If you have been the victim of sweepstakes fraud, or you know someone else who has been, reporting the scam to the proper authorities may help catch the criminals before they can prey on another innocent victim. Here are some of the agencies that handle sweepstakes scams, and how to contact them.
1. The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
If your sweepstakes scam was perpetrated online, via an email or a website, you can report it to the
Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). An online form makes reporting quick and painless. The IC3 is an inter-agency website run by the National White Collar Crime Center and the FBI. They will process your report and direct it to the proper legal organization.
2. The United States Postal Service
If you are a U.S. citizen and you received a scam letter in the mail, or you received a fraudulent mail that originated in the U.S., you can report the scam to the
United States Postal Service. You can report mail fraud online, by telephone, or in person.
3. The Federal Trade Commission
The
Federal Trade Commission collects information about current scams and frauds and directs it to law enforcement officials.
4. Phonebusters
If your scam involves a Canadian company, or you are a Canadian citizen, you can report it to Phonebusters at their website for
Reporting Economic Crime Online. Phonebusters actively investigates sweepstakes fraud, and is a good source of information.
5. Your Local Police
Filing a report with your local police can help you get the information you need to attempt to reclaim lost money. The police can also assist you in contacting authorities who are investigating similar crimes.
