过去数次网络募捐引发了大家诸多疑惑，有的同学有可能已成为网络骗捐的受害者，隔壁贴子正在收集整理举报材料，希望参与过庄安安网上募捐的同学协助提供佐证。谢谢。 我找了些科普资料来分享一下，希望对大家能有点帮助。阅读量可能有点大，我挑关键的说吧 1。不要捐款给任何自称为疾病或灾难受害者的个人2。捐款请捐给有信誉的慈善机构，这些慈善机构名称列表可google以下组织获得 Check if the charity is trustworthy by contacting the Better Business Bureau’s (BBB) Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator, Charity Watch, or GuideStar. 3。捐款请用支票，保留证据。不要用现金和信用卡。4。怀疑有诈骗行为请举报，下面政府职能都有相关的举报途径 FTC IRS FBI BBB 此外，即使您不是受害者也可以举报，只要您有证据支持您的合理怀疑，就请举报。 Your decision to make a donation is generous, but you need to be vigilant if you plan to make that donation online. Scammers are looking to steal not just your money, but also your personal information. Follow these steps to protect yourself and ensure that your money gets to the causes you wish to support. Do Not Respond To Email Solicitations Unless you’ve signed up to receive a charity’s electronic communications, be skeptical of email solicitations. Although you may receive an email that appears to come from a valid organization, as a general rule legitimate organizations do not solicit funds through email. Despite how official an email may seem it could very well be a scam. Many scams use the names of actual organizations and include a link to a website where you can make a donation. Do not follow any links within the message; these tend to be fake websites that are made to look like the organization's official site. Email solicitations may also include information about a foreign bank account where you can send your contribution. An organization requesting that you send funds to a foreign bank is always bogus.
If you are interested in donating to the charity mentioned in the email, initiate contact directly with the organization. Type out the organization's web address or call them directly. This will ensure that you have reached the organization for which you intend to make a donation. Delete Unsolicited Emails With Attachments Never respond to unsolicited emails, commonly referred to as SPAM. Do not open any attachments to these emails even if they claim to contain pictures of a particular tragedy. These attachments are probably viruses. Be Inspired By Social Media, But Still Do Your Homework Social networking tools like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and blogs deliver heart-wrenching images and information about chariable causes to our computers and phones. Many of them include pleas to donate. While these tools can be a powerful tool to inspire your desire to help, you should not blindly give via these vehicles. In fact, you should never give your credit card, password or other personal information via these requests for support. Instead, take the time to investigate the groups behind such pleas for help to ensure that it comes from a legitimate nonprofit and then go to that charity's website to make your donation. Be Leery Of People That Contact You Online Claiming To Be A Victim Anyone alleging to be in this position is most likely part of a scam. People affected by a disaster or afflicted by a disease are in no position to contact you directly for assistance. Seek Out The Charity’s Authorized Website The results of a general web search on Google, Yahoo or another search engine may include a fraudulent site designed to look like a legitimate charity’s website. For example, even before Hurricane Katrina made landfall, criminals were setting up websites that included the keyword Katrina (such as www.katrinahelp.com and www.katrinarelief.com) in an effort to collect money and personal information. In the weeks following the devastating storm, the FBI reported that it had identified over 4,000 bogus websites that were attempting to capitalize on the goodwill of generous Americans.
So, how can you determine if a site is valid? Start by examining the web address. Most non-profit web addresses end with .org and not .com. Avoid web addresses that end in a series of numbers. Also, bogus sites often ask for detailed personal information such as your social security, date of birth, or your bank account and pin information. Be extremely skeptical of these sites as providing this information makes it easy for them to steal your identity.
Your best option is to start your web search at Charity Navigator. Our analysts have done the research for you. On each charity’s ratings page we include a direct link to the organization’s authorized website. Give Through A Reputable And Secure Service Charity Navigator offers the convenience of online donating. A simple click of a mouse, powered by Network for Good’s secure giving system, enables donors to not only research, but also support the charities found on our site. Don't be afraid to make a donation. Each year millions of dollars in online contributions make it safely to charitable organizations. As always, make sure that you’re giving to an established, reputable organization. https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=s313
Specific tips you need to know to protect yourself from charity scams: Internet ScamBusters #97
NEW: Beware of Haiti Earthquake Scams
Today’s issue is on charity scams. Since it’s getting towards the end of the year and many people do their charitable contributions at this time of year, we thought it would be especially useful to help you avoid falling for a charity scam now. Let’s get right to it… Fortunately, many people like to give with an open heart to help others in need.
Unfortunately, that means we’ve created a climate that’s ripe for fake charity scams and scam artists. They know they can tug at our heartstrings — and rake in the cash.
