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: How To Report Scams and Frauds in

How to Report Scams and Frauds in United States
Government agency resources: phone numbers, links to their websites and contact email addresses


How to report scams, frauds, schemes and crimes in United States

Most scams violate federal laws and regulations, but a few are investigated by state or local authorities.  In general, if a scam uses the national services, like the US mail postal service, that would be reported to the related national agency, like the USPS, (see this page for reporting federal agencies). Scams involving businesses and scammers operating from a location within a state's borders would often be reported to a state agency. City, county, regional, and state consumer offices offer a variety of important services. They might mediate complaints, conduct investigations, prosecute offenders of consumer laws, license and regulate professional service providers, provide educational materials and advocate for consumer rights. To save time, call before sending a written complaint. Ask if the office handles the type of complaint you have and if complaint forms are provided. See the United States list of state agencies below:


United States Scam Reporting Agencies and Consumer Protection Offices

State Consumer Protection Offices

  • New York State Department of State
    Address: New York State Department of State
    Division of Consumer Protection
    Consumer Assistance Unit
    99 Washington Ave.
    Albany, NY 12231-0001
    Phone Number: 518-474-8583
    Toll-free: 1-800-697-1220
  • Office of the Attorney General- Albany Office
    (Utica office of the attorney general)
    Address: Office of the Attorney General- Albany Office
    Bureau of Consumer Frauds and Protection
    State Capitol
    Albany, NY 12224-0341
    Phone Number: 518-474-5481
    Toll-free: 1-800-771-7755 (NY)
    TTY: 1-800-788-9898 (TDD)
  • Office of the Attorney General- New York City Office
    (Utica office of the attorney general)
    Address: Office of the Attorney General- New York City Office
    Bureau of Consumer Frauds and Protection
    120 Broadway, 3rd Floor
    New York, NY 10271-0332
    Phone Number: 212-416-8300 212-416-8345 (in Spanish)
    Toll-free: 1-800-771-7755 (Hotline)
    TTY: 1-800-788-9898 (TDD)

Regional Consumer Protection Offices

  • Suffolk Regional Office of the Attorney General
    (Utica office of the attorney general)
    Address: Suffolk Regional Office of the Attorney General
    300 Motor Parkway, Suite 230
    Hauppauge, NY 11788
    Phone Number: 631-231-2401
    Toll-free: 1-800-771-7755 (Consumer Helpline)
    TTY: 1-800-788-9898
  • Syracuse Regional Office of the Attorney General
    (Utica office of the attorney general)
    Address: Syracuse Regional Office of the Attorney General
    615 Erie Blvd. W, Suite 102
    Syracuse, NY 13204
    Phone Number: 315-448-4848
    Toll-free: 1-800-771-7755 (Consumer Hotline)
    TTY: 1-800-788-9898
  • Utica Regional Office of the Attorney General
    (Utica office of the attorney general)
    Address: Utica Regional Office of the Attorney General
    207 Genesee St., Room 508
    Utica, NY 13501
    Phone Number: 315-793-2225
    Toll-free: 1-800-771-7755 (Consumer Hotline)
    TTY: 1-800-788-9898
  • Binghamton Regional Office of the Attorney General
    (Utica office of the attorney general)
    Address: Binghamton Regional Office of the Attorney General
    State Office Building, 17th Floor
    44 Hawley St.
    Binghamton, NY 13901
    Phone Number: 607-721-8771
    Toll-free: 1-800-771-7755 (Consumer Hotline)
    TTY: 1-800-788-9898
  • Brooklyn Regional Office Binghamton Regional Office of the Attorney General
    (Utica office of the attorney general)
    Address: Brooklyn Regional Office Binghamton Regional Office of the Attorney General
    55 Hanson Place, Suite 1080
    Brooklyn, NY 11217
    Phone Number: 718-722-3949
    Toll-free: 1-800-771-7755 (Consumer Hotline)
    TTY: 1-800-788-9898
  • Buffalo Regional Office of the Attorney General
    (Utica office of the attorney general)
    Address: Buffalo Regional Office of the Attorney General
    Main Place Tower, Suite 300A
    350 Main St.
    Buffalo, NY 14202
    Phone Number: 716-853-8404
    Toll-free: 1-800-771-7755 (Consumer Hotline)
    TTY: 1-800-788-9898
  • Harlem Regional Office of the Attorney General
    (Utica office of the attorney general)
    Address: Harlem Regional Office of the Attorney General
    163 W. 125th St., Suite 1324
    New York, NY 10027
    Phone Number: 212-961-4475
    Toll-free: 1-800-771-7755 (Consumer Hotline)
    TTY: 1-800-788-9898
    N
  • Nassau Regional Office of the Attorney General
    (Utica office of the attorney general)
    Address: Nassau Regional Office of the Attorney General
    200 Old Country Rd., Suite 240
    Mineola, NY 11501
    Phone Number: 516-248-3301
    Toll-free: 1-800-771-7755 (Consumer Hotline)
    TTY: 1-800-788-9898
  • Plattsburgh Regional Office of the Attorney General
    (Utica office of the attorney general)
    Address: Plattsburgh Regional Office of the Attorney General
    43 Durkee St., Suite 700
    Plattsburgh, NY 12901-2958
    Phone Number: 518-562-3282
    Toll-free: 1-800-771-7755
    TTY: 1-800-788-9898
  • Poughkeepsie Regional Office of the Attorney General
    (Utica office of the attorney general)
    Address: Poughkeepsie Regional Office of the Attorney General
    One Civic Center Plaza, Suite 401
    Poughkeepsie, NY 12601-3157
    Phone Number: 845-485-3900
    Toll-free: 1-800-771-7755 (Consumer Hotline)
    TTY: 1-800-788-9898
  • Rochester Regional Office of the Attorney General
    (Utica office of the attorney general)
    Address: Rochester Regional Office of the Attorney General
    144 Exchange Blvd., Suite 200
    Rochester, NY 14614-2176
    Phone Number: 585-546-7430
    Toll-free: 1-800-771-7755 (Consumer Hotline)
    TTY: 1-800-788-9898
  • Watertown Regional Office of the Attorney General
    (Utica office of the attorney general)
    Address: Watertown Regional Office of the Attorney General
    Dulles State Office Building
    317 Washington St.
    Watertown, NY 13601
    Phone Number: 315-785-2444
    Toll-free: 1-800-771-7755 (Consumer Hotline)
    TTY: 1-800-788-9898
  • Westchester Regional Office of the Attorney General
    (Utica office of the attorney general)
    Address: Westchester Regional Office of the Attorney General
    101 E. Post Rd.
    White Plains, NY 10601-5008
    Phone Number: 914-422-8794
    Toll-free: 1-800-771-7755 (Consumer Helpline)
    TTY: 1-800-788-9898

