How to File an Auction Fraud Report With the Police
According to a report released by the Federal Bureau of Investigations in 2003, auction fraud was by far the most reported offense, making up 61 percent of all reported fraud cases. If you are the victim of an auction fraud (these days, most auctions are held on Internet auction sites like eBay) follow these steps to successfully report your case to local or federal authorities.
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Instructions
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Reporting the Complaint
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If your complaint lies within an online website jurisdiction, then initiating a complaint with the relevant auction website would be an excellent place to start. Once you have placed the complaint, the website should provide you with vital information for you to file your complaint with the proper authorities (police or federal agencies). The information these websites should provide are the contact details of the offender, including his name, city and state of residence and telephone number.
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This next step you should take prior to filing an official complaint is researching and documenting where you sent the money or product. For example, if you were a buyer, did you wire the money into a bank account or through an outside payment processing company such as Western Union or Money Gram? If you wired money through your bank, then you should notify the bank. Most banks are insured and will be more than happy to assist you with locating where the money was sent, and in some cases, stop or reverse the transfer. If you mailed a product, be ready to provide the postal address where it was sent.
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Now that you have the information you need to complete a report, contact your local police department. If your complaint constitutes a federal offensive, then the local police will recommend you speak to a local representative of a government agency and provide you with contact information.
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Tips & Warnings
Make sure you have placed a complaint with the appropriate auction service through its dispute resolution center or department. Most police departments or federal investigators will not investigate your case until you have attempted to resolve your case through the auction service.
