Consumer Reporting Resources
Comprehensive directory of agencies, platforms, and tools for fighting fraud.
Fighting fraud requires knowing where to report and what tools are available. This resource directory provides direct links to regulatory agencies, complaint platforms, research tools, and recovery options—organized by category for quick access.
Federal Agencies
Government agencies with authority to investigate and prosecute fraud at the federal level.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Primary federal agency for consumer protection. Handles deceptive business practices, false advertising, and consumer fraud. Complaints contribute to pattern detection and enforcement actions.
Report Fraud to FTC →FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
FBI's central hub for internet crime reports. Handles online fraud, hacking, identity theft, and cyber-enabled financial crimes. Reports feed into FBI investigations.
File IC3 Complaint →Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
Regulates financial products and services. Handles complaints about banks, credit cards, loans, debt collection, and payment processing.
Submit CFPB Complaint →U.S. Postal Inspection Service
Investigates fraud involving U.S. Mail, including mail-order scams, fraudulent shipping, and package theft. Federal mail fraud charges carry serious penalties.
Report Mail Fraud →Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Regulates securities markets. Handles investment fraud, Ponzi schemes, unregistered securities, and broker misconduct. Whistleblower rewards available.
Report to SEC →Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)
Regulates commodities and derivatives markets. Handles cryptocurrency fraud, forex scams, and commodities manipulation. Whistleblower program with financial awards.
File CFTC Complaint →State Resources
State-level agencies often have more authority and responsiveness for local consumer issues.
State Attorneys General
Every state AG has a consumer protection division. File complaints in both the scammer's state AND your home state. State AGs can pursue civil penalties and injunctions.
Find Your State AG →Secretary of State Offices
Research business registrations, corporate filings, and registered agents. Some states accept complaints about fraudulent business registrations.
State Business Search →Professional Licensing Boards
Contractors, real estate agents, financial advisors, and other professionals require licenses. File complaints for unlicensed practice or professional misconduct.
Find State Agencies →Small Claims Court
Sue directly for amounts typically under $5,000-$15,000 (varies by state). No lawyer required. Fast, inexpensive, and effective for straightforward fraud cases.
Small Claims Guide →Platform Abuse Reporting
Report fraud to the platforms scammers use—cutting off infrastructure hurts their operations.
PayPal Dispute Center
File disputes for unauthorized transactions, items not received, or significantly not as described. 180-day window for most claims.
PayPal Disputes →Chargeback Process
Contact your credit card issuer to dispute fraudulent charges. Strong evidence packages significantly improve success rates. 60-120 day windows typically apply.
FTC Chargeback Guide →ICANN WHOIS Complaint
Report fraudulent domain registrations, false WHOIS data, and registrar abuse. Can lead to domain suspension for policy violations.
ICANN Complaints →Hosting Provider Abuse
Report fraudulent websites to their hosting providers. Most hosts have acceptable use policies prohibiting fraud. Look up hosting via WHOIS or DNS records.
Find Website Host →Better Business Bureau
File complaints that become part of public business profiles. BBB mediates disputes and tracks complaint patterns. Accredited businesses face additional pressure.
File BBB Complaint →Google Business Reviews
Leave factual reviews on scammer business profiles. Report fake positive reviews. Request removal of fraudulent business listings.
Report to Google →Research Tools
Free and low-cost tools for investigating scammers yourself.
OpenCorporates
World's largest open database of companies. Search corporate registrations across multiple jurisdictions. Free basic access.
Search Companies →Wayback Machine
Internet Archive's historical snapshots of websites. Capture evidence of past claims, prices, and content before scammers change or delete pages.
Search Archives →WHOIS Lookup
Research domain registration details including registrant information (when not privacy-protected), registration dates, and nameservers.
WHOIS Lookup →PACER
Public Access to Court Electronic Records. Search federal court filings. $0.10/page, free under $30/quarter. Find prior lawsuits against scammers.
Search PACER →ScamAdviser
Website trust scores based on technical analysis and user reports. Check if a site has been flagged before doing business.
Check Website →TinEye Reverse Image
Find where images appear online. Identify stolen photos, fake profiles, and stock images used in scam operations.
Reverse Image Search →Need Professional Help?
These resources are powerful, but comprehensive investigation requires expertise. I can help build your case.
Request Consultation