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Consumer Fraud Reporting is an free online service to warn consumers about specific types of financial and other scams via the internet and provide a means to report scams and fraud.

In addition to thousands of actual examples of scam letters, emails, faxes and transcripts of phone conversations to help you identify a scam, we have many pages of concise lists of contact information, links, phone numbers and guidance to help you report the scam to the proper authorities, and to try to recover your loss.

To keep up to date on the types of scams in global circulation we stay in regular contact with overseas consumer agencies. If you are interested in a breakdown on the most recent FBI reports of Internet Fraud, Scam and Crime Statistics, see this page.

Consumer Fraud Reporting is fully independent and objective; it is not a government agency or affiliated with any government; we act as an information exchange to help raise public awareness about scams and to help to bring them to the attention of the proper enforcement authorities. Unfortunately, we do not have enforcement powers over local or overseas scams; but we aim to help you to find the proper enforcement agency! We also try to present the facts in a simple, clear, and hopefully, interesting manner!

Resources

• What to do if you think you have already been the victim of a fraud or identity theft.
• The 2025 Top 10 list of scams - see which scams are affecting the most people
• State and Local Consumer Protection Agencies, Master List for the United States - If you are looking for the best local consumer protection agency to use to report a scam, seek advice, to obtain assistance in resolving a dispute, this list has the contact information!
• Local FBI Office Listings to find the closest FBI office to report a crime or scam.
• Making Money Online? We wouldn't recommend ANY of the "money making programs" you see advertised on TV, radio, print or the internet. And we haven't got one to sell you, either. But w did create another website, www.ConsumersGuideToMakingMoneyOnline.org  to show you how to earn an income online, legitimately!  You can ignore the advertisements there (the ads pay for the website, but  ALL of the information is free on the websites without buying anything, signing up, entering an email address, or providing a credit card.  Free means free!
• Recommendations about which products work best for anti-spyware, anti-adware, ant-virus, etc. and links to discounted prices.
• Guidance about how to protect yourself
• Links, phone numbers and sign up information for the National Do-Not-Call List and the credit card offers opt-out list
• Resources lists and guides - see this page for many more resources, such as lists of domain extensions for other countries, telephone country codes, area codes, etc.
• Notices of class action lawsuits, settlements and court cases regarding scams.
• Online server backup Ensure that your files are safe and protected
• Most Current alphabetized list of emerging and current scams

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What Sort of Scams Do We Report On?

See the alphabetized list at left, and click on the topic that interests you.  Or click on the links below in the list of most popular topics.

