Been scammed? Here’s where you can report it
Q: It seems like your columns concentrate on fraud issues and how they affect consumers in such negative ways. Once we recognize we’ve been scammed, however, where do we report what’s happened? – Fred Fearful
A: Dear Mr. Fearful: Luckily, certain agencies exist to handle scammer’s crooked activities; after all, these types of financial tricksters can’t be stopped unless consumers report their plots. Here’s who to contact.
› Area organizations may be the best place to start if you have answered the doorbell to an unwanted solicitor or have fallen for a contractor who performs a shoddy job. Obviously, the police or sheriff’s department comes to mind first, followed by the local district attorney or state attorney general. Otherwise, contact federal agencies whose sole mission is to help safeguard you after the scammer has cut and run. (These watchdog groups also can assist with complaints about legitimate businesses.)
› The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau makes
banks, lenders and other financial companies treat you fairly. Under the auspices of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the bureau handles complaints about shady business practices and financial products — loans, bank services, credit reporting, ID theft, debt collection and payment cards. Once you submit a complaint, the CFPB sends it to the offending company, which has 15 days to respond, with cases ostensibly solved within 60 days. (consumerfinance.gov)
› Also under the FTC umbrella is the Bureau of Consumer Protection,a relatively new agency that has found its way into the hearts of those who’ve lost money, seemingly never to be recovered. In the top five list of overall complaints are unsolicited phone calls — either a robocall or some creep trying to steal your money or personal information. Last month, an eightyear litigation resulted in a $280 million civil penalty against Colorado-based satellite TV provider Dish Network. The ruling imposes additional penalties that emphasize just how seriously companies should take Telemarketing Sales Rule compliance. (ftc.gov)
› If I weren’t listing
alphabetically, the Federal Trade Commission would be first although, in my mind, this top dog isn’t what it used to be. Back when I ghost-wrote international complaint letters, the FTC commissioner was always my No. 1 recipient behind the CEO of the company that was the target of a complaint. We were assured the FTC would make enough noise to warrant worry on the company’s part. Now, the agency itself (not counting its subsidiaries) no longer personally responds to complaints or resolves individual cases. Instead, the FTC enters each complaint into a database that the agency and approximately 2,000 civil and criminal enforcement agencies use to track scam patterns in order to build cases against specific swindlers. Don’t omit the FTC from your help list; your complaint just might be the straw that brings down the scammer. (ftc.gov)
› The Internet Crime Complaint Center investigates internet-based cons. These include online auctions, investment and sales frauds, internet extortion, hacking, phishing and scam emails. The FBI operates the IC3, which forwards complaints to the appropriate law enforcement or regulatory agencies. The center doesn’t directly conduct investigations, although the list of specific schemes is scary enough to make your hair curl and is well worth the read. (ic.3.gov)
› The National Do Not Call Registry, mentioned earlier, is a source to report unsolicited sales calls. Once you’ve input phone numbers and after 31 days, you can report unwanted calls. Even though I have been pessimistic about this registry, that $280 million judgment against Dish Network is enough to get my juices flowing again. Just remember calls from legitimate charities, survey forms, debt collectors and political candidates aren’t covered by the Do Not Call rules, unless you tell them to never call you again. Also, don’t forget nomorobo.com to discourage unwanted robocalls. (donotcall.gov)
› The Postal Inspector Service makes a supportive resource to report any scam distributed by U.S. mail (such as phony lottery claims) or mail theft. Don’t forget my warnings about what should or shouldn’t go in your mailbox, as well as keeping the red flag down. (postalinspectors.uspis.gov)
Contact Ellen Phillips at consumerwatch@timesfreepress.com.