how report scams to the us attorney general

How do I report a scam or scammer?

Please explain your complaint: Try to be brief, but be sure to tell WHAT happened, WHEN it happened, WHERE it happened HOW MANY time it happened. Be specific about any oral statements the Scammer made to you, ESPECIALLY those that …

What does the Attorney General’s office do to resolve consumer complaints?

Report Medicaid Fraud. File a fraud allegation report online ». Call the DHS Fraud Hotline at 1-888-372-8301 (8:00 am to 5:00 pm Pacific Time) Fax your written complaint to 503-373-1525. Address your fax to ATTN: HOTLINE. Mail your written complaint to: Investigations Unit P.O. Box 14150 Salem, OR ...

How do I report fraud in the US?

If you suspect it is a scam, file a complaint with the Office of the Attorney General. Learn more about tactics used by all scammers on our How to Spot and Avoid Common Scams page. Although not all junk mail is a scam, you can be proactive about decreasing junk mail in order to reduce your risk of being scammed. Remove Your Name from Mailing Lists

How to contact the Oregon Attorney General's consumer hotline?

Don't Scam the Scammer. Trying to scam your scammer — to get "revenge" — is a terrible idea. Don't do it. You won't fool them, and you may end up getting scammed after all. If you feel you're the subject of a scam, simply cut off communication and then file a complaint with us.

How do I report a scammer in USA?

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the main agency that collects scam reports. Report the scam to the FTC online, or by phone at 1-877-382-4357 (9:00 AM - 8:00 PM, ET). The FTC accepts complaints about most scams, including these popular ones: Phone calls.Jan 21, 2022

Does reporting a scammer do anything?

The FTC sues scammers and works to shut them down. When you report a scam to the FTC, investigators use your information to build cases against scammers. Other law enforcement agencies can see the reports, too, and use them to further their own investigations.

How do I get my money back from a scammer?

Contact your bank immediately to let them know what's happened and ask if you can get a refund. Most banks should reimburse you if you've transferred money to someone because of a scam.

WHO to report scams calls to?

Report telephone scams online to the Federal Trade Commission. You can also call 1-877-382-4357 (TTY: 1-866-653-4261). The FTC is the primary government agency that collects scam complaints. Report all robocalls and unwanted telemarketing calls to the Do Not Call Registry.Jan 5, 2022

How do I track down a scammer?

16:4725:33How I track down Scammer Call Centers - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipLooking at your system at the same time or else if one of the scammers has to leave and go on to theMoreLooking at your system at the same time or else if one of the scammers has to leave and go on to the next victim. They'll let the whatever the financial scammer they'll whoever the second-level.

Can you get in trouble for scamming a scammer?

You won't be arrested Scammers might pretend to be law enforcement or a federal agency. They might say you'll be arrested, fined, or deported if you don't pay taxes or some other debt right away. The goal is to scare you into paying. But real law enforcement and federal agencies won't call and threaten you.

What are the chances of getting money back after being scammed?

So while customers lost £398.6 million to unauthorised fraud in the first six months of this year, industry analysis suggests banks refunded victims in more than 98 per cent of cases. If you are refused your money back, you can complain to the Ombudsman.Oct 12, 2021

What can I do if I get scammed?

Report a Scam to the FTC When you report a scam, the FTC can use the information to build cases against scammers, spot trends, educate the public, and share data about what is happening in your community. If you were scammed, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Can you dispute a charge if you got scammed?

You can dispute a fraudulent credit card charge by contacting your credit card issuer directly and informing them of the problem. By law, you cannot be held liable for more than $50 in fraudulent charges.Feb 4, 2022

What can a scammer do with my name and phone number?

By having your cell number, a scammer could trick caller ID systems and get into your financial accounts or call financial institutions that use your phone number to identify you. Once the scammer convinces your carrier to port out your number, you may never get it back. Scam porting is a big problem for phone owners.Mar 23, 2021

What are the latest scams out there?

Protect yourself online: 5 new scams to watch out for nowOnline dating hoaxes. The scam. ... Suspicious retailers. The scam. ... Bogus tech support. The scam. ... Government imposters. The scam. ... Fraudulent email solicitations. The scam.

What is the Fraud Section?

The Fraud Section conducts criminal prosecutions and cannot provide legal advice to citizens. If you would like to report fraud, please contact the appropriate investigative agency as follows: Consumer Fraud and Identity Theft.

How to contact the FTC?

Contact the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-FTC-HELP, 1-877-ID-THEFT , or online at www.ftc.gov. Disaster-Related Fraud. Contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud at ( 866) 720 - 5721, by fax at (225) 334-4707 or submit a complaint through the NCDF Web Complaint Form. Correspondence may be sent to:

How to contact the Securities and Exchange Commission?

