Additional Victim Assistance
One way to reduce fraud crime is to report attempts or successful completions of fraud to the appropriate federal or state agencies. If you would like to file a complaint or receive information about the legitimacy of a business or individual, you may contact one of the agencies listed below. In addition, many of the agencies listed provide free publications or consumer alerts about fraudulent practices. However, this is only a partial list of such agencies. Please refer to your local telephone directory for other federal, state, or local agencies in charge of licensing, reporting, or investigation.
Licensing, Reporting, and Investigation
Federal Trade Commission ..............................(202) 326-2222
Public Reference Section
Division of Marketing Practices
600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Suite 130
Washington, DC 20580
Internet address: http://www.ftc.gov
Provides information on ways to avoid consumer fraud.
Commodity Futures Trading Commission .........(202) 418-5000
3 Lafayette Center
1155 21st St., N.W.
Washington, DC 20581
Internet address: http://www.cftc.gov
Describes conduct that violates federal commodities law and offers a questionnaire form for reporting possible violations.
Securities and Exchange Commission .............(202) 942-7040
Public Information Office
450 Fifth St., N.W.
Washington, DC 20549
Internet address: http://www.sec.gov
Offers "Investor Alerts" announcing SEC enforcement actions and warnings about widespread fraud schemes.
U.S. Postal Inspection Service ......................(312) 983-7900
Fraud Complaints Section
433 West Harrison St.
Chicago, IL 60669-2201
Internet address: http://www.usps.gov/fyi/welcome.htm
Provides consumer protection information, files and investigates crimes involving the use of postal services, and provides information on mail-related complaints filed against businesses and individuals. The Internet site offers excellent descriptions of different types of fraud.
Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc. .........(703) 276-0100
4200 Wilson Blvd., Suite 800
Arlington, VA 22203-1838
Internet address: http://www.bbb.org
Provides referrals to local Better Business Bureaus, along with information on services available.
National Hotlines
National Foundation for Consumer Credit ......(800) 388-2227
Internet address: http://www.imon.com/cccs
Offers free and confidential budget and debt counseling and debt management plans.
National Fraud Information Center ..................(800) 876-7060
Internet address: http://www.fraud.org
Takes reports of telemarketing and Internet fraud; refers those reports to law enforcement agencies; maintains a database on fraud schemes and reported crimes; and provides information on avoiding fraud.
National Futures Association ............................(800) 676-4632
Internet address: http://www.nfa.futures.org
Maintains the registry of professionals registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission; serves as a clearinghouse for consumer complaints and federal regulatory action; and provides information about investing.
National Insurance Crime Bureau .....................(800) TEL-NICB
Internet address: http://www.nicb.org
Takes and investigates complaints of insurance fraud (excluding Medicare and Medicaid), including medical and vehicular. Also provides consumer protection information.
Online Public Education Network Project .........(800) 466-OPEN
(Project OPEN)
Internet address: http://isa.net/project-open/priv-broch.html
Offers the free brochure "Protecting Your Privacy When You Go Online" for consumers concerned about privacy in cyberspace.
Securities and Exchange Commission .................(800) SEC-0330
Consumer Hotline
Internet address: http://www.fedworld.gov
Maintains a registry of professionals registered with the SEC; provides information on complaints filed against investment firms and individuals and on federal regulatory actions; and provides consumer investment information.
U.S. Department of Health .................................(800) HHS-TIPS
and Human Services
Office of the Inspector General
Fraud Division
Internet address: http://www.os.dhhs.gov
Takes and investigates reports involving Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, home health care, Food and Drug Administration, welfare, food stamps, and other programs administered by HHS.
U.S. Postal Service Crime Hotline .........................(800) 654-8896
Takes reports of and investigates crimes that involve the U.S. Postal Service, including mail fraud, pornography, and drug transactions by mail, and also provides information on complaints filed by consumers against businesses or individuals.
Victim Assistance
The following national victim advocacy organizations provide referrals to federal, state, and local victim assistance services and programs.
National Organization for Victim Assistance ..........(800) TRY-NOVA
1757 Park Road, N.W.
Washington, DC 20010
Internet address: http://www.aoa.dhhs.gov/aoa/dir/184.html
National Victim Center .........................................(800) FYI-CALL
2111 Wilson Blvd., Suite 300
Arlington, VA 22201
Internet address: http://www.nvc.org
Additional Resources
American Association of Retired Persons ...............(202) 434-3400
601 E St., N.W.
Washington, DC 20049
Internet address: http://www.aarp.org
Serves as an advocate for the rights of the elderly and provides numerous services, including financial information programs.
Mail Preference Service Telephone Preference Service
PO Box 9008 PO Box 9014
Farmingdale, NY 11735 Farmingdale, NY 11735
Removes your name from most national mailing and phone lists if you so request in writing.
Privacy Rights Clearinghouse ...............................(619) 298-3396
Internet address: http://www.privacyrights.org
Provides information and referrals for technology-related privacy issues.
State attorneys general and state and local consumer protection agencies may also be able to provide consumer information about fraudulent practices and, in some cases, investigate complaints of fraud. Some even have victim assistance units or specialized fraud units, though they might not be able to provide services to victims of federal crimes. To learn more, please contact the victim/witness coordinator.
In addition, some local and state bar associations have volunteer legal programs to assist low-income or elderly victims. Consult your local phone directory for contact information.
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