Online Fraud Resource Center

We hope that by educating people about fraud, we can make Cyberspace a safer place to do business.

Do not wire transfer money to people you don't know, including people you "met" on an auction site or someone who "hires" you from overseas. See Western Union's Web site FAQs about Consumer Fraud:
http://www.westernunion.com/info/faqSecurity.asp


"What to Do If You Are Ripped Off Online"

1) File a complaint with eBay.

2) File a complaint with the FTC
https://rn.ftc.gov/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU01

3) File a complaint with the Internet Fraud Complaint Center http://www.ic3.gov/

4) Contact law-enforcement officials at the local and state level (your local and state police departments)

5) Also contact law-enforcement officials in the perpetrator's town & state

6) File a complaint with the shipper USPS http://www.usps.com/websites/depart/inspect

7) File a complaint with the National Fraud Information Center http://www.fraud.org/info/contactnfic.htm

8) File a complaint with the Better Business Bureau http://www.bbb.org

Auction Fraud Resources

National Fraud Information Center

Escrow Fraud Tips

"Net Crimes & Misdemeanors: Outmaneuvering the Spammers, Swindlers, and Stalkers Who Are Targeting You Online"
Book by J.A. Hitchcock, edited by Loraine Page
2002 CyberAge Books (Information Today Inc.)

Identity Theft Resources

Mari Frank's Site on Identity Theft (for-profit site)
http://www.identitytheft.org/faq.htm

FTC Consumer Information on Identity Theft
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/feature-0014-identity-theft

Hoax Emails/Phishing Scams

AuctionBytes Article "Auction Users: Beware Hoax Emails"
http://www.ecommercebytes.com/cab/abu/y203/m10/abu0104/s04

IRS Fraud Resources
http://www.irs.gov/compliance/enforcement/article/0,,id=132286,00.html
http://www.irs.gov/compliance/enforcement/article/0,,id=106778,00.html

Anti-Phishing Working Group
http://www.antiphishing.org

Associated Press Article
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/04/02/tech/main610060.shtml

EcommerceBytes Fraud Forum

http://www.ecommercebytes.com/forums/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=31