Visit the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center
Sometimes the unthinkable happens and you fall prey to an online scammer. Perhaps you lost money, a hacker violated your computer, or you paid for a fake product or service that was never delivered. It’s time to file an official report with the U.S. government through the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. The FBI defines an internet crime as “any illegal activity involving one or more components of the Internet, such as websites, chat rooms, and/or email.” Don’t fall for this tax-time phishing scam. Check out the FBI’s warning here. When you file a complaint, the FBI requests you share as much information as possible, including your name, address, telephone number, financial transaction details, and any information you gleaned about the person or party who scammed you. Be sure to hang onto any supporting evidence, including emails, receipts or chat transcripts. Gather all of this together before you submit your complaint to make the process easier. FBI specialists will review your complaint and share information with the proper authorities, which may be federal, state or local law enforcement. The FBI notes, “Investigation and prosecution is at the discretion of the receiving agencies.” If your complaint is very time sensitive, then the FBI suggests you contact your local law enforcement directly.
Check in with the Federal Trade Commission
The FTC’s motto is “Protecting America’s consumers.” This protection extends to helping citizens report internet scams through its Complaint Assistant website. The site lets you choose from a wide range of categories, including identity theft, scams and rip-offs, unwanted telemarketing, mobile devices, and internet services. Pick the one that best fits your issue and the site will walk you through registering your complaint. The step-by-step approach is helpful and takes some of the sting out of having to deal with a scam complaint. As with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, the FTC will share your report with the proper authorities. If you’re dealing with an international scam that extends outside of the U.S., then visit econsumer.gov to file a complaint.
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