Contact the Securities and Exchange Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330, or online at www.sec.gov or www.sec.gov/complaint/select.shtml. State and Local Fraud. Contact your local Police Department or State Attorney General's Office. Updated November 16, 2020.

Is Oregon a consumer complaint database?

Oregon’s Consumer Complaint Database » is built from consumer contacts since January 1, 2008 and is for information only. It may not offer a complete, accurate or comprehensive account of every incident. Several factors, including a company’s size and volume of transactions, may affect the likelihood of a complaint being filed.

What happens after a complaint is filed?

If the complaint falls under the DOJ’s jurisdiction, it will be assigned to an enforcement officer. The officer will send you further information, including a file number and a copy of the letter sent to the business that is the subject of the complaint .

What is the phone number for the Attorney General?

If you have any questions, call our Consumer Hotline at 1-877-877-9392. The Attorney General’s Consumer Hotline is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and is staffed by dedicated volunteers who field more than 50,000 calls each year.

What is scam alert?

The Scam Alert Network provides up-to-the-minute information about scams, frauds and other threats to consumers. Click the link below and enter your email address to be added to the network. We won’t share your email address, and we’ll only send scam alerts.

How to tell if a scam is a scam?

Below are common warning signs of a mail scam: 1 A claim that you have been specially selected 2 A request that you “confirm your personal information” 3 A request for payment by means other than credit card – including cash, gift card, wire transfer or private courier 4 Use of suspicious official-looking documents or fake government seals 5 A request for your credit card or other payment mechanism for “shipping and handling” 6 Use of threats if you don’t comply – even the threat of arrest

What is the goal of a scam?

Regardless of their message, the goal of a mail scam is to get you to either send money or provide your personal information. Below are common warning signs of a mail scam: A claim that you have been specially selected. A request that you “confirm your personal information”.

How much does it cost to remove yourself from a mailing list?

To do so, register with the Direct Marketing Association’s Mail Preference Service. There is a processing fee of $5 to remove yourself for a period of five years.

Is junk mail a scam?

Learn more about tactics used by all scammers on our How to Spot and Avoid Common Scams page. Although not all junk mail is a scam, you can be proactive about decreasing junk mail in order to reduce your risk of being scammed.

What to do if you suspect a scam?

If you recognize any of these warning signs, stop reading and do your homework. If you suspect it is a scam, file a complaint with the Office of the Attorney General.

How to tell if a scam is real?

5 Signs of a Scam 1 They contacted you#N#When you contact a business, you know who's on the other end of the line. But when someone contacts you first, you can't be certain they're telling the truth. You don't know if they are whom they say they are. And remember, email addresses and caller ID information can be faked. 2 They dangle bait—usually money#N#Let's face it: People simply don't give away large sums of money easily. If someone dangles bait in front of you—a big prize, a shopping spree, an easy loan — for nothing, they're probably lying. 3 They want your personal information#N#Anytime anyone asks for your personal information — bank accounts, social security number, etc. — you should be on alert. Don't give it away quickly or easily, especially to someone you don't know. You may become a victim of identity theft. 4 You have to pay them first#N#If someone offers you a prize, debt relief, or employment — but first you have to pay an upfront fee to get it —you're probably being scammed. 5 You have to wire money or send gift cards#N#If you're about to wire money or send gift cards to someone in order to receive a prize, or pay off a debt collector that contacts you ... STOP! This may be a scammer trying to take your money.

Why do scammers demand payment on fake debts?

Scammers will demand payment on fake debts because a few people will be scared into paying. Real, legitimate creditors will be able to produce proof that a debt exists in the first place. If the debt is real and you weren't aware of it, you may be the victim of identity theft. Learn more about Debt Collection Scams.

What happens if you don't pay your taxes?

An IRS agent contacts you and tells you that you owe back taxes and must pay immediately. If you don’t, they say they will have the police come and send you to jail. There are variations of this scam, such as local law enforcement contacting you with a warrant because you missed jury duty, but almost always you will be asked to pay immediately via wire transfer or even gift cards, and will be told to stay on the phone throughout the entire payment process (including driving to the store!). Or you may be asked for your personal information to confirm your innocence or to receive a tax refund. Do not fall for it! Most likely you are not communicating with a government agent.

How do scammers convince you to be a grandparent?

They convince you by disguising their voice, showing a familiar phone number on your caller ID using a practice called “spoofing”, and using information available on the Internet. For instance, they say they may sound different because they are crying, sick, or injured. They reference specific names of family members or locations to make their story seem plausible. Then, they try to keep you from confirming their story by begging you not to tell anyone since they are embarrassed or scared in their situation.

Can the IRS send you to jail?