Fake charity scams often set up quasi-legitimate agencies so that, at first glance, they look real; they may also name themselves something similar to other legitimate charities.
They may even carry ‘ID’ in the name of the charity, complete with a logo. These scam artists use all of the standard methods to collect ‘donations’ for their charity scams — tables at the local mall, going door-to-door, email, and telemarketing.
All this makes charity scams harder to spot. However, here are 10 tips to help spot charity scams:
BE WARY of every opportunity that presents itself — especially when it presents itself in the wake of some big disaster that gets lots of media attention.
Ask for the name, address, and phone number of the charity — and whether or not it is registered. If the presenters claim that it is registered, get a registration number. The Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance offers information about national charities; you can call 703-276-0100 or go to their website:==> http://www.give.org
If you’re trying to figure out whether or not some particular charity is worthy of support, check out this section of the site: ==> http://www.give.org/reports/index.asp
They publish their standards for rating charities, and then rate over 600 different charities using these standards. Verify with the office of the charity that there is indeed a campaign going on, or that they’ve authorized the charity drive that you’re being invited to contribute to.
Don’t ever donate cassh if you can help it. Write a check to the charity — not to the person standing in front of you. This also helps you document the donation for your records and for your tax return. And don’t give out bank information!
Ask what percentage of your donation goes directly to the cause. Legitimate charities will have ready answers because they are used to the question. 🙂
Get a receipt with the name of the charity on it.
Be especially cautious about getting a charity donation request by email. Most legitimate charities don’t use email for their solicitations. (Some legitimate charities will email people who have donated before — but never respond to requests where you’ve never donated.)
Be especially wary about charities that claim to be raising funds for the local police or firefighters. Check with them first! Don’t give in to pressure or ‘guilt trips’ about ‘suggested donations’ or ‘requested minimum contributions.’ Once you’ve determined that the charity is legitimate and you’ve decided you want to contribute, simply give what you can and want to give — it will be appreciated.
The best way we know of to avoid charity scams is to decide IN ADVANCE (while you’re doing your annual or monthly budget) which charities you’ll support and CONTACT THEM. Then you can gracefully turn anyone else down who comes your way with hat in hand.
For more tips on avoiding charities and charity scams, click here. It’s great to be a giver — but give cautiously so you’re not enriching scammers or a questionable ‘charity.’
Don't Get Scammed!
Many scammers are very cunning, so being smart is NOT enough to protect yourself. Every day smart subscribers thank us saying they would have been scammed if they didn't subscribe to ScamBusters. Don't take a chance. http://www.scambusters.org/charity.html
Report Financial Fraud If you would like to report financial fraud, please contact the FBI at 202.324.3000 or online at https://tips.fbi.gov. You may also wish to contact the United States Attorney's Office where you are located or where the fraud was committed. Visit the Offices of the United States Attorneys for a list of the 93 United States Attorney's Offices and links to their websites. In addition, certain government agencies target particular types of financial fraud. Below are some common types of fraud and contact information for the agencies that routinely handle them.
Return to Top Commodities, Investment and Securities Fraud
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC): Center for Complaints and Enforcement Tips Online Form: www.sec.gov/complaint.shtml Phone: (800) 732-0330
You can file a complaint or provide the SEC with tips on potential securities law violations though the links on this page.
If you have questions, are aware of suspicious activities, or believe you have experienced commodity futures trading, commodity options trading or foreign currency trading (forex) fraud, please let the CFTC know immediately.
Return to Top Cyber Crime
The Internet Crime Complaint Center (www.IC3.gov) receives, develops, and refers complaints regarding the rapidly expanding area of cyber crime. For law enforcement and regulatory agencies at the federal, state, local and international levels, IC3 is the central clearinghouse for complaints on internet related crimes. The IC3 complaint process provides victims of cyber crimes a convenient, easily accessible, online reporting mechanism to alert law enforcement of suspected criminal and civil violations.
See the "File a Complaint" section of the IC3 Website for information and direction on how to submit a complaint to IC3. Visit the IC3's Internet Crime Schemes page for a list of the types of frauds and scams that IC3 handles.
Return to Top Housing Discrimination
Department of Housing and Urban Development: Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Online Form: http://www.hud.gov/offices/fheo/online-complaint.cfm Phone: (800) 669-9777 Mail: Complete a claim form and mail to:
Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Room 5204, 451 Seventh St. SW, Washington, DC 20410-2000
Return to Top Identity Theft
Federal Trade Commission (FTC): Complaint Assistant Web Site (Spanish): https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/Consumer_HomeES.htm Phone (for complaints against companies, organizations, or business practices): (877) FTC-HELP Phone (for complaints about identity theft): (877) ID-THEFT Email Address (for complaints about spam or phishing): [email protected]
The Federal Trade Commission collects complaints about companies, business practices, identity theft, and episodes of violence in the media.
