud, Advance Fee Fraud (also known as Nigerian Letter Fraud), identity theft, financial institution fraud, and threats. There are new frauds and scams being hatched everyday with some of the more recent being lottery, phishing, passive residual income, work at home, pyramid, and investment schemes. If you have been a victim or a target of one of these type of schemes, there are places where you can report the internet crime. This article will provide you with the information to do that.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Access to the internet
• Specific information about the individual or company who committed or is attempting to commit an internet crime.

1. FILE YOUR COMPLAINT WITH THE INTERNET CRIME COMPLAINT CENTER (IC3). This is a federal government agency that operates in partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National White Collar Crime Center, and the Bureau of Justice Assistance. You can file the complaint online at the website listed in the "resources" section below.

2. FILE YOUR COMPLAINT WITH THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION. If the fraud has to do with false advertising, defective products, or other trade issues, report it to this agency. The website is listed below.

3. FILE YOUR COMPLAINT WITH THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE, POSTAL INSPECTOR. If you received any fraudulent communication through the postal system, even if it started out on the internet, you can report the crime to a U.S. Postal Inspector. A website to identify a contact in your area is listed below.

4. FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE SECRET SERVICE. For an internet fraud or scam that originates overseas, such as the Advance Fee Fraud cases, report the crime to the Secret Service. They in turn work with international law enforcement agencies on the case.

5. FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE IRS. If the fraud has to do with taxes, then this is the place to report the scheme.

6. FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. Report an internet fraud that involved securities such as stocks or bonds to this agency.

7. FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE CONSUMER PROTECTION DIVISION OF YOUR STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL'S OFFICE. If the perpetrator of the internet fraud or scam is in your state or doing business in your state then you can report the crime here.

8. FILE COMPLAINTS WITH NON-GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES. Although these agencies can not assist you from a criminal investigation perspective they can and do keep historical records that keep others from being victimized by internet crimes. A couple of agencies to contact are the National Fraud Information Center and the Better Business Bureau.

9. WHEN FILING A COMPLAINT HAVE AS MUCH OF THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AVAILABLE AS POSSIBLE.
   *Your name, address, telephone number, and email address
   *The name of the individual or business that has defrauded you
   *The address, telephone number, email address, or website of the internet fraud or scam perpetrator
   *All the specific details about the fraud and any other relevant information you might have.

Tips & Warnings

• Victims of internet crimes are not just the elderly. In fact, 72% of the victims are between 20 and 49 years old.
• Report any suspected phishing to the company that the fraudulent email is pretending to be. For example it is common to see emails pretending to be from Paypal or a Bank wanting you to click on a link and provide private information. If you are suspicious then just go to their regular website through your internet browser and look on their site for a tab that says something like "reporting internet scams or phishing." Then just follow the instructions.
• Never provide your personal information to someone you are not familiar with or have not sought to do business with.
• Never send money to someone who promises to give you money in return.

Resources

• Internet Crime Complaint Center
• FTC
• U.S. Postal Inspectors Service
• How to Prevent Identity Theft - 5 Easy Steps

[smartguy386]

on 12/9/2009 Very important information! 5* and a recommendation!

[joanhaines]

on 8/15/2009 Thanks for empowering us with what to do when we spot a scam!

[kristara]

on 8/7/2009 Very important information, scammers need to be stopped 5*

[devsinha9]

on 8/4/2009 CAN SOMEBODY HELP ME TO REPORT THIS WEBSITE PLEASE.
www.tobuyhere.com
THEY ACTUALLY SELL PRODUCT TO PEOPLE, WHICH THEY WOULD NEVER POST. I WAS ONE OF THE VICTIMS.

THANKS

[langleycornwell]

on 7/31/2009 We are sding internet frauds and scams more often. Good advice here.