Latest scams, cons or just plain rip-offs

• Social Security and Medicare scam emails
• Schwab Identity Verification Required.
• Amazon Recruiting scam text message
• Document Pending: Your updated Social Security Statement is now available online Scam
• Scam Driving Violation text message
• PayPal scam, claiming Friendly Payment Reminder: Invoice P12KT48139
• Coinbase scams, scam text messages
• DocuSign scam emails
• CapitalOne Your Disputed Transaction Is Now Available for Review Scam
• Capital One Verify Recent Activity on Your Capital One Credit Card Scam
• McAfee automatic renewal scam email and another version here
• GeekSquad fake invoice scam
• "Credit card debt relief program"
• PayPal scam emails:
  • Paypal fake invoice, fake order and
  • You sent a $489.99 USD payment to Andy Bruer, and  
  • Thank you for purchasing NORTON 360 Deluxe through PayPal
• MyGov You have a new message in your myGov Inbox
• You requested $899.99 USD from Pay-Pal as a loan to pay your pending balance at the Apple Store
• Meta / Facebook scam email "Your account will be block disabled" and here is another version
• Ebay - fake bill, "Your Order Id 905438 payment is completed "
• Your delivery will be sent back - scam
• Scam Email, supposedly from Norton 360, claiming: "Follow up email after the membership expired, a charge has been processed for your 1-Year membership"
• Latest scam email claiming to be from FedEx
• Facebook scam message, Fanpage final warning
• Costco scam email: Today is the final day to extend your account by a year. !!FOR_FREE.!!
• Backyard chickens and poultry scams
• Norton Lifelock Antivirus
• Amazon scam email: We have temporarily placed your account on hold and canceled any pending orders
• Another recent Scam Amazon Email supposedly 'A message from Amazon Costomer Service'
• PayPal scam invoice sent by email
• Facebook Meta Legal Department and another version Important Notice: Suspension Pending Review, Meta's Legal Department, Walt Disney Studios
• Coinbase scam "[ACTION REQUIRED]: Verify your wallet transactions"  and  Coinbase scam email "request to close your coinbase account"
• The HR Memo Salary increase from Human Resources Manager Scam email
• Microsoft Teams sent you a message - You won an Apple iPhone
• Email "invoice" scams - with attached invoice
• Paypal email scam: "Your account has been suspended"
• Facebook Marketplace Scams - What to do
• American Express "Unauthorized use of card 390105" Scam
• Paypal email scam: "Your account has been limited"
• The "hi" text message from a phone number you do not recognize
• Ooma Tele - home phone - problems to beware
• NetFlix - scam email "Your NetfIix Membership Has Expired And Been Canceled, Get An Extra 90 Days On Us"
• Medicare scam text messages
• Yahoo Mail, claiming "we are closing all old versions of Yahoo Mailbox"
• Scam PayPal bill by email
• Cellphone malware popup "Drink more water" "Device running hot" How to get rid of it!
• Email attachments "Invoice due"
• Costco email gift card scam
• Review of Balance of Nature: What is it really? Exaggerated Claims?
• Amazon Reminder: Account Review Needed your Amazon account is locked
• PayPal Fake Payment Requests
• PayPal: Fake Invoice received and another example, in which you supposedly bought an iPhone on Amazon
• Phixey Membership phone, tablet, laptop repair service
• Costco - Fake email claiming to be from Costco - Answer Survey, You have been selected
• Geek Squad annual subscription renewed
• CashApp scam calls
• UPS Scam email with malware attachment "Your package has arrived!"
• Domain extensions and TDL's (Top Level Domains) commonly used by scammers
• Hand sanitizer scams - hand sanitizers that don't work or are dangerously
• Are Robocalls driving you nuts?  See what's happening and what you can do.
• Vitamin, Supplements and Superfood Scams
• The FBI emails you to tell you "your email address won a foreign lottery"
• Google Docs email scam - don't open that link to Google Docs
• Is China flooding the market with fake rice made from plastic?
• Telomere testing and "Teloyears"
• Have you received a phone call saying the IRS is filing a lawsuit against you?
• Is Dr. Oz a scammer?
• Brian Williams scam news man
• Flappy Birds clone game with malware
• Fake Japanese Earthquake disaster scams - find out how to donate safely to the earthquake relief efforts in Japan and Haiti.
• The latest harassing spam robo call: "Stop! I can show you how to earn $10,000 right now!"
• "Your Car Warranty Has Expired" Scam - the FTC has sued the scum behind these annoying calls! 'This is one of the most aggressive telemarketing schemes the FTC has ever encountered,' said FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz. 'I'm not sure which is worse, the abusive telemarketing tactics of these companies, or the way they try to deceive people once they get them on the phone. Either way, we intend to shut them down. See this page for the latest information.
• Tax Scams - Now that it is the "tax season" in the U.S. tax scams are everywhere.  See this page for of the current tax scams.
• Ponzi Scams - Learn about Charles Ponzi, Bernard Madoff and how the scams work.
• Matthew Lesko - Screaming nutjob in a green question-mark suit peddling rubbish. If that isn't clear enough, read our full review here.
• Celebrity Scams - Is that email really from your favorite TV or movie star, Sports hero or other celebrity?
• Ransomware spreading by email on May 12, 2017: "Ooops, your files have been encrypted!"

Court, Legal and Criminal Activity:

• Scammers Caught! Want to read summaries of scammers who have been indicted or convicted?  See this page for recent cases.
• The Sales Mentor scam
• Internet Fraud, Scam and Crime Statistics - This page should be very useful for journalists and students researching internet crime.

Lotteries, Promotions and Prizes

• Lottery and prize scams - emails tell you that you have won a prize in a contest you don't remember entering, but you have to pay fees or give them your bank account details. Also see out list of legitimate lotteries and our list of scam lotteries.
• UK / United Kingdom Lottery scams
• Canadian Lottery Scams
• Irish lottery scams
• Sweepstakes and Prize Scams - similar to lotteries, except, by law, you are supposed to not need to buy anything in order to win
• Promotion Scams and Rip-offs: Did you receive a phone call, email or notice in the mail that you are an "instant winner" or that you are guaranteed to have won one of several prizes? Maybe you completed a card at a store or put your name and address in a box to win a vacation, or perhaps you dropped your business card into a fishbowl. Often, this is a legal way for marketing companies to harvest your name, address, email and phone number to suck you into to a legal rip-off.
• Scams against the hearing-impaired.  Scammers are equal-opportunity criminals; if you have a handicap, they'll do their best to con you into thinking there is a special grant or lottery just for that!