Return to Top Mass Marketing/Telemarketing Fraud
Federal Trade Commission Phone: 1 (877) FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) Online Form: Mass Marketing Fraud Complaint Form
If you have a complaint about any type of consumer fraud, including any type of mass-marketing fraud, you can file a complaint through a toll-free Consumer Help Line, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or online with the Federal Trade Commission
Return to Top Mortgage Fraud or Loan Scams
Federal Bureau of Investigation Phone: 1-800-CALLFBI (225-5324) Online Tips: FBI Tips and Public Leads Form To file a complaint with the FBI contact the nearest FBI field office. Locations are listed at www.fbi.gov/contactus.htm or https://tips.fbi.gov/ or for major cases, you can also report information by calling toll-free number 1-800-CALLFBI (225-5324).
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of the Inspector General Hotline Phone: (800) 347-3735 Fax: (202) 708-4829 Email: [email protected] Address: HUD OIG Hotline (GFI), 451 7th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20410
PreventLoanScams.org: A project of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law Website: PreventLoanScams.org Phone: 1-888-995-HOPE
PreventLoanScams.org - was launched to serve as a nationwide clearinghouse for loan modification scam information on complaints filed, laws and regulations, and enforcement actions. If you think you’ve been scammed or approached by a company or individual promising to help you with your foreclosure, report it today.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC): Complaint Assistant Web Site (Spanish): https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/Consumer_HomeES.htm Phone (for complaints against companies, organizations, or business practices): (877) FTC-HELP Phone (for complaints about identity theft): (877) ID-THEFT Email Address (for complaints about spam or phishing): [email protected]
The Federal Trade Commission collects complaints about fraud, companies, business practices, identity theft, and episodes of violence in the media.
Return to Top Rescue Fraud or fraud related to the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP)
Office of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program Online Form: http://www.sigtarp.gov/contact_hotline.shtml#theform Phone: (877) SIG-2009 Fax: (202) 622-4559 Mail: Office of the Special Inspector General For The Troubled Asset Relief Program Hotline, 1500 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 1064, Washington, D.C. 20220
IRS Employee Plans maintains the Abusive Transaction Hotline that people can use to share information (anonymously, if preferred) about abusive tax shelters and emerging issues that may be abusive in retirement plans.
The SSA National Fraud Hotline provides an avenue for individuals to report fraud, waste, and abuse within SSA programs and operations. Additionally, the misuse of a Social Security number can also be reported.
Return to Top Student Loan Fraud
U.S. Department of Education, Office of the Inspector General Phone: 1-800-MIS-USED Email: [email protected] Online Complaint Forms: English | Español
Anyone suspecting fraud, waste or abuse involving Department of Education funds or programs should call or write the Inspector General's Hotline (choose the method of contact which best suits you):
Call the OIG Hotline's toll free number 1-800-MIS-USED. The Hotline's operating hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9:00 AM until 11:00 AM, Eastern Time; Tuesday and Thursday, 1:00 PM until 3:00 PM, Eastern Time except for holidays.
Complete and submit a Complaint Form (English, Español)
To ensure complete anonymity, download a hardcopy of the special complaint form complete, and mail to:
Inspector General's Hotline Office of Inspector General U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20202-1500
What's on This Page Common Types of Fraud Most Popular Scams Report Frauds and Scams Common Types of Fraud
No industry or aspect of life is immune to scammers who try to trick you out of your personal information and your money. The most common types of fraud fall under these categories:
Banking Bankruptcy Health Housing and Mortgage Immigration Internet Mail Mass Marketing Passport and Visa Telemarketing Telephone The Financial Fraud Enforcement Taskforce and the FBI offer overviews of other types of fraud, plus what to do if you are a fraud victim.
