Aug 5, 2020   SOURCE: PR NewsWire

USAGov's Five Tips for Reporting a Scam

WASHINGTON, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Scammers target millions of Americans every year, and anyone can fall victim to their deceptive tricks. Last year, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) received over 3 million reports of fraud. With so many types of scams, it's hard to figure out where to report them. Follow these five tips to know why, how, and where to report a scam:

    1. Collect information like email addresses, receipts, and phone numbers
       associated with the scam. You will need these items when filling out a
       report.
    2. Start by contacting your state consumer protection office. If you've lost
       money, possessions, or other personal and valuable information, call your
       local police department.
    3. Visit the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) complaint assistant to report
       online. The FTC works to protect consumers and offers tips to help
       safeguard personal information.
    4. If your information was stolen, such as your Social Security number,
       credit card, or bank numbers, go to IdentityTheft.gov. You can take
       specific steps to protect yourself depending on what information was
       lost.
    5. Place a fraud alert on your credit report. A fraud alert is a free
       service to keep you aware of activity on your account and can make it
       harder for an imposter to open more accounts in your name.

By reporting a scam, you could help identify fraudsters, bring them to justice, and protect yourself and others in the future. Learn more about reporting scams and how to protect your information from unwanted use at USA.gov/Stop-Scams-Frauds.

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SOURCE USAGov