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Arrest Warrant Scams

• Arrest Warrant Scam - Scammers create a fake Caller ID, which allows them to call you and appear to be calling from a local police, sheriff or other law enforcement agency. They say there is a warrant out for your arrest, but that you can pay a fine in order to avoid criminal charges. Of course, these scammers don't take credit cards; only a Western Union MoneyGram, other wire transfer or pre-paid debit card will do

Astrology, Psychic, Faith and Religion Scams

• Astrology and psychic schemes sent from an overseas based psychic, clairvoyant or astrologer offering fortune telling books, reports or a talisman for a fee.

Banking Scams

• ATM Scams - Crimes at the Bank Machine

Buying, Selling, Shopping and Auctions Online and Off

• Auction Frauds - Do you use EBay or PayPal, or other auction websites?  Then read these tips to know what to look for! Also see our page on selling scams on the internet
• Classified Ad Scams - Online classified ad websites like Craig's List (craigslist.org and craigslist.org.uk) and newspapers have enabled millions of individuals to connect buy and sell a great variety of personal merchandise, but the scammers are operating there, just as everywhere else.  See this page for illustrated examples that explain how the scam works.
• Fake checks from fake buyers - If you have something to sell, whether you are one person selling a used item or a business, there's a scammer waiting for you, as long as you are willing to take a check for more than the price of the item.
• Fake checks - from fake lotteries, EBay buyers and others - Just because someone sends you or gives you a real-looking check, don't assume it is legitimate.  And attempting to cash it can land you in jail! Read more here. And what do you think the scammer say when you call their phone number.  Click here to read a transcript of an actual call to a scammer, as we pose as one of the "winners" he's notified by email. And see this page for a list of banks that have reported stolen checks, to see if the check you received is from one of them!
• Fake online stores - Is that website offering fantastic prices legitimate? How can you tell?  Check here for tips and lists of known scam shopping websites.
• Pet scams - Photos of cute puppies that are stranded, free to a good home>  It's a scam!
• Shopping scams - "Win a Free Laptop", "refer friends and take 1 offer" and get a free computer.  These shopping "deals" are no bargain!  See this page!

Checks / Cheques - Fake and Counterfeit

• Fake checks - from fake lotteries, EBay buyers and others - Just because someone sends you or gives you a real-looking check, don't assume it is legitimate.  And attempting to cash it can land you in jail! Read more here. And what do you think the scammer say when you call their phone number.  Click here to read a transcript of an actual call to a scammer, as we pose as one of the "winners" he's notified by email. And see this page for a list of banks that have reported stolen checks, to see if the check you received is from one of them!
• Fake checks from the Comparison shopper scam.  Got a check in the mail you didn't expect?  Don't' cash it yet!
• Fake checks from fake buyers - If you have something to sell, whether you are one person selling a used item or a business, there's a scammer waiting for you, as long as you are willing to take a check for more than the price of the item.

Computer viruses, Worms and Other Malware

• Spyware, Adware and other malware - Learn what they, how they work and what you can do to protect your pc!

Comic Relief - The Funny Side of Scams

• Entertainment in the World of Scams - looking for humor and a laugh?  Read some of these stories of dumb scammers and scam-baiters turning tables on the scammers!

Con Men / Con Games

• Confidence scams - Not all scams and scammers appear in email, a letter or a phone call.  Some approach you where and when you least expect them: in church, at school, in a grocery store or gym. Fond what to watch out for here.

Counterfeit Products

• Counterfeit Shoes: Nikes (and Others) - What You Can Do After Being Scammed

Credit Reporting

• Free credit reports - find out about the scam "free" credit report websites and how to get a real, free credit report.
• What Are Credit Scores, Credit Reports and How Do They Work?