Back to Top
Most Popular Scams
Get the information you need to protect yourself from being a victim of the latest scam tactics:
Advance fee scams - Don't fall for claims that you have won a lottery, prize, or can invest in a great opportunity, if you have to pay a small fee in advance. Chain letters - These letters promise to help you get rich quickly if you participate and forward the letter on to your friends and family. Charity scams - Scammers take advantage on your willingness to help people in need and charitable causes. They may collect your donation and keep it for themselves instead of using it to help those in need. Coupon scams - Coupons can be a helpful way to save money on your purchases. But beware of illegitimate offers. Dating scams - Scammers may create fake profiles on online dating sites and express interest in you, just so he or she can convince you to send them money. Debt relief scams - Some scammers hope that you are as eager to get rid of your debt as they are to scam you out of your money. Know the warning signs so you won't be their next victim. Free security scans - Don't be tricked by messages on your computer screen that claim that your machine is already infected with a virus. The realistic, but phony, security alerts exploit your fear of online viruses and security threats. Government grant scams - Despite ads that say you qualify for a government grant, these are often scams. Be wary of responding to offers, e-mails or claims that use government agency names. Health product scams - Be wary of trusting all claims. Take time to get the facts about a product first. International financial scams - A variety of scams offer entries into foreign lotteries or international investment opportunities. IRS related scams - Be careful of trusting e-mails that are supposedly from the IRS. Scamsters try to gain access to your financial information in order to steal your identity and assets. Jury duty scams - Someone calls pretending to be a court official who threatens that a warrant has been issued for your arrest because you failed to show up for jury duty. Phantom debt scams - Beware of letters and calls, supposedly from "debt collectors" or "court officials". These scammers make threatening claims requiring you to pay money that don't owe. Pyramid schemes - These investments offer big profits, but really aren't based on revenue from selling products. Instead, they depend on the recruitment of more investors. Scams that use the names of the FBI or CIA - Avoid falling victim to e-mail schemes involving unsolicited e-mails supposedly sent by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and/or Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The e-mails appear to be sent from e-mail addresses such as [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], and [email protected]. Service members or veteran scams - Scammers target bogus offers of government resources or financial services to trick active duty military personnel and veterans out of their money. Smishing, vishing, and phishing - All three of these scams rely on you replying to an e-mail, phone call or text with personal information, such as your bank account or credit card numbers. Subpoena scams - Scammers send bogus e-mails, supposedly from a U.S. District Court, stating that you have to come to court. These e-mails are fake and may contain links that are harmful to your computer. Text message spam - Not only can text message spam be annoying and cost you money on your mobile phone bill, but the messages are often for scams. Back to Top
Report Frauds and Scams
There are many different types of fraud and each may be reported differently. First, report the fraud to your local police department. You may also contact your state regulators (for example, consumer protection office) to report fraud. Violations of federal laws should be reported to the federal agency responsible for enforcement. While federal agencies are rarely able to act on behalf of individuals, they use complaints to record patterns of abuse which allow an agency to take action against a company or industry. If you suspect fraud, take these steps:
Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or use the Online Complaint Assistant to report most types frauds. Report fraud that used the U.S. Mail to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Report identity theft or data breaches through IdentityTheft.gov. File complaints about Internet-based frauds to the Internet Crime Complaint Center. Contact the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to report instances of Medicare fraud. Report Medicaid fraud to your state's Medicaid program office. Use the Fraud and Abuse Reporting Directory (PDF, Download Adobe Reader) to find the contact information for your office. File a complaint about e-commerce (business or trade that takes place on the Internet) across international borders to econsumer.gov. Report other fraudulent business practices to the Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration. Report immigration fraud, the illegal use of documents or illegal actions to get around U.S. immigration laws, to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Report suspected census related frauds, where scammers act like they are collecting your personal information for the government, to the Census Bureau. If you are the victim of moving fraud, you have two options. If you are moving within the same state, file a complaint with your state utility commission. If your move is interstate, you can file your complaint with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Report investing frauds to the Securities and Exchange Commission or your state's securities regulator. Contact the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau about credit and loan related frauds. The agency can also help you with frauds related to money transfers, credit reports, and other financial services. File a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission for telephone related frauds, such as mysterious charges on your bill (cramming), an illegal switch of your service (slamming), or telemarketing. Visit Stopfraud.gov for information on which agencies you should report banking, credit card, housing, and other financial frauds to. Report Social Security related frauds with the Social Security Administration's Inspector General or using their online fraud reporting form. Report misuse of federal funds to Government Accountability Office through the FraudNet form. Email USA.gov if you have received fake emails or phone calls that were supposedly from USA.gov. If you report a fraud promptly, you improve your chances of recovering what you have lost. It also helps law enforcement authorities stop scams before other people become victims.
我找了些科普资料来分享一下，希望对大家能有点帮助。阅读量可能有点大，我挑关键的说吧 1。不要捐款给任何自称为疾病或灾难受害者的个人 2。捐款请捐给有信誉的慈善机构，这些慈善机构名称列表可google以下组织获得
Check if the charity is trustworthy by contacting the
Better Business Bureau’s (BBB) Wise Giving Alliance,
Charity Navigator,
Charity Watch, or
GuideStar.
