Fraudulent activities should always be reported to your local law enforcement office. The following is additional information on how specific types of fraud complaints or cases of suspected fraud can be submitted to federal agencies.

I Want To Report:

To report bankruptcy fraud:

Department of Justice, U.S. Trustee Program
Phone: http://www.justice.gov/ust/eo/ust_org/office_locator.htm
E-mail: USTP.Bankruptcy.Fraud@usdoj.gov

To report computer-based fraud:

Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): File a Complaint
Online Form: https://complaint.ic3.gov/ctf.aspx

IC3 accepts online Internet crime complaints from either the person who believes they were defrauded or from a third party to the complainant.

eConsumer.gov: Report Your Complaint
E-mail: econsumerwb@ftc.gov  

eConsumer.gov is a portal for consumers to report complaints about online and related transactions with foreign companies.

To report Cyber Crime:

The Internet Crime Complaint Center (www.IC3.gov) is the primary government agency to receive, develop, and refer complaints regarding the rapidly expanding area of cyber crime. 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.  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.

See the “File a Complaint” section of the IC3 Web Site for information and direction on how to submit a complaint to IC3.  IC3 handles complaints on the following types of frauds and scams:

Auction Fraud/Auction Fraud – Romania

Auction fraud involves fraud attributable to the misrepresentation of a product advertised for sale through an Internet auction site or the non-delivery of products purchased through an Internet auction site

Counterfeit Cashier's Check

The counterfeit cashier's check scheme targets individuals that use Internet classified advertisements to sell merchandise. Typically, an interested party located outside the United States contacts a seller, and the seller is told that the buyer has an associate in the United States that owes him money. As such, the buyer will have the associate send the seller a cashier's check for the amount owed to the buyer, but the check is actually counterfeit.

Credit Card Fraud

Credit card fraud is the unauthorized use of a credit/debit card, or card number, to fraudulently obtain money or property.

Debt Elimination

Debt elimination schemes generally involve websites advertising a legal way to dispose of mortgage loans and credit card debts. After obtaining information from the participant, the fraudster will issues bonds and promissory notes to the lenders that purport to legally satisfy the debts of the participant. In exchange, the participant is then required to pay a certain percentage of the value of the satisfied debts to the subject.

Parcel Courier Email Scheme

The Parcel Courier Email Scheme involves the supposed use of various National and International level parcel providers such as DHL, UPS, FedEx and the USPS.

Employment/Business Opportunities

Employment/business opportunity schemes involve bogus foreign-based companies that recruit citizens in the United States on several employment-search websites for work-at-home employment opportunities. These positions often involve reselling or reshipping merchandise to destinations outside the United States.

Escrow Services Fraud

In an effort to persuade a wary Internet auction participant, the perpetrator will propose the use of a third-party escrow service to facilitate the exchange of money and merchandise. The victim is unaware the perpetrator has compromised a true escrow site and, in actuality, created one that closely resembles a legitimate escrow service. The victim sends payment to the phony escrow and receives nothing in return. Or, the victim sends merchandise to the subject and waits for his/her payment through the escrow site which is never received because it is not a legitimate service.

Identity Theft

Identity theft occurs when someone appropriates another's personal information in order to commit theft or fraud.

Internet Extortion

Internet extortion involves hacking into and controlling various industry databases, promising to release control back to the company if funds are received, or the subjects are given web administrator jobs. Similarly, the subject will threaten to compromise information about consumers in the industry database unless funds are received.

Investment Fraud

Investment fraud is an offer using false or fraudulent claims to solicit investments or loans, or providing for the purchase, use, or trade of forged or counterfeit securities.

Lotteries

The lottery scheme deals with persons randomly contacting email addresses advising them they have been selected as the winner of an International lottery.

Nigerian Letter or "419"

Named for the violation of Section 419 of the Nigerian Criminal Code, the 419 scam involves communication from individuals representing themselves as Nigerian or foreign government officials, offering the recipient the "opportunity" to share in a percentage of millions of dollars, and soliciting for help in placing large sums of money in overseas bank accounts. Payment of taxes, bribes to government officials, and legal fees are often described in great detail with the promise that all expenses will be reimbursed as soon as the funds are out of the country. The recipient is encouraged to send information to the author, such as blank letterhead stationery, bank name and account numbers, and other identifying information using a facsimile number provided in the letter. The scheme relies on convincing a willing victim to send money to the author of the letter in several installments of increasing amounts for a variety of reasons.

Phishing/Spoofing

Phishing and spoofing refer to forged or faked electronic documents. Spoofing generally refers to the dissemination of email which is forged to appear as though it was sent by someone other than the actual source. Phishing, often utilized in conjunction with a spoofed email, is the act of sending an email falsely claiming to be an established legitimate business in an attempt to dupe the unsuspecting recipient into divulging personal, sensitive information such as passwords, credit card numbers, and bank account information after directing the user to visit a specified website. The website, however, is not genuine and was set up only as an attempt to steal the user's information.

