How to Report Fraud

Preparing a Fraud Report

1. 1
   Establish the type of fraud that was committed. Different state and government agencies investigate and police fraud. Common types of fraud include Internet, tax, financial, identity theft, stolen checks, fake businesses and Medicare.
2. 2
   Visit consumerfraudreporting.org to research the different types of possible fraud. Although this site caters mainly to fraud in the United States and Canada, there are links that help you to report fraud in other countries.
3. 3
   Gather any evidence you possess of fraud that has been committed. You should refer to this evidence in your online or telephone report. After your initial report is filed, you may be asked to provide evidence.
4. 4
   Write an objective list of the facts involved in the instance of fraud. While fraud creates emotional consequences, it can cloud the facts in a case, making it harder to investigate. Objective reports may even be seen as more trustworthy than those that include a lot of opinion.

Submitting to the Proper Authority

1. 1
   Contact your state's Attorney General to report any general claim of fraud in your state, before submitting a report to national authorities. Do an Internet search or look in the phone book to find the number to your state Attorney General office. Ask them about your state's regulations on reporting fraud.
   • An Attorney General is the main legal adviser to the Governor and 1 of the main forms of law enforcement in the state. The Attorney General prosecutes fraudulent crimes against the state and its citizens.
2. 2
   Contact the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to report tax fraud. Go online to IRS.gov and search for Form 3949-A. You can print it out and mail it or submit it online. For concerns about fraudulent Certified Public Accountants or tax agents, use the email [email protected] to contact the IRS Office of Professional Responsibility.
3. 3
   Use the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) to report Internet or computer fraud. This agency researches fraud complaints as long as they are submitted by the person who was defrauded or a knowledgeable third party. Explanations of Internet crimes and applicable forms are available at IC3.gov.
   • You will be asked to characterize the type of fraud according to common Internet fraud scams. These include SPAM, credit card fraud, spoofing, Internet auction fraud, parcel counter schemes, escrow fraud, employment schemes, identity theft, lotteries, "Nigerian" letters, phishing, debt elimination schemes, Internet extortion and ponzi or pyramid schemes. Visit the IC3 website for more information about these crimes.
4. 4
   Email the Department of Justice to report bankruptcy fraud. Write out a fact-based report that includes your contact information and send it to [email protected].
5. 5
   Report stolen or fraudulent checks to the National Check Fraud Service. Call 1-843-571-2143 to report personal check fraud or counterfeit checks. Counterfeit checks, taken from actual account numbers, are often used in Internet lottery scams.
   • You should also call your bank and close your account, in order to avoid the production of counterfeit checks. Then, notify the police and possibly submit a police report.
6. 6
   Report "elder fraud," or financial fraud committed against an elderly person, by calling the Eldercare locator at 1-800-677-1116. This agency can help you find the correct services in your area. This type of fraud can be committed by both people operating as businesses and causes, but also by family members or friends.
7. 7
   Report identity theft directly to the Federal Trade Commission. An online form is available at FTCcomplaintassistant.gov, or you can opt to phone 1-877- ID-THEFT to report a crime. You can also report telemarketing fraud to the Federal Trade Commission.
8. 8
   Submit a complaint about securities fraud or investment fraud at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Submit using an online form at SEC.gov/complaint/select.shtml or call 1-800-732-0330.
9. 9
   Go online to submit a mail fraud or spam mail complaint to the US Postal Inspection Service. Go to Postalinspectors.uspis.gov and click on the Mail Fraud Complaint Form.
10. 10
    Report Mortgage fraud and loan scams to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Call the FBI tip line on 1-800-225-5324 or go online to Tips.fbi.gov.
11. 11
    Call the U.S. Social Security Administration fraud hotline to report fraud related to the misuse of social security numbers. You can call 1-800-269-0271 to reach the hotline.
12. 12
    Email or call the U.S. Department of Education to report student loan fraud. You can email the department at [email protected] or call 1-800-MIS-USED.