3。捐款请用支票，保留证据。不要用现金和信用卡。 4。怀疑有诈骗行为请举报，下面政府职能都有相关的举报途径
FTC
IRS
FBI
BBB
此外，即使您不是受害者也可以举报，只要您有证据支持您的合理怀疑，就请举报。
Your decision to make a donation is generous, but you need to be vigilant if you plan to make that donation online. Scammers are looking to steal not just your money, but also your personal information. Follow these steps to protect yourself and ensure that your money gets to the causes you wish to support.
Do Not Respond To Email Solicitations
Unless you’ve signed up to receive a charity’s electronic communications, be skeptical of email solicitations. Although you may receive an email that appears to come from a valid organization, as a general rule legitimate organizations do not solicit funds through email. Despite how official an email may seem it could very well be a scam. Many scams use the names of actual organizations and include a link to a website where you can make a donation. Do not follow any links within the message; these tend to be fake websites that are made to look like the organization's official site. Email solicitations may also include information about a foreign bank account where you can send your contribution. An organization requesting that you send funds to a foreign bank is always bogus.
If you are interested in donating to the charity mentioned in the email, initiate contact directly with the organization. Type out the organization's web address or call them directly. This will ensure that you have reached the organization for which you intend to make a donation.
Delete Unsolicited Emails With Attachments
Never respond to unsolicited emails, commonly referred to as SPAM. Do not open any attachments to these emails even if they claim to contain pictures of a particular tragedy. These attachments are probably viruses.
Be Inspired By Social Media, But Still Do Your Homework
Social networking tools like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and blogs deliver heart-wrenching images and information about chariable causes to our computers and phones. Many of them include pleas to donate. While these tools can be a powerful tool to inspire your desire to help, you should not blindly give via these vehicles. In fact, you should never give your credit card, password or other personal information via these requests for support. Instead, take the time to investigate the groups behind such pleas for help to ensure that it comes from a legitimate nonprofit and then go to that charity's website to make your donation.
Be Leery Of People That Contact You Online Claiming To Be A Victim
Anyone alleging to be in this position is most likely part of a scam. People affected by a disaster or afflicted by a disease are in no position to contact you directly for assistance.
Seek Out The Charity’s Authorized Website
The results of a general web search on Google, Yahoo or another search engine may include a fraudulent site designed to look like a legitimate charity’s website. For example, even before Hurricane Katrina made landfall, criminals were setting up websites that included the keyword Katrina (such as www.katrinahelp.com and www.katrinarelief.com) in an effort to collect money and personal information. In the weeks following the devastating storm, the FBI reported that it had identified over 4,000 bogus websites that were attempting to capitalize on the goodwill of generous Americans.
So, how can you determine if a site is valid? Start by examining the web address. Most non-profit web addresses end with .org and not .com. Avoid web addresses that end in a series of numbers. Also, bogus sites often ask for detailed personal information such as your social security, date of birth, or your bank account and pin information. Be extremely skeptical of these sites as providing this information makes it easy for them to steal your identity.
Your best option is to start your web search at Charity Navigator. Our analysts have done the research for you. On each charity’s ratings page we include a direct link to the organization’s authorized website.
Give Through A Reputable And Secure Service
Charity Navigator offers the convenience of online donating. A simple click of a mouse, powered by Network for Good’s secure giving system, enables donors to not only research, but also support the charities found on our site.
Don't be afraid to make a donation. Each year millions of dollars in online contributions make it safely to charitable organizations. As always, make sure that you’re giving to an established, reputable organization.
https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=s313
NEW: Beware of Haiti Earthquake Scams
Today’s issue is on charity scams. Since it’s getting towards the end of the year and many people do their charitable contributions at this time of year, we thought it would be especially useful to help you avoid falling for a charity scam now. Let’s get right to it…
Fortunately, many people like to give with an open heart to help others in need.
Unfortunately, that means we’ve created a climate that’s ripe for fake charity scams and scam artists. They know they can tug at our heartstrings — and rake in the cash.
Fake charity scams often set up quasi-legitimate agencies so that, at first glance, they look real; they may also name themselves something similar to other legitimate charities.
They may even carry ‘ID’ in the name of the charity, complete with a logo.
These scam artists use all of the standard methods to collect ‘donations’ for their charity scams — tables at the local mall, going door-to-door, email, and telemarketing.
All this makes charity scams harder to spot. However, here are 10 tips to help spot charity scams:
BE WARY of every opportunity that presents itself — especially when it presents itself in the wake of some big disaster that gets lots of media attention.
Ask for the name, address, and phone number of the charity — and whether or not it is registered. If the presenters claim that it is registered, get a registration number. The Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance offers information about national charities; you can call 703-276-0100 or go to their website:==> http://www.give.org
If you’re trying to figure out whether or not some particular charity is worthy of support, check out this section of the site:
==> http://www.give.org/reports/index.asp
They publish their standards for rating charities, and then rate over 600 different charities using these standards.