County Consumer Protection Offices

City Consumer Protection Offices

Banking Authorities

The officials listed in this section regulate and supervise state-chartered banks. Many of them handle or refer problems and complaints about other types of financial institutions as well. Some also answer general questions about banking and consumer credit. If you are dealing with a federally chartered bank, check Federal Agencies.

  • Banking Department
    Address: Banking Department
    Consumer Help Unit
    25 Beaver St.
    New York, NY 10004
    Phone Number: 212-480-6400
    Toll-free: 1-800-342-3736 (NY)

Insurance Regulators

Each state has its own laws and regulations for each type of insurance. The officials listed in this section enforce these laws. Many of these offices can also provide you with information to help you make informed insurance buying decisions.

  • Department of Financial Services
    Address: Department of Financial Services
    Insurance Department
    Consumer Assistance Unit
    One Commerce Plaza
    Albany, NY 12257
    Phone Number: 518-474-6600
    Toll-free: 1-800-342-3736 (NY)
  • Insurance Department
    Address: Insurance Department
    Insurance Division
    Consumer Assistance Unit
    25 Beaver St.
    New York, NY 10004
    Phone Number: 212-480-6400
    Toll-free: 1-800-342-3736 (NY)

Securities Administrators

Each state has its own laws and regulations for securities brokers and securities - including stocks, mutual funds, commodities, real estate, etc. The officials and agencies listed in this section enforce these laws and regulations. Many of these offices can also provide information to help you make informed investment decisions.

  • Office of the Attorney General
    (Utica office of the attorney general)
    Address: Office of the Attorney General
    Investor Protection Bureau
    120 Broadway, 23rd Floor
    New York, NY 10271
    Phone Number: 212-416-8222

Utility Commissions

State Utility Commissions regulate services and rates for gas, electricity and telephones within your state. In some states, the utility commissions regulate other services such as water, transportation, and the moving of household goods. Many utility commissions handle consumer complaints. Sometimes, if a number of complaints are received about the same utility matter, they will conduct investigations.

  • Department of Public Service
    Address: Department of Public Service
    Office of Consumer Services
    3 Empire State Plaza
    Albany, NY 12223
    Toll-free: 1-800-342-3377
    1-800-342-3355 (Termination) 1-800-342-3355 (Termination)
    TTY: 1-800-662-1220


General Precautions and Recommendations- What to do with suspicious emails:

  • Only open email or IM attachments that come from a trusted source and that are expected
  • Use an anti-virus/anti-spam package (we recommend Norton 360 or Norton Internet Security scan all attachments prior to opening. Click here to see Norton 360 2013 on Amazon.com .
  • Delete the messages without opening any attachments
  • Do not click on links in emails that come from people you do not know and trust, even if it looks like it comes from a company you know.
  • Keep your anti-virus software up to date
  • Keep your operating system up to date with current security patches. Click here for an article that describes how to do this.

And please let us know about any suspicious calls or emails you receive.  We look for patterns so that we can alert the authorities and victims to new scams, before it is too late!

 

 


 

For a comprehensive list of national and international agencies to report scams, see this page.