Identity Theft Consumer Information

Report a Scam or Fraud

There are several online resources where a consumer can file a complaint of a scam or fraud with an authority site. If you are a victim of a scam or fraud; take the appropriate steps to protect yourself first…then report the scam or fraud to the authorities. The following resources are listed in no particular or preferred order.

Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) – The IC3 is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C). IC3's mission is to serve as a vehicle to receive, develop, and refer criminal complaints regarding the rapidly expanding arena of cyber crime. The IC3 gives the victims of cyber crime a convenient and easy-to-use reporting mechanism that alerts authorities of suspected criminal or civil violations. For law enforcement and regulatory agencies at the federal, state, local and international level, IC3 provides a central referral mechanism for complaints involving Internet related crimes.
File a Complaint with IC3

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – The FTC does not resolve individual consumer problems, however your complaint helps the FTC investigate fraud, and can lead to law enforcement action. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel®, a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies worldwide. Here, you can report companies or organizations that perpetrate Internet scams to the Federal Trade Commission Bureau of Consumer Protection.
File a Complaint with the FTC

Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG) – The APWG is the global pan-industrial and law enforcement association focused on eliminating the fraud and identity theft that result from phishing, pharming and email spoofing of all types. Report phishing emails, pharming sites and crimeware to the Anti-Phishing Working Group and help stop this insidious threat to e-commerce.
Report Phishing Scam to the Anti-Phishing Working Group

Better Business Bureau (BBB) – If your complaint is about a legitimate business, and your problem is that you are having trouble getting that business to correct your records or your billing as a result of an identity theft; you should file a Better Business Bureau complaint against that legitimate business. The BBB works to facilitate communication between the company and the complainant to help both sides resolve the complaint. In many cases, mediation and arbitration may be available to help resolve the dispute.
File a Complaint with the Better Business Bureau

Identity Theft Resources Center (ITRC) – The ITRC is a non-profit organization that provides great identity theft consumer information. In one particular section, the ITRC welcomes emails and phone calls from victims who may need personal assistance. While the ITRC is not a legal firm, they have worked with hundreds of victims over the year. If they determine they may not be able to help in your situation, they will refer you to the appropriate group, governmental agency or person who may be of better assistance.
Contact the ITRC Victim Resources group

United States Postal Service (USPS) – The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is the law enforcement branch of the U.S. Postal Service, empowered by federal laws and regulations to investigate and enforce federal statutes related to crimes against the U.S. Mail, the Postal Service and its employees. Postal Inspectors investigate any crime in which the U.S. Mail is used to further a scheme, whether it originated in the mail, by telephone or on the Internet. If you feel you've been victimized in a mail fraud scheme that in any way involves the U.S. Postal Mail, submit a Mail Fraud Complaint form to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
File a Mail Fraud Complaint with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service

United States Secret Service (USSS) – The U.S. Secret Service Financial Crimes Division investigates crimes associated with financial institutions and whose jurisdiction includes bank fraud, access device fraud involving debit and credit cards, telecommunications and computer crimes, identity fraud, fraudulent government and commercial securities, and electronic funds transfer fraud. If the scam or fraud involves, or is relational to any of these activities, the U.S. Secret Service may want to better understand the details.
Contact Information for Local Secret Service Field Offices