Debt collection scams

• Debt collection, laws and your rights
• Debt collection: what to do if you are being harassed
• Debt collection: state statutes of limitations
• Debt collection scam emails and phone calls
• Debt consolidation loan scams

Domain registry scams

• Domain name registration scams - If you have a website and domain name, you receive what looks like a bill, telling you your domain is about to expire. DON'T pay it - see this page first!

Dubious Claims and Commercials

• You just saw a commercial on TV, heard it on the radio or saw a website, and are wondering, is that for real or a scam?  Is that product or service. See this page of commercials and claims we are currently investigating.
  SocialSecurity211.com

Education Scams

• Quick degree scams - "Get your degree in 30 days!" "No studying required", "Turn your experience into a degree". Sure, they're accredited and the degree is legal and meaningful. And we have some swampland to sell you, too. Click here for details.

Email Scams and Spam

• Spam Email - Endless unsolicited help in getting a cheap mortgage, enlarging your genitals, buying Viagra or cheap drugs, software or losing weight. Many of these also contain worms and viruses! And don't think for a moment that the "sent from" or "reply to" addresses are real.. or really who sent it.  See this page about falsified email addresses: spoofing!
• How to Stop Spam almost forever! You don't have to face an inbox full of porn, spam, scams and junk every day.  Here's how to stop it.
• Scam emails with trick contracts - bait and switch and other scams, like
   the World Business List.
• Nigerian Scams: Money Transfer / Advance Fee Fraud / Bank account scams / Fake Business deals (419 scams), such as letters, emails or faxes notifying the recipient that the sender requires help in transferring a large sum of money through your bank account (for reward) usually from Nigerian and Dutch sources. There are many variations on this scheme, including the fake business deal: "I need a business partner in the U.S.", types of money laundering, and others. Also see fake cashier's checks. Also see Jobs Scams. Also see these pages:
  • Samples of  common scams and how to know they are fakes!
  • Names used by scammers for their organizations
  • Names of scammers / names used by scammers
  • Poor widows and orphans of super wealthy diplomats, Generals, Presidents and whatever... with millions in an account that you can help get! 
  • Celebrity Scams - Is that email really from your favorite TV or movie star, Sports hero or other celebrity?
  • ATM Card Scams - Nigeria owes you money from an inheritance / contract file 
  • Lawyers and Barristers with Dead Clients Bank Accounts (they could give lawyers a bad name) 
  • Government officials, bankers, insurance managers and account managers, all with dead rich clients 
  • Foreign business deal scams - need a partner or rep where you live (lucky you!) 
  • Religious scams - "Oh, for the love of Christ..." 
  • Fake grants, loans and credit card applications (take our millions, please!) 
  • Miscellaneous: No classifications - It's hard to figure out WHAT the scam of these gibberishy emails are supposed to be! 

Extortion Scams

• Extortion scam emails overview
• Porn Watching Extortion - aka, Sextortion: the scammer sends an email in which the scammer claims to have used software to activate the camera on your device and recorded you watching porn, which he will send to everyone in your contact list
• Death Threat Extortion Scams: Not satisfied with trying to con money from victims, some scammers are trying death threats and extortion scams.  See this page for more information and sample emails.

Scams written in languages other than English

• En Espanol - Haga clic aqu para ver descripciones en espanol
• In French - Scams in French and this one.

Fake Organization Scams

• Fake government agencies, non-existent charitable organizations and other fake groups and entities - there are a host of scammers who create legitimate sounding organizations that do not exist or exist only on paper.  Before you donate or pay some organization, check here for the frauds!

False or deceptive advertising and defective products

• See current cases of false advertising, defective product investigations, exaggerated product claims, product scams and the court or FTC settlements.
• Click here to search the FTC database to see if a particular company or product has been investigated for false advertising, defective products or other trade issues? Just search the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) database.

Fax Scams

• Are junk faxes and fax scams with names like "vacation memos" and "stock tips" piled up on your company fax machine? Does you fax machine spew out junk advertising? Read about these scams here.

Grants - Fake

• The fake grant scam is a variation of the counterfeit check passing scam.  See this page for more information.

• If you are looking for information about college scholarship, grant and loan scams, see this page.

"Green Card Lottery"

• Its real name is the Diversity Lottery and scams abound for it.  In fact there are far more scams than legitimate websites and services. See this page for the facts of how both the real DV lottery works... and how the scams work.

