Government Agencies Around the World to Which You May Report Frauds and Scams
United States of America
Federal Trade Commission - The Federal Trade Commission provides information to help consumers spot and avoid fraudulent practices in the marketplace, and can be contacted at the following:
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
600 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE NW
WASHINGTON DC 20580-0001
Phone: 1-877-FTC-HELP
Click here to search the FTC database to see if a particular company or product has been investigated for false advertising, defective products or other trade issues? Just search the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) database.
FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigations)
Local FBI office: Click here to locate your local FBI office's address and phone number.
FBI Internet Fraud Complaint Center
The Internet Crime Complaint Center can best process your complaint if they receive accurate and complete information from you. They request that you provide the following information, if available, when filing a complaint:
Your name
Your mailing address
Your telephone number
Name of the individual or business that defrauded you
Address of the individual or business that defrauded you
Telephone number of the individual or business that defrauded you
Website and email address of the individual or business that defrauded you
Specific details on how you were defrauded
Any other relevant information necessary to support your complaint
Filing a complaint with the FBI:
How to file
Information Requested
National Fraud Information Center - non-government org - The NFIC was originally established in 1992 by the National Consumers League, the oldest nonprofit consumer organization in the United States, to fight the growing menace of telemarketing fraud by improving prevention and enforcement.
Latest fraud news
US Postal Service - The U.S. Postal Inspection Service should be contacted if you think you may have been victimized by a fraudulent promotional offer. You can contact them at the following address, or check the government pages of your telephone book:
US POSTAL INSPECTION SERVICE
OPERATIONS SUPPORT GROUP
222 S RIVERSIDE PLAZA SUITE 1250
CHICAGO IL 60606-6100
800-372-8347
Secret Service - If you ever receive an e-mail or fax from someone you do not know requesting your assistance in a financial transaction, such as the transfer of a large sum of money into an account, or claiming you are the next of kin to an wealthy person who has died, or the winner of some obscure lottery and suffered a significant financial loss related to the advance fee fraud (so-called "Nigerian scam"), please contact your local Secret Service field office. Telephone numbers are available in the Field Office Directory and may also be found on the inside cover of your local telephone directory. Any investigation regarding this type of fraud will be conducted on a case by case basis at the discretion of the local Secret Service and U.S. Attorney's Office.
State Attorneys General. Your state Attorney General or local office of consumer protection is also listed in the government pages of your telephone book.
Securities and Exchange Commission - The SEC has an online center for complaints and enforcement tips. Through this page you can file a complaint or provide the S.E.C with tips on potential securities law violations.
EConsumer.gov, a service of the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network
Tax scams: Whether by email, mail or phone send the information and a copy of the mail or email to phishing@irs.gov
Non-governmental Agencies and Organizations that can help with frauds
Better Business Bureau Contact the Better Business Bureau where the company is located.
National Fraud Information Center/Internet Fraud Watch The NFIC is a project of the National Consumers League, which helps consumers with information, referral services, and assistance in filing complaints. or 800-876-7060, TDD 202-835-0778. The information you provide helps to stop identity theft.
Call for Action, the international nonprofit network of hotlines working in partnership with radio and television stations, resolves consumer problems through free and confidential mediation.
CALL FOR ACTION INC
5272 RIVER ROAD SUITE 300
BETHESDA MD 20816-1405
1-800-647-1756
Nigeria – The 419 Coalition
Direct Marketing Association (DMA) member companies will assist you if you have a question or complaint or would like to request that your name be removed from their promotions:
Publishers Clearing House
Christopher Irving
Director, Consumer Affairs
Publishers Clearing House
382 Channel Drive
Port Washington, NY 11050
Tel: 800-337-4724
Time, Inc.
Rosalyn McDavid
Time, Inc.
1271 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
Reader's Digest Association, Inc.
Reader's Digest Customer Service
1995 G Avenue
Red Oak, IA 51566
Tel: 800-635-5006
Suarez Corporation
Customer Service
Suarez Corporation
7800 Whipple Ave. NW
North Canton, OH 44720
Tel: 330-494-4282
Other Countries
Australia
Australian Securities and Investment Commission
Australia Scamwatch
Consumers online (Australian Government)
The Australian Communications Authority monitors the compliance of the legislation in Australia. Visit their website, if you would like to report/complain about spam, or obtain more information on spam laws, spam reduction, and internet security.
Ministerial Council on Consumer Affairs, Australia
South Australia Office of Consumer and Business Affairs
Consumer and Employment Protection, Government of Western Australia
Western Australia Department of Consumer and Employment Protection - Scamnet
Canada
Better Business Bureau
Industry Canada Consumer Connection (Scams)
Phone Busters (Telemarketing Complaints)
New Zealand
Commerce Commission
Consumers' Institute of New Zealand, Inc.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs
NZ Securities Commission
NZ Serious Fraud Office
For more information about lotteries and gaming laws in New Zealand visit the Department of Internal Affairs website (www.dia.govt.nz ).
Norway
Police Economic Crime Unit, Norway (press "Bedragerier")
UK
Metropolitan Police, London
Office of Fair Trading, London
www.ripofftipoff.net
