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How Do I Report an Internet Scam?

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Want to Report an Internet Scam? Here’s How.

Did you fall victim to an online scam?  Are you afraid your money might be gone for good? Don’t worry.  eConsumer Services® can help.

Fill out the form to the right and we’ll take a look at the faulty credit card charge.  If possible, we’ll help you secure a refund.  If not, we’ll help you report an internet scam and tell you how to file criminal charges.

Taking Action

A crime is a crime.  It doesn’t matter where the wrongdoing took place, action must be taken.  If you are aware of an internet scam, the question isn’t, “Should I report this fraud?”  The real issue is, “How do I report an internet scam?

Deciding to take action is the first step when you want to report online scam.  Next, you’ll need to decide who to tell.

Minor Issues

If you have been a victim of a minor crime, you might have suffered from:

  • Phishing
  • Investment fraud
  • Misleading internet marketing
  • Scam emails

There are two websites that can help you file a complaint against an online business for minor infractions.  These sites will gather the pertinent information and then direct you to the agency that handles that specific crime.

The USA.gov site has a page that deals specifically with internet fraud.  The site will help you identify the agency to report an internet scam by incident.

Like the USA.gov site, the Better Business Bureau can help you report online scam in either the US or Canada.  However, the BBB site offers an additional helpful tool; they have a detailed database that will allow you to see other complaints filed against the merchant in question.

Major Issues

Unfortunately, internet scams can quickly escalate past the simple infraction.  If you suspect a major online scam is taking place, you must take action right away.

A joint initiate was launched by the US Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the National White Collar Crime Center.  The result was the Internet Crime Complaint Center.

The ICCC handles more severe crimes, such as:

  • Extortion
  • Identity theft
  • Hacking
  • Theft of trade secrets

If you suspect a crime has taken place that falls into one of these categories, contact ICCC right away.  Even if the issue seems significant but doesn’t fit into one of the above mentioned categories, bring it to the attention of the organization.  If they aren’t the appropriate agency to handle the crime, they’ll help you determine which one should be contacted.

Protecting Yourself

Once you have notified the authorities of the crime, you’ll want to turn your attention to your own involvement.

Not only will you need to do damage control after stumbling upon the fraud, you’ll want to take the necessary precautions to prevent future problems.

  • If your credit card has been used without your authorization, you’ll need to look into the credit card charges refund process.
  • If you suspect your identity has been compromised, you’ll need to talk to the local law enforcement agency right away.
  • You’ll also want to re-evaluate the process that led you to the online scam in the first place.  Perhaps you need to learn to recognize questionable websites, identify common email scams, or protect your computer against hackers.

As Edmund Burke reminds us, all that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.  If you suspect a crime, do something.  Report an internet scam to stop the criminal activity, bring the scoundrel to justice and protect your fellow internet surfers.