Verify with the office of the charity that there is indeed a campaign going on, or that they’ve authorized the charity drive that you’re being invited to contribute to.
Don’t ever donate cassh if you can help it. Write a check to the charity — not to the person standing in front of you. This also helps you document the donation for your records and for your tax return. And don’t give out bank information!
Ask what percentage of your donation goes directly to the cause. Legitimate charities will have ready answers because they are used to the question. 🙂
Get a receipt with the name of the charity on it.
Be especially cautious about getting a charity donation request by email. Most legitimate charities don’t use email for their solicitations. (Some legitimate charities will email people who have donated before — but never respond to requests where you’ve never donated.)
Be especially wary about charities that claim to be raising funds for the local police or firefighters. Check with them first!
Don’t give in to pressure or ‘guilt trips’ about ‘suggested donations’ or ‘requested minimum contributions.’ Once you’ve determined that the charity is legitimate and you’ve decided you want to contribute, simply give what you can and want to give — it will be appreciated.
The best way we know of to avoid charity scams is to decide IN ADVANCE (while you’re doing your annual or monthly budget) which charities you’ll support and CONTACT THEM. Then you can gracefully turn anyone else down who comes your way with hat in hand.
For more tips on avoiding charities and charity scams, click here.
It’s great to be a giver — but give cautiously so you’re not enriching scammers or a questionable ‘charity.’
Don't Get Scammed!
Many scammers are very cunning, so being smart is NOT enough to protect yourself. Every day smart subscribers thank us saying they would have been scammed if they didn't subscribe to ScamBusters. Don't take a chance.
http://www.scambusters.org/charity.html
If you would like to report financial fraud, please contact the FBI at 202.324.3000 or online at https://tips.fbi.gov. You may also wish to contact the United States Attorney's Office where you are located or where the fraud was committed. Visit the Offices of the United States Attorneys for a list of the 93 United States Attorney's Offices and links to their websites. In addition, certain government agencies target particular types of financial fraud. Below are some common types of fraud and contact information for the agencies that routinely handle them.
Bankruptcy Fraud:
Department of Justice, U.S. Trustee Program
Phone: http://www.justice.gov/ust/eo/ust_org/office_locator.htm
E-mail: [email protected]
Return to Top
Commodities, Investment and Securities Fraud
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC): Center for Complaints and Enforcement Tips
Online Form: www.sec.gov/complaint.shtml
Phone: (800) 732-0330
You can file a complaint or provide the SEC with tips on potential securities law violations though the links on this page.
U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission
Online Form: www.cftc.gov/TipOrComplaint
Phone: 866.366.2382 (Consumer Hotline) 202.418.5514 (TTY)
If you have questions, are aware of suspicious activities, or believe you have experienced commodity futures trading, commodity options trading or foreign currency trading (forex) fraud, please let the CFTC know immediately.
Return to Top
Cyber Crime
The Internet Crime Complaint Center (www.IC3.gov) receives, develops, and refers complaints regarding the rapidly expanding area of cyber crime. For law enforcement and regulatory agencies at the federal, state, local and international levels, IC3 is the central clearinghouse for complaints on internet related crimes. The IC3 complaint process provides victims of cyber crimes a convenient, easily accessible, online reporting mechanism to alert law enforcement of suspected criminal and civil violations.
See the "File a Complaint" section of the IC3 Website for information and direction on how to submit a complaint to IC3. Visit the IC3's Internet Crime Schemes page for a list of the types of frauds and scams that IC3 handles.
Return to Top
Housing Discrimination
Department of Housing and Urban Development: Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity
Online Form: http://www.hud.gov/offices/fheo/online-complaint.cfm
Phone: (800) 669-9777
Mail: Complete a claim form and mail to:
Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Room 5204, 451 Seventh St. SW, Washington, DC 20410-2000
Return to Top
Identity Theft
Federal Trade Commission (FTC): Complaint Assistant
Web Site (Spanish): https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/Consumer_HomeES.htm
Phone (for complaints against companies, organizations, or business practices): (877) FTC-HELP
Phone (for complaints about identity theft): (877) ID-THEFT
Email Address (for complaints about spam or phishing): [email protected]
The Federal Trade Commission collects complaints about companies, business practices, identity theft, and episodes of violence in the media.