Health Insurance and Healthcare Scams and Spams

• How to Stop Health Insurance Sales Calls
• Health Insurance, medical insurance, Life insurance scams

Hoaxes, Myths and Email Chain Letters

• Hoaxes and nuisance scams - Your water bottle won't give you cancer and Bill Gates doesn't want to send anyone to Disney World, least of all, just because you send an email to 20 friends...
• Fake business deals: "I need a business partner in the U.S."... and more.

House, Home and Apartment Scams

• Home repair scams - Just because they advertise in the yellow pages, drive a business van, or look like a technician, doesn't mean they aren't out to scam you!
• Mortgage scams

Identity Theft and Credit Reports

• Some of the most common identity theft and credit report scams are listed below. You can protect yourself from identity theft, but do your homework. Many companies have resources available online to help you know your best options.
• Identity Theft - we have loads of free facts sheets, guides, resources, contact lists, who to report the crimes to and how to repair the damage here.
• Check your credit report, for free! Yes, you really can.  The US Government mandated it.  But watch out for the scams.  Find out how, here. And does FreeCreditReports.com give you a free no obligation credit report ?  No, they don't! Read about that here!
• Freeze your credit! Did you also know that in many states you can freeze to credit information  Even if your state is one of the few that doesn't allow a freeze, you can still freeze your files at the three major credit bureaus.  See this page for more information about both freezes.
• Credit card account information thefts - if you have a credit card from a bank or department store, you may want to periodically check this page, to see if your account information has been stolen!
• Phishing - fake emails and fake websites pretending to be your bank, credit card company or other agency, and asking for your private account information. Often they claim to be from PayPal, Barclay's Bank, Citibank, Chase Manhattan bank, or other well-known names.
• Pharming - the latest scam, is that website the one you think it is... or a fake?

Insurance scams

• Health Insurance, medical insurance, Life insurance scams - In the wake of the Affordable Care Cat, Health insurance scams are everywhere.  Find out if yours is a scam here.

Investing, Currency, Precious metals, Retirement, Loans, Debt Collection and Other Financial Scams

• Debt collection scams and unfair collection practices - see this page for the information you'll need to know what to do, whether you owe the debt or think it is a scam.
• Investment and Retirement Scams - The "Free Lunch Seminar" Scam - Have you been invited to a free lunch to hear a "seminar" about retirement planning, investing and/or tax strategies?  Beware that scam!
• Fake bills and invoices - "Pro forma" invoicing: You get a bill that looks real, but either you never ordered the product or service, or they're not really the company you bought it from.
• Currency and metals scams - Gold, Silver, Bitcoin,  foreign currency trading and other forms of money
• Loan Scams - Did you receive a phone call, email, letter, or respond to an ad that said they approve loans for anyone, regardless of credit history?  beware!  It is a scam!  See this page!
• Scholarship, Student Loan and Financial Aid scams
• Stock and investment scams - beware that "hot" stock tip you received in your email.

Job, Employment and Recruiting Scams

• Job Scams - fake job offers, trying to either get your personal information, or trick you into showing up for a multi-level marketing pitch. 30biz.com and others. Also see these borderline scams: spam job interview emails.
• Also see work from home scams

Loan and Mortgage scams

• Mortgage restructuring and foreclosure avoidance scams are on the rise.  See this page to recognize and avoid them.
• If you are looking for information about college scholarship, grant and loan scams, see this page.

Lottery and prize scams

• Emails tell you that you have won a prize in a contest you don't remember entering, but you have to pay fees or give them your bank account details. See this page for information about lottery scams. Also see our list of legitimate lotteries and our list of scam lotteries.

Mail / Postal Scams

• Scams in your mailbox - very often the same scams that are sent by email are also sent in the surface post. 
• Unclaimed sweepstakes winnings checks and letters

Malware

• Emails with attachments that contain viruses, trojans and other malware

Medical Scams

• Medical frauds and hoaxes - Don't be fooled by quacks, fake medicines, magnetic shoe inserts, and electronic abdominal exercisers.  Find out the truth here!

Miscellaneous Scams: Food, Travel, Etc

• Food frauds - Believe it or not, there are actually fake foods - usually worthless supplements and pills and foods making false health claims.
• Travel scams - Have you "won" a "free vacation"?  But it turns out to be a sales pitch for time sharing condominiums!

