STEP 1
Gather any evidence you possess of fraud that has been committed.
After your initial report is filed, you may be asked to provide evidence. The information will come from your online activity, or telephone report. Below is a checklist that be used to prepare a fraud report. While fraud creates emotional consequences, it can cloud the facts in a case, making it harder to investigate. Objective reports may even be seen as more trustworthy than those that include a lot of opinion. Do your best to remember important details such as:
- Date of the incident.
- Name of the criminal and the organization he claimed to represent.
- If contact was made in person, provide a physical description.
- Details of each transaction or contact with the criminal.
- Number of times the criminal contacted or attempted to contact you.
- Methods of contact (such as in person, phone, mail or Internet).
STEP 2
Establish the type of fraud that was committed.
Different state and government agencies investigate specific types of fraud. Common types of fraud include Internet, tax, financial, identity theft, stolen checks, fake businesses and Medicare. To research the different types of possible fraud, visit www.consumerfraudreporting.org. Although this site caters mainly to fraud in the United States and Canada, there are links that help you to report fraud in other countries.
STEP 3
Report the crime to the proper authority.
Elder Fraud:
National Adult Protection Services Association (NAPSA)
Report elder financial exploitation through the state’s Adult Protective Services (APS), which can be accessed through the National Adult Protection Services Association (NAPSA) website.
Find help in your area: NAPSA Locator Map
Phone Number: (202) 370-6292
Online Fraud:
Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
The IC3 serves as the FBI’s central repository for the collection of Internet crime complaints and works with federal, state,and local law agencies to create public awareness of cyber crime schemes that victimize individuals and businesses worldwide.
File a complaint: Online Form for Internet Crime
E-Consumer
eConsumer.gov is a portal for consumers to report complaints regarding scams and related fraudulent transactions with foreign companies.
E-mail: econsumerwb@ftc.gov
Commodities, Investment and Securities Fraud:
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
The SEC oversees organizations and individuals in the securities markets and can bring civil actions against those who violate securities laws.
File a complaint: Online Form for Investment Fraud
Phone: (800) 732-0330
Identity Theft:
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
The Federal Trade Commission collects complaints about companies, business practices, identity theft, and episodes of violence in the media.
File a complaint: Online Form for Identity Theft
Email Address (for complaints about spam or phishing): spam@uce.gov
Phone: (877) 438-4338
Mail-Related Fraud:
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS)
The USPIS enforces laws to defend the US mail system from illegal or dangerous use, including mail-related fraud and identity theft.
File a complaint: Online Form for Mail-Related Fraud
Phone: (877) 876-2455
Mass Marketing/Telemarketing Fraud:
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
The FTC protects consumers by stopping unfair, deceptive or fraudulent practices in the marketplace.
File a complaint: Online Form for Fraud in the Marketplace
Phone: (877) 382-4357
Medicare Fraud:
Medicare
Medicare defines, designs, and delivers healthcare to seniors and also handles complaints relating to quality of care, grievances with hospitals ,doctors, or providers.
File a complaint: Medicare Fraud Information
Phone: (800) 633-4227
Mortgage Fraud or Loan Scams:
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
To file a complaint with the FBI contact the nearest FBI field office.
File a complaint: FBI Tips and Public Leads Form
Find help in your area: Local FBI Field Office Locator
Phone: (800) 225-5324
Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Inspector General (OIG) is committed to protecting HUD’s programs, operations, and beneficiaries from dishonest individuals and organizations.
File a complaint: Online Form for Loan/Refinancing/Foreclosure Scams
Email: hotline@hudoig.gov
Phone: (800) 347-3735
Retirement Plan Scams:
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
The IRS is treating tax-related identity theft as a top priority, taking important steps to fight it. Tax-related identity theft happens when someone steals your personal information to commit tax fraud. Your taxes can be affected if your Social Security number is used to file a fraudulent return or to claim a refund or credit.
File a complaint: Form Locator
Email: tegeepsheltercoord@irs.gov
Phone: (410) 962-9547
The above data is based on information from the following sites:
http://www.stopfraud.gov/report.html#bankruptcy
http://www.wikihow.com/Report-Fraud