Fraud and FBI defrauds help to combat fuel fraud efforts

When we write about it ID theft or scam In CNET, we advise victims often to contact Federal Trade Committee Or the online crime complaint center at the FBI to report their experience.

However, suppose you haven’t lost money or abandoned any personal identification information, such as your social security number. In this case, you may not think it is necessary to take this step – but you must.

only 38 % of FTC’s fraud reports In 2024, cash losses included. Fraud reports help FTC and FBI to inform and teach the public Popular fraud And assisting local and federal authorities in hunting criminals.

If you do this A victim of fraud is a victimThere are other steps you can take, including registration Protect identity theftand Freeze your credit reports Or communicate with the bank or your credit card company to recover the stolen money. But don’t forget to let FTC and FBI know. This is the reason.

Why should you report fraud?

When you report a fraud case, you are a good Samri – and it may help reduce the chances of the specified fraud that hurt another person.

Both FTC and IC3 Division Trends at the FBI (IC3) and the public update about the popular deceptions published by Internet criminals using the information provided by ordinary Americans. Some of the popular fraud that the agencies have warned in recent months. They include The toll of fraud on the roadforged Usps texts And criminals Personality of government agencies.

“The more the information received by FTC and IC3, the best statistics they can get and use to alert consumers,” said Chelsea Benz, an accredited fraud and associate professor at the Cony John Jae Forensic College.

the FTC and IC3 Also issue annual reports that separate fraud trends from the previous year using complaints submitted. Data are divided by age, state, frequency of specific crimes and lost dollars for each type of fraud.

Both clients allow consumers to receive e -mail alerts about common fraud throughout the year. To register in FTC alerts, Click here. You can subscribe to IC3 alerts here.

FTC and IC3 also work with the law to help capture Internet criminals. When submitting a report to the FTC, it is added to the consumer Sentinel database, which can reach 2,800 federal partners, governments and law enforcement throughout the country. IC3 trainers similarly review complaints and research and pass information to the authorities.

“This is the way they can build issues against fraudsters,” Penz said.

How can I report FTC and FBI fraud?

You can report fraud processes to FTC in Reportfraud.ftc.gov. The online -related crimes should also be reported to IC3 in IC3.gov. Completely, these agencies received more than 3.4 million complaints last year.

Keep in mind that you are unlikely to hear from FTC or IC3 after submitting a report – although you use your complaints to confirm information or inform the trends. If someone is Protecting as a government official Contact you and ask the money, and it provides you with a prize or threatens to arrest you, it is a fraud.

If you are a victim to theft of identity, a specific category of fraud, you can report your case to FTC in Identity Or by calling 1-877-438-4338. FTC will put steps to restore your identity based on the information you provide.

Each step can be these steps, such as contacting invoices and contacting bank fraud, consuming time and money may cost you, especially if you have a lawyer to deal with you. If you have an identity theft protection service with white glove restoration services, this review menu can be completed for you.

Can I restore my money after falling into a fraud?

Usually, it is easy to reverse unauthorized discount purchases and credit cards. If you send money to the fraudsters yourself (such as in Gold fraud barRestore your money more difficult. You must contact your bank as soon as possible so that they can cancel the transaction. in Cases where the encrypted currency works Invided, payments are largely irreversible.

Depending on the fraud that you have suffered, you will want to take basic steps such as changing your password, registering for dual -factor authentication and running alerts for purchases made on credit and deduction cards. Penz said you should also think about deleting the reserved payment information from web sites.

In the weeks and months that followed the victim of fraud, it is necessary to be ready against any strange person calling you to restore your money.

She said: “What will happen is that the original fraud will come to you as a organization or service that will help you restore the money you lost.” “And in turn, it will be just another fraud.”