• How to hire a contractor and avoid being scammed!
• Dr. Steven Gundry, Lectins and other bogus claims
• Amazon "Account Locked" scam email
• Samsung refrigerator problems, class action lawsuit
• Wells Fargo Security Alert "We have suspended your online banking access"
• Wells Fargo Required Upgrade Scam email
• Google Reward Prize "It's your lucky year". Maybe not, if you opened the attachment.
• Amazon scam email - email telling about an order you did not make and a phone number to call; also see this example.
• McAfee Scam email - McAfee Security Subscription that has expired and is on automatic renewal/upgrade
• MacAfee - Symantec scam email
• Norton Lifelock scam email
• Coronavirus scams
• Anthem Fake Robocall
• Emails with malware attachments
• Ransomware - what it is and what to do
• Facebook scammers
• The FDA and FTC are going after essential oil and other coronavirus scams
• Zicam to shorten colds - is it worth the cost, and the risks?
• FedEx text message scam
• Browser Hijacking scams and malware:"Google Chrome Critical Error"
• Email Scam: Mailbox Quota Reached. You will be blocked from sending and receiving
• Porn Watching Extortion - aka, Sextortion
• Robocall scam: Call to claim your refund from Apple and Windows Support.
• 2020 Social Security Scam Phone Call
• Avoid Hurricane Florence Scams
• Calls claiming to be from the U.S. Treasury Department
• Sam's Club Shopper survey scam
• Sam's Club Scam Email
• Sums Club - another Sams Club scam email
• "Your Microsoft license key has expired" scam call
• Apple and Microsoft Technical Support refund scam phone call
• The 2017 Equifax Data Breach and Identity Thefts
• Polish Springs Bottled Water Scam

 

Money Making, Income, Get-Rich and "Passive Residual Income" Scams

• Get rich scheme and scam websites - Some websites are themselves scams; claiming to offer you a good deal, when at best, their prices are terrible and at worst, they're identity thieves!
• Multi-Level Marketing - they may disguise themselves by selling a small amount of overpriced, hyped products, but don't be fooled. Your chances of success are very small and many are illegal pyramid schemes.
• Ponzi Scams - Learn about Charles Ponzi, Bernard Madoff and how the scams work.

Mortgage scams

• Captured mortgage scammers - Read about the latest scammers who tried to rip off homebuyers, caught by the FBI.

Mystery Shopper Scams

• Mystery or Secret Shopper scams: Have you heard that you can get paid to shop, as a mystery shopper or secret shopper? If you received an email that claims you can earn a living as a secret or mystery shopper by dining at elegant restaurants, shopping at pricey stores, or checking into luxurious hotels, beware! 

Online Dating and Social Networking Scams

• Russian Dating Scams - You hear of American men meeting beautiful Russian women online and marrying them. But have you heard of all the guys that where scammed, and lost thousands of dollars?
• Dating scams and scammers - Con Men aren't just men. And some women you may meet online aren't women, at all; just more com MEN. See these reports from victims for examples of online dating scams.

Other Countries: Scams Targeting Residents of Other English-Speaking Countries
(UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Etc)

• Scams in the United Kingdom - They're very much the same as in the United States, but UK residents may find more useful government phone numbers and reporting here!
• Scams in Ireland and with the Irish Lottery

Phishing scams

• Phishing is scamming to get you to provide private information, like a password to a bank account, you Social Security Number, etc. Phishing scams are commonly sent by email or phone.  See examples and what to do on this page.

Phone scams

• Phone scams - Calls from unknown numbers, scammers, harassing calls claiming you owe money, threatening you or trying to get personal identifying information
• Phone and collect call scams - Have you received collect calls which you may not have even accepted, but got hit with a charge on your phone bill?
• Pay Day Loan Scams
• How to stop calls from telemarketers.
• How to File a Complaint Against Telemarketers and Robocalls and how to report them and possibly collect a reward 
• Rules and Laws That Telemarketers Must Follow.
• Harassing, obscene, annoying or threatening calls and how to stop them
• See this page about junk fax laws and regulations
• If you do listen to the pitch, see this page for characteristics of a telemarketing scam.
• To see the latest news, convictions and FTC cases against telemarketers, click here
• Scam: Our records show you have not verified your Google listing