Ponzi/Pyramid

Ponzi or pyramid schemes are investment scams in which investors are promised abnormally high profits on their investments. No investment is actually made. Early investors are paid returns with the investment money received from the later investors. The system usually collapses. The later investors do not receive dividends and lose their initial investment.

Reshipping

The "reshipping" scheme requires individuals in the United States to receive packages at their residence and subsequently repackage the merchandise for shipment, usually abroad. The reshipping scheme helps facilitate the transfer of goods purchased online by fraudulent means.

Spam

With improved technology and world-wide Internet access, spam, or unsolicited bulk email, is now a widely used medium for committing traditional white collar crimes including financial institution fraud, credit card fraud, and identity theft, among others.

Third Party Receiver of Funds

The subjects, usually foreign, post work-at-home job offers on popular Internet employment sites, soliciting assistance from United States citizens. The subjects allegedly are posting Internet auctions, but cannot receive the proceeds from these auctions directly because their locations outside the United States makes receiving these funds difficult. The seller asks the United States citizen to act as a third party receiver of funds from victims who have purchased products from the subject via the Internet. The United States citizen, receiving the funds from the victims, then wires the money to the subject.

To report Elder Fraud:

Eldercare Locator
Phone: (800) 677-1116

The report of elder financial exploitation should be made to each state's adult protective services, which can be accessed by the eldercare locator website. 

To report Health Information Privacy Violations:

Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights

To report 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

To report 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): spam@uce.gov

The Federal Trade Commission collects complaints about companies, business practices, identity theft, and episodes of violence in the media.

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.

National Futures Association
Online Form: http://www.nfa.futures.org/basicnet/Complaint.aspx
Phone: (800) 676-4632

National Futures Association (NFA) is the industry wide, self-regulatory organization for the U.S. futures industry. They strive every day to develop rules, programs and services that safeguard market integrity, protect investors and help members meet their regulatory responsibilities.

U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission

To report Mail Fraud:

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS)

The Complaint Form allows you to send a complaint to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service if you suspect you are a victim of mail fraud.

To report 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

To report Medicare Fraud:

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service: How to Report Medicare Fraud
Phone: (800) 447-8477
Email Address: HHSTips@oig.hhs.gov

This Department of Health and Human Services Web site provides direction on what should be done if you suspect Medicare fraud.

To report 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: hotline@hudoig.gov
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): spam@uce.gov

The Federal Trade Commission collects complaints about fraud, companies, business practices, identity theft, and episodes of violence in the media.

To report Recovery Act Fraud:

Recovery.Gov
Online Form: http://www.recovery.gov/Contact/ReportFraud/Pages/fwa.aspx
Phone: (877) 392-3375 (1-877-FWA-DESK)
Fax:  (877) 329-3922 (1-877-FAX-FWA2)

One of the core missions of the Recovery Board is to prevent fraud, waste, and mismanagement of Recovery funds.  Find Recovery projects in your own neighborhood and if you suspect fraudulent actions related to the project you can report those concerns in several ways.

General Services Administration Office of Inspector General
Online Form: http://www.gsaig.gov/form.htm
Email: fraudnet@gsa.gov
Phone: (800) 424-5210
Mail: GSA/OIG Investigations, ATTENTION: Fraud Hotline, 1800 F Street, N.W., Washington, DC, 20405

To report 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

To report Residential Mortgage Backed Securities (RMBS) Fraud:

Residential Mortgage Backed Securities Working Group

If you have information about fraud, deception, or misconduct in the packaging and sale of residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS), including conduct from years ago in the period before the 2008 financial crisis, click the link above to learn how to make a report to the RMBS Working Group.

To report an abusive transaction involving a Retirement Plan:

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Phone: (410) 962-9547 (not toll-free)
Fax: (410) 962-0132
Email: tegeepsheltercoord@irs.gov
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.

To report the misuse of Social Security number:

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.

To report Student Loan Fraud:

U.S. Department of Education, Office of the Inspector General
Phone: 1-800-MIS-USED
Email: oig.hotline@ed.gov
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 oig.hotline@ed.gov

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

To report Tax Fraud activity:

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 abusive CPAs, attorneys or enrolled agents :
Email: opr@irs.gov (IRS Office of Professional Responsibility)

For unresolved issues :
Taxpayer Advocate Service

To report Unfair Competition:

Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice: Citizen Complaint Center 
Phone: (888) 647-3258 or (202) 307-2040 
E-mail:  antitrust.complaints@usdoj.gov  
Mail:  950 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Room 3322, Washington, DC 20530

Federal Trade Commission, Bureau of Competition, Office of Policy and Coordination
Phone: (202) 326-2882
E-mail: antitrust@ftc.gov
Mail: 600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20580

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