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: 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
- New York State Department of State
Address: New York State
Department of State
Division of Consumer Protection
Consumer
Assistance Unit
99 Washington Ave.
Albany, NY 12231-0001
Phone
Number: 518-474-8583
Toll-free: 1-800-697-1220
- Office of the Attorney General- Albany
Office
(Utica office of the attorney general)
Address: Office of the
Attorney General- Albany Office
Bureau of Consumer Frauds and Protection
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224-0341
Phone Number: 518-474-5481
Toll-free: 1-800-771-7755 (NY)
TTY: 1-800-788-9898 (TDD)
- Office of the Attorney
General- New York City Office
(Utica office of the attorney general)
Address: Office of the Attorney General- New York City Office
Bureau of
Consumer Frauds and Protection
120 Broadway, 3rd Floor
New York, NY
10271-0332
Phone Number: 212-416-8300 212-416-8345 (in Spanish)
Toll-free: 1-800-771-7755 (Hotline)
TTY: 1-800-788-9898 (TDD)
Regional Consumer Protection Offices
- Suffolk Regional Office of the Attorney
General
(Utica office of the attorney general)
Address: Suffolk
Regional Office of the Attorney General
300 Motor Parkway, Suite 230
Hauppauge, NY 11788
Phone Number: 631-231-2401
Toll-free:
1-800-771-7755 (Consumer Helpline)
TTY: 1-800-788-9898
- Syracuse Regional
Office of the Attorney General
(Utica office of the attorney general)
Address: Syracuse Regional Office of the Attorney General
615 Erie Blvd.
W, Suite 102
Syracuse, NY 13204
Phone Number: 315-448-4848
Toll-free: 1-800-771-7755 (Consumer Hotline)
TTY: 1-800-788-9898
- Utica Regional Office
of the Attorney General
(Utica office of the attorney general)
Address: Utica Regional Office of the Attorney General
207 Genesee St.,
Room 508
Utica, NY 13501
Phone Number: 315-793-2225
Toll-free:
1-800-771-7755 (Consumer Hotline)
TTY: 1-800-788-9898
- Binghamton Regional
Office of the Attorney General
(Utica office of the attorney general)
Address: Binghamton Regional Office of the Attorney General
State Office
Building, 17th Floor
44 Hawley St.
Binghamton, NY 13901
Phone
Number: 607-721-8771
Toll-free: 1-800-771-7755 (Consumer Hotline)
TTY:
1-800-788-9898
- Brooklyn Regional Office Binghamton Regional
Office of the Attorney General
(Utica office of the attorney general)
Address: Brooklyn Regional Office Binghamton Regional Office of the Attorney
General
55 Hanson Place, Suite 1080
Brooklyn, NY 11217
Phone
Number: 718-722-3949
Toll-free: 1-800-771-7755 (Consumer Hotline)
TTY:
1-800-788-9898
- Buffalo Regional Office of the Attorney General
(Utica office
of the attorney general)
Address: Buffalo Regional Office of the Attorney
General
Main Place Tower, Suite 300A
350 Main St.
Buffalo, NY
14202
Phone Number: 716-853-8404
Toll-free: 1-800-771-7755 (Consumer
Hotline)
TTY: 1-800-788-9898
- Harlem Regional Office of the Attorney General
(Utica office of the attorney general)
Address: Harlem Regional Office of
the Attorney General
163 W. 125th St., Suite 1324
New York, NY 10027
Phone Number: 212-961-4475
Toll-free: 1-800-771-7755 (Consumer Hotline)
TTY: 1-800-788-9898
N
- Nassau Regional Office of the Attorney General
(Utica office
of the attorney general)
Address: Nassau Regional Office of the Attorney
General
200 Old Country Rd., Suite 240
Mineola, NY 11501
Phone
Number: 516-248-3301
Toll-free: 1-800-771-7755 (Consumer Hotline)
TTY:
1-800-788-9898
- Plattsburgh Regional Office of the