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
- Maryland Office of the Attorney General
Email:
consumer@oag.state.md.us
Address: Maryland Office of the Attorney General
Consumer Protection Division
200 Saint Paul Pl.
Baltimore, MD 21202
Phone Number: 410-528-8662 (Consumer Mediation) 410-576-6550 (Consumer
Information) 410-528-1840 (Medical billing complaints)
Toll-free:
1-888-743-0023 (Switchboard) 1-877-261-8807 (Health plan decision appeals)
TTY: 410-576-6372 (MD)
Regional Consumer Protection Offices
- Maryland Attorney General's Office - Eastern Shore
Email:
consumer@oag.state.md.us.
Address: Maryland Attorney General's Office -
Eastern Shore
Consumer Protection Division
201 Baptist St.
Salisbury, MD 21801-4976
Phone Number: 410-713-3620
Toll-free:
1-888-743-0023 (Baltimore office)
TTY: 410-576-6372
- Maryland Attorney
General's Office - Southern Maryland
Email:
consumer@oag.state.md.us.
Address: Maryland Attorney General's Office - Southern Maryland
15045
Burnt Store Rd.
Hughesville, MD 20637
Phone Number: 301-274-4620
Toll-free: 1-866-366-8343
TTY: 410-576-6372 (Baltimore office)
- Maryland Attorney General's Office - Western Maryland
Email:
consumer@oag.state.md.us.
Address: Maryland Attorney General's Office -
Western Maryland
Consumer Protection Division
44 N. Potomac St., Suite
104
Hagerstown, MD 21740
Phone Number: 301-791-4780
TTY:
410-576-6372 (Baltimore office)
County Consumer Protection Offices
- Howard
County Office of Consumer Affairs
Email:
consumer@howardcountymd.gov.
Address: Howard County Office of Consumer Affairs
6751 Columbia Gateway
Dr.
Columbia, MD 21046
Phone Number: 410-313-6420
- Montgomery County Office
of Consumer Protection
Email:
ConsumerProtection@montgomerycountymd.gov.
Address: Montgomery County
Office of Consumer Protection
100 Maryland Ave., Suite 330
Rockville,
MD 20850
Phone Number: 240-777-3636 240-777-3681 (Anonymous Consumer Tip
Line)
TTY: 240-773-3556
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 Labor, Licensing and Regulation
Email:
CFRComplaints@dllr.state.md.us
Address: Department of Labor,
Licensing and Regulation
Commissioner of Financial Regulation
500 N.
Calvert St., Suite 402
Baltimore, MD 21202
Phone Number: 410-230-6077
(Consumer Services)
Toll-free: 1-888-784-0136 (MD)
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.
- Insurance Administration
Address: Insurance Administration
Consumer
Division
200 St. Paul Pl.
Suite 2700
Baltimore, MD 21202
Phone
Number: 410-468-2000
Toll-free: 1-800-492-6116
TTY: 1-800-735-2258
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
Email:
securities@oag.state.md.us
Address: Office of the Attorney
General
Securities Division
200 Saint Paul Pl.
Baltimore, MD
21202-2020
Phone Number: 410-576-6360
Toll-free: 1-888-743-0023 (MD)
TTY: 410-576-6372
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 Service
Commission
Address: Public Service Commission
Six St. Paul St., 16th
Floor
Baltimore, MD 21202-6806
Phone Number: 410-767-8028
Toll-free: 1-800-492-0474
TTY: 1-800-201-7165
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.