Record as many details about the fraudulent transaction as you can.
The growth of the Internet as a means of commerce has also resulted in the growth of online fraud. Victims of fraud have a spectrum of ways to react, including referring the complaint to law enforcement, filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau or making an informal complaint on product review websites.
Instructions
1. Record as many details about the fraudulent transaction as you can.
Gather all relevant information about the fraudulent transaction. Successful prosecution of a fraud complaint is more likely if you are able to provide details about the crime. Although the transaction is still fresh in your memory, write down notes of anything that you remember. Save copies of any e-mails or webpages associated with the transaction. If there were phone calls or voicemail messages, save those as well. Arrange for copies of credit card statements, receipts, bills, invoices or advertising.
2. File a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). Since 2003, the Internet IC3 has provided a one-stop location to report fraudulent Internet transactions. The website provides an environment for law enforcement agencies to cooperate on the investigation of online crime, which often crosses from one jurisdiction to another. A complaint with the IC3 will be referred to the law enforcement agency best suited to investigate the crime.
3. The BBB can help arbitrate disputes but has limited enforcement ability.
File a complaint with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Although the BBB does not have the ability to force a settlement or recover money obtained by fraud, it can help to negotiate disputes between consumers and businesses. Because the BBB is based on geographic boundaries, you will need to know where the fraudulent business is actually located. Sometimes with Internet fraud, that is not possible. If you are able to narrow down the address to a particular city, filing a complaint with the BBB can have the added effect of creating a publicly accessible record of your experience to help warn other consumers away from a shady business.
4. Notify your bank. If you have given your credit card number or bank account number to a fraudulent business, notify your bank immediately. Banks can reverse charges to a credit card as long as you notify them fast enough. If your account numbers are compromised, the bank can cancel accounts and reissue new cards or account numbers. Failing to notify your bank in a timely manner can leave you liable for additional fraudulent transactions.
5. Post fraud alerts on review websites. People who commit crime on the Internet are unlikely to stop with just one victim. By sharing your story, your might save somebody else from being victimized as well. Leave reviews at websites that track customer satisfaction, such as Yelp.com, MerchantCircle.com or ScamBusters.org.
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