When it comes to consumer fraud, awareness is the first stepIf you or someone you know is being taken advantage of, saying something early and reporting fraud are crucial for recovering any money that’s been lost if it can be and protecting you or your loved one’s well-being.Fraud happens. Scammers find clever ways to exploit people that can be hard to spot. You are not alone and help is available.
What should you do if you or someone you know becomes a victim of financial exploitation or another form of elder abuse?If you believe a crime has been committed or the person is in danger, call 911. You can also call your local law enforcement’s non-emergency number to start a police report.Follow the steps below if you do not believe it is necessary to involve the police at this time.
Contact Adult Protective Services
How do I report identity theft?Identity theft should be reported to the local police and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
If you lost money from your bank account or if money was spent on a credit card, contact the financial institution or the creditor.
You may want to order a copy of your credit report and place a fraud alert on your credit report. Read more about identity theft from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Will the Do-Not-Call list prevent me from consumer fraud?No, The Do-Not-Call list can stop some calls from telemarketers from real businesses.It will not stop criminal telemarketers from fake businesses from calling.
Someone called pretending to be the IRS. How do I report an IRS telephone scam? The IRS will never ask for any payment information over the phone (for example, credit card, debit card or prepaid card information).
Report someone pretending to be the IRS to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 1-800-366-4484.
You can also report the scam online:
I got an email from someone claiming to be the IRS. What should I do?
More information is available about phishing on IRS.gov.
How do I report a charity scam?If you think a charity is scamming you, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission online or over the phone at 1-877-FTC-HELP. Complaints can help the FTC detect patterns and prosecute scammers.
Some helpful tips:
How do I report credit fraud?You can submit a complaint about problems with credit reporting companies or a problem with your credit report by calling the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) at 1-855-411-2372 or visiting the CFPB online.
If there are charges on your credit card that you did not make, contact your credit card company.
Read what the FTC says about extended fraud alerts and credit freezes.
What is an impostor scam?An impostor scam is where someone pretends to be someone else, maybe someone you know or a business or charity you trust. Impostor scams can be over the phone, email or through the mail. Common impostor scams include someone pretending to be:
Lottery, sweepstakes or prize scams are also impostor scams.Sometimes the impostor will ask for an upfront payment or for you to transfer or wire them money.
How do I report an impostor scam?Report impostor scams and financial abuse to the
If you believe a crime has been committed or the person is in danger, call 911.You can also call your local law enforcement’s non-emergency number to start a police report.
You may want to contact Adult Protective Services:
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