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Mass Marketing/Telemarketing Fraud
Federal Trade Commission
Phone: 1 (877) FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357)
Online Form: Mass Marketing Fraud Complaint Form
If you have a complaint about any type of consumer fraud, including any type of mass-marketing fraud, you can file a complaint through a toll-free Consumer Help Line, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or online with the Federal Trade Commission
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Mortgage Fraud or Loan Scams
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Phone: 1-800-CALLFBI (225-5324)
Online Tips: FBI Tips and Public Leads Form
To file a complaint with the FBI contact the nearest FBI field office. Locations are listed at www.fbi.gov/contactus.htm or https://tips.fbi.gov/ or for major cases, you can also report information by calling toll-free number 1-800-CALLFBI (225-5324).
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of the Inspector General Hotline
Phone: (800) 347-3735
Fax: (202) 708-4829
Email: [email protected]
Address: HUD OIG Hotline (GFI), 451 7th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20410
PreventLoanScams.org: A project of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law
Website: PreventLoanScams.org
Phone: 1-888-995-HOPE
PreventLoanScams.org - was launched to serve as a nationwide clearinghouse for loan modification scam information on complaints filed, laws and regulations, and enforcement actions. If you think you’ve been scammed or approached by a company or individual promising to help you with your foreclosure, report it today.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC): Complaint Assistant
Web Site (Spanish): https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/Consumer_HomeES.htm
Phone (for complaints against companies, organizations, or business practices): (877) FTC-HELP
Phone (for complaints about identity theft): (877) ID-THEFT
Email Address (for complaints about spam or phishing): [email protected]
The Federal Trade Commission collects complaints about fraud, companies, business practices, identity theft, and episodes of violence in the media.
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Rescue Fraud or fraud related to the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP)
Office of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program
Online Form: http://www.sigtarp.gov/contact_hotline.shtml#theform
Phone: (877) SIG-2009
Fax: (202) 622-4559
Mail: Office of the Special Inspector General For The Troubled Asset Relief Program Hotline, 1500 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 1064, Washington, D.C. 20220
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Retirement Plan Fraud and Abuse
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Phone: (410) 962-9547 (not toll-free)
Fax: (410) 962-0132
Email: [email protected]
Mail: Internal Revenue Service, EP Tax Shelter Coordinator, 31 Hopkins Plaza, Room 1542, Baltimore, Maryland 21201
IRS Employee Plans maintains the Abusive Transaction Hotline that people can use to share information (anonymously, if preferred) about abusive tax shelters and emerging issues that may be abusive in retirement plans.
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Social Security Fraud
US Social Security Administration (SSA) Fraud Hotline
Phone: (800) 269-0271
Online Form: https://www.socialsecurity.gov/oig/public_fraud_reporting/form.htm
The SSA National Fraud Hotline provides an avenue for individuals to report fraud, waste, and abuse within SSA programs and operations. Additionally, the misuse of a Social Security number can also be reported.
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Student Loan Fraud
U.S. Department of Education, Office of the Inspector General
Phone: 1-800-MIS-USED
Email: [email protected]
Online Complaint Forms: English | Español
Anyone suspecting fraud, waste or abuse involving Department of Education funds or programs should call or write the Inspector General's Hotline (choose the method of contact which best suits you):
Send an email message to [email protected]
Call the OIG Hotline's toll free number 1-800-MIS-USED. The Hotline's operating hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9:00 AM until 11:00 AM, Eastern Time; Tuesday and Thursday, 1:00 PM until 3:00 PM, Eastern Time except for holidays.
Complete and submit a Complaint Form (English, Español)
To ensure complete anonymity, download a hardcopy of the special complaint form complete, and mail to:
Inspector General's Hotline
Office of Inspector General
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-1500
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Tax Fraud
Internal Revenue Service
For noncompliance with tax laws :
Form: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f3949a.pdf
Mail: Internal Revenue Service, Fresno, CA 93888
For abusive tax promotions and/or promoters :
Form: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/referralform_reportingabusiveschemes.pdf
Mail: Internal Revenue Service Lead Development Center Stop MS5040 24000 Avila Road Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
Fax: (949) 389-5083
For unresolved issues :
Taxpayer Advocate Service
https://www.stopfraud.gov/report.html
Identify and Report Scams and Frauds
Learn how to identify and report frauds and scams.
What's on This Page
Common Types of Fraud Most Popular Scams Report Frauds and Scams
Common Types of Fraud
No industry or aspect of life is immune to scammers who try to trick you out of your personal information and your money. The most common types of fraud fall under these categories:
Banking
Bankruptcy
Health
Housing and Mortgage
Immigration
Internet
Mail
Mass Marketing
Passport and Visa
Telemarketing
Telephone
The Financial Fraud Enforcement Taskforce and the FBI offer overviews of other types of fraud, plus what to do if you are a fraud victim.
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Most Popular Scams
Get the information you need to protect yourself from being a victim of the latest scam tactics:
Advance fee scams - Don't fall for claims that you have won a lottery, prize, or can invest in a great opportunity, if you have to pay a small fee in advance.
