Translate this page to any language by choosing a language in the box below.
: 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
- Hawaii Department of Commerce and
Consumer Affairs - Wailuku
Email:
ocp@dcca.hawaii.gov.
Address:
Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs - Wailuku
Office of
Consumer Protection
1063 Lower Main St., Suite C-216
Wailuku, HI
96793
Phone Number: 808-243-4648 808-587-3222 (Consumer Resource Center)
-
Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs- Hilo
Email:
ocp@dcca.hawaii.gov
Address: Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer
Affairs- Hilo
Office of Consumer Protection
345 Kekuanaoa St., Suite
12
Hilo, HI 96720
Phone Number: 808-933-0910 808-587-3222 (Consumer
Resource Center)
- Hawaii Department of Commerce and
Consumer Affairs - Honolulu (Main Location)
Email:
ocp@dcca.hawaii.gov.
Address: Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs - Honolulu (Main
Location)
Office of Consumer Protection
Leiopapa A Kamehameha Building
235 S. Beretania St., Suite 801
Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone Number:
808-586-2630 808-587-3222 (Consumer Resource Center)
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.
- Department of
Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Email:
dfi@dcca.hawaii.gov.
Address:
Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Division of Financial
Institutions
PO Box 2054
Honolulu, HI 96805
Phone Number:
808-586-2820
808-274-3141 (Kauai) 808-984-2400 (Maui) 808-974-4000
(Hawaii)
Toll-free: 1-800-468-4644
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 Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Email:
insurance@dcca.hawaii.gov
Address: Department of Commerce and Consumer
Affairs
Insurance Division
PO Box 3614
Honolulu, HI 96811
Phone
Number: 808-586-2790
Toll-free: 1-800-468-4644 (Lanai and Molokai)
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.
- Department of
Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Email:
seb@dcca.hawaii.gov.
Address:
Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Business Registration
Division
Securities Enforcement Branch
PO Box 40
Honolulu, HI
96810
Phone Number: 808-586-2744
Toll-free: 1-877-447-2267
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.
- Public Utilities Commission
Email:
Hawaii.puc@hawaii.gov
Address: Public Utilities Commission
465 S. King St., Room 103
Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone Number:
808-586-2020
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.