Product Scams

• See current cases of false advertising, defective product investigations, exaggerated product claims, product scams and the court or FTC settlements.
• Click here to search the FTC database to see if a particular company or product has been investigated for false advertising, defective products or other trade issues? Just search the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) database.
• Chuck Wollery is busy hawking "the Willow Curve" for pain.  See this page for our take on it.
• Low "T", Low Testosterone - and similar scam products - It turns out that medical authorities say this actually affects very, very few men and the advertisements enormously hype both the prevalence and the effects of their "products".
• Kinoki Foot Pads - to remove body toxins by drawing them through the skin in your feet into a fabric pad.  We thought about writing a page about this, but honestly it's just so idiotic, that if you buy them, you probably also have a Q-Ray bracelet in drawer and nothing we could say would convince you that they are worthless. With regard to the Q-Ray, the FTC filed a complaint with the courts on May 27, 2003, after several months of investigation and preparation for litigation (see this page on the FTC.gov website ). Remember, just because a product is advertised on TV does NOT mean that its claims are true or approved by any government agency. They can say whatever they like in an advertisement, and hope the government doesn't notice or have the resources to go after them. But if you like to call Kinoki up just to express how you feel about their product, here is their phone number: 888-338-6921. Being such a reputable company, we're sure they'd love to hear from you about how happy you are with their product.
• Right Size Smoothies: See what we have discovered thus far about this popularly advertised weight loss smoothie
• Click here for how to detect a Scam 2017 Solar Eclipse viewing glasses and safety information
• Magnets and magnetic bracelets

RoboCalls

• RoboCall scams are prevalent; many people receive 5 or 6 per day, like this "Chronic Back Pain scam robo call from "Lisa"
• FCC takes action against robocalls

Shopping Online

• Shopping scams  and Hidden subscription scam

Spam:

• How to Stop Spam almost forever! You don't have to face an inbox full of porn, spam, scams and junk every day.  Here's how to stop it.

Telemarketing Scams

• Spam phone calls.  Do you get unwanted calls from telemarketers on your cell phone or home phone? See reports of these calls and examples here.
• How to Stop Health Insurance Sales Calls
• How to Block Phone Telemarketers  - Do you receive phone calls from telemarketers?  Or calls from a fax machine?  Or odd calls in which no one answers on the other end?  Or perhaps a recorded voice tells you to hold on the line? See this page for what to do!
• How to Block Junk Fax Telemarketers
• Fax Scams - Junk faxes that are designed to look like internal company memos or other misleading communications

Webmastering / Web development Scams

• Domain name / registration scams - if you have a domain name, sooner or later you will receive one of these scams.
• Search engine spam - You click on a link in Google looking for some information and you go to a website that has nothing but more links to other websites... and lots of advertisements.  You've been spammed!

Work-from-Home scams

• Work-from-Home scams - Tell your boss to jump in a lake. Easy data entry at home.  Medical transcription.  Be crazy-like-a-fox, or just go-here-next... Yes, work from home is possible; for the scammers who think up these work-from-home scams to sell con you! There are a very few work from home programs that appear to be legitimate - see this page.
• Start your own work from Home business - Better than being an employee for a call center is being your own business.  This website tells you how.

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What Resources Will You Find Here?

• Links, phone numbers and other specific information for many frauds and scams. See the blue buttons on the left! And see this page for resources to help investigate a potential scam.
• Effects of Scams on the victims, and even unrelated bystanders, as well as society.
• Do You Want To Help?  Here's your chance to help uncover scammers by investigating some of our leads! Read these emails and see if you know whether the business is legitimate or not!

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Did you receive an email from CFR?

We also NEVER send out emails, except to respond to consumers who write us - so if you receive an email from us, without writing to us first, then it is a scam - do not open it - just delete it.  This is a common scam using "spoofing", making the email address appear to come from a reputable website, while loading the message with spam, scams or worse.  So far, there is no technical way to stop it.

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Note About Advertisements Appearing Throughout the Website

We are funded by contributions and advertisers. We do not have anything to do with the advertisers (it is run by a third party). We have not investigated most of them - so follow the advice in our pages, not the ads. Don't assume the products or services in the ads have been cleared by CFR!

Products and services that we do recommend are:

• listed on this page and this page and
• the Norton 360 antivirus suite on the left side of each page and
• the Scam-o-rama book.

If you see an ad that is inappropriate, please contact us and we will ask the outside ad aggregators that it be removed.