You probably would have received letters from them first if you really owe money. Also, the IRS won’t immediately send you to jail – there would be a process you would be aware of prior to any criminal punishment. Learn more about Phone Scams. Learn more about Online Scams.

What is Nigerian fraud?

Sometimes known as Nigerian Fraud, a "government minister" (or his widow), a lawyer representing a deceased client from a foreign country, or a business owner wants to deposit money from a foreign country in your bank account. There are many variations on the same theme but they all have a similar catch.

Can you tell if someone contacted you first?

They contacted you. When you contact a business, you know who's on the other end of the line. But when someone contacts you first, you can't be certain they're telling the truth. You don't know if they are whom they say they are. And remember, email addresses and caller ID information can be faked.

What is the message that threatens arrest in North Dakota?

Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem reminds North Dakota residents to ignore any telephone message that threatens them with arrest unless they return the call immediately. The message is often hard to understand because it cuts out when the supposed reason for the arrest is being recited. The phone number given out on the message changes almost daily as the scam artists use and discard numbers quickly to stay ahead of federal authorities. There are dozens of variations of the message - all are scams. The fake IRS enforcement call is one of the most well-known variations, but one new variation of the scam message claims that their social security number has been compromised and all their assets will be frozen unless they call back.

How do crooks advertise?

Crooks advertise online, in news groups or send e-mails offering tempting work opportunities that can be done at or from home. By operating online, they know local law enforcement can’t touch them. Before responding to an offer, consider:

Is the IRS a scam?

The IRS has issued several reminders that it will never notify a taxpayer of a potential problem by leaving a threatening message. It doesn't matter what the message threatens, it is ALWAYS a scam. Listen to an example of a scam call: Voicemail1. The IRS wants to know about these calls.

What to do if you respond to an online classified ad?

If you respond to an online classified ad, be careful. Scam artists post fraudulent ads to “sell” everything - from large-ticket items such as cars, boats, and homes, to small items such as collectibles, hobby items, and even puppies. They are just waiting for you to contact them.

Is there a prize in a sweepstake?

If you receive a call claiming that you have won a prize in a sweepstake, beware. There is no prize. In fact, there is no sweepstake. Instead, the "prize notification official" is a con artist hoping to convince you to send money to pay supposed fees or taxes before the non-existent winnings can be released.

What does a scam artist do?

In this scam, the scam artist calls pretending to be a law enforcement officer, claims the resident has missed jury duty, and threatens to have the person arrested unless they pay a fine immediately. In some variations of the scam, the supposed officer instructs the consumer to buy prepaid cash cards or gift cards and then read off the numbers from the back of those cards; in other variations, the scam artists offer a “discount” on the supposed fine if the consumer sends cash via overnight delivery.

Is a sweepstakes a scam?

If you are asked to pay anything at all before you receive the prize, it is a scam. No legitimate sweepstakes require a winner to pay fees or taxes up front before the prize money is disbursed.

What is the Strike Five lottery scam?

California consumers will want to be on the alert for an apparent “Strike Five Mega Lotto” winnings scam in which an authentic-looking but bogus cashier’s check arrives in the mail with your name on it. The accompanying letter says the enclosed $3,550 check from a “Wells Fargo & Company Issuer” is provided to “help you make the payment” of the $3,300 insurance/processing fee required before the big funds “you have won” will be paid to you. Supposedly you get to keep the extra $250 for “your trouble.”

Who won the anti-spam lawsuit?

The Office of the Attorney General won the state's first-ever anti-spam lawsuit against a California company found to have violated laws prohibiting unsolicited commercial email, false advertising and unfair business practices.

Can you wire money to a seller on eBay?

Do not wire money to a seller. Both Western Union and MoneyGram International encourage you to not use their services when paying for eBay purchases. Do not send a check directly to a "seller" who contacts you after the auction has ended and offers to sell you the item on which you originally bid.

What happens if you don't enter the lottery?

If you didn’t enter the contest, you’re not likely to be a winner so don’t trust any “winning” payment check; No legitimate lottery requires a winner to pay money to claim their winnings; Be skeptical of a large check sent to you from someone you don’t know ;

File a Complaint

The Consumer Complaint Form is available for online submission or pdf format . If possible, please complete the PDF form by computer. If you don't fill it out by computer, type or hand-print clearly in dark ink. Incomplete or unclear forms will be returned.

Complete an Incomplete Complaint Form

If you recently called our hotline to make a consumer complaint and need to complete your complaint form online you may do so here. Please have your complaint number handy to enter to login.

Upload Supporting Documentation to Your Complaint

If you have already filed a complaint and need to send our office supporting documents, please click here to do so. Please have your complaint number handy to enter to login.#N#Top 10 Consumer Complaints