Chain letters - These letters promise to help you get rich quickly if you participate and forward the letter on to your friends and family.
Charity scams - Scammers take advantage on your willingness to help people in need and charitable causes. They may collect your donation and keep it for themselves instead of using it to help those in need.
Coupon scams - Coupons can be a helpful way to save money on your purchases. But beware of illegitimate offers.
Dating scams - Scammers may create fake profiles on online dating sites and express interest in you, just so he or she can convince you to send them money.
Debt relief scams - Some scammers hope that you are as eager to get rid of your debt as they are to scam you out of your money. Know the warning signs so you won't be their next victim.
Free security scans - Don't be tricked by messages on your computer screen that claim that your machine is already infected with a virus. The realistic, but phony, security alerts exploit your fear of online viruses and security threats.
Government grant scams - Despite ads that say you qualify for a government grant, these are often scams. Be wary of responding to offers, e-mails or claims that use government agency names.
Health product scams - Be wary of trusting all claims. Take time to get the facts about a product first.
International financial scams - A variety of scams offer entries into foreign lotteries or international investment opportunities.
IRS related scams - Be careful of trusting e-mails that are supposedly from the IRS. Scamsters try to gain access to your financial information in order to steal your identity and assets.
Jury duty scams - Someone calls pretending to be a court official who threatens that a warrant has been issued for your arrest because you failed to show up for jury duty.
Phantom debt scams - Beware of letters and calls, supposedly from "debt collectors" or "court officials". These scammers make threatening claims requiring you to pay money that don't owe.
Pyramid schemes - These investments offer big profits, but really aren't based on revenue from selling products. Instead, they depend on the recruitment of more investors.
Scams that use the names of the FBI or CIA - Avoid falling victim to e-mail schemes involving unsolicited e-mails supposedly sent by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and/or Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The e-mails appear to be sent from e-mail addresses such as [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], and [email protected].
Service members or veteran scams - Scammers target bogus offers of government resources or financial services to trick active duty military personnel and veterans out of their money.
Smishing, vishing, and phishing - All three of these scams rely on you replying to an e-mail, phone call or text with personal information, such as your bank account or credit card numbers.
Subpoena scams - Scammers send bogus e-mails, supposedly from a U.S. District Court, stating that you have to come to court. These e-mails are fake and may contain links that are harmful to your computer.
Text message spam - Not only can text message spam be annoying and cost you money on your mobile phone bill, but the messages are often for scams.
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Report Frauds and Scams
There are many different types of fraud and each may be reported differently. First, report the fraud to your local police department. You may also contact your state regulators (for example, consumer protection office) to report fraud. Violations of federal laws should be reported to the federal agency responsible for enforcement. While federal agencies are rarely able to act on behalf of individuals, they use complaints to record patterns of abuse which allow an agency to take action against a company or industry. If you suspect fraud, take these steps:
Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or use the Online Complaint Assistant to report most types frauds.
Report fraud that used the U.S. Mail to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Report identity theft or data breaches through IdentityTheft.gov.
File complaints about Internet-based frauds to the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
Contact the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to report instances of Medicare fraud.
Report Medicaid fraud to your state's Medicaid program office. Use the Fraud and Abuse Reporting Directory (PDF, Download Adobe Reader) to find the contact information for your office.
File a complaint about e-commerce (business or trade that takes place on the Internet) across international borders to econsumer.gov. Report other fraudulent business practices to the Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration.
Report immigration fraud, the illegal use of documents or illegal actions to get around U.S. immigration laws, to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Report suspected census related frauds, where scammers act like they are collecting your personal information for the government, to the Census Bureau.
If you are the victim of moving fraud, you have two options. If you are moving within the same state, file a complaint with your state utility commission. If your move is interstate, you can file your complaint with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
Report investing frauds to the Securities and Exchange Commission or your state's securities regulator.
Contact the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau about credit and loan related frauds. The agency can also help you with frauds related to money transfers, credit reports, and other financial services.
File a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission for telephone related frauds, such as mysterious charges on your bill (cramming), an illegal switch of your service (slamming), or telemarketing.
Visit Stopfraud.gov for information on which agencies you should report banking, credit card, housing, and other financial frauds to.
Report Social Security related frauds with the Social Security Administration's Inspector General or using their online fraud reporting form.
Report misuse of federal funds to Government Accountability Office through the FraudNet form.
Email USA.gov if you have received fake emails or phone calls that were supposedly from USA.gov.
If you report a fraud promptly, you improve your chances of recovering what you have lost. It also helps law enforcement authorities stop scams before other people become victims.