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If you suspect a law has been violated, contact your state or local consumer
protection agency. This agency may take action or refer you to another state
organization that has the authority where you live. A local law enforcement
officer could also be able to provide advice and assistance.
Violations of federal laws should be reported to the federal agency responsible
for enforcement. While federal agencies are rarely able to act on behalf of
individual consumers, complaints are used to document patterns of abuse, allowing
the agency to take action against a company.
You can find the appropriate federal agency to contact with your complaint by using
this online directory.
People who have no intention of delivering what is sold, who misrepresent items,
send counterfeit goods or otherwise try to trick you out of your money are committing
fraud. If you suspect fraud, there are some additional steps to take.
- Contact the Federal Trade Commission. Write to the FTC Consumer Response Center,
Washington, DC 20580 or call toll-free 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). You can
also file electronically, choose the “Consumer Complaint? Report it to the FTC” link at
www.ftc.gov. Complaints about e-commerce across
international borders can be filed at www.econsumer.gov.
- Notify the National Fraud Information Center operated by the National Consumers
League, a nonprofit consumer organization. Visit
www.fraud.org.
- Scams that used the mail or interstate delivery service should also be reported
to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. It is illegal to use the mail to
misrepresent or steal money.
Reporting fraud promptly improves your chances of recovering what you have lost and
helps law enforcement authorities stop scams before others are victimized.
If you suspect you have a product that poses a safety hazard, report the problem to
the appropriate federal agency:
- Automobiles—National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Drugs, medical devices—Food and Drug Administration
- Food—U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug
Administration
- Seafood—Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce
- Toys, baby and play equipment, household products—U.S.
Consumer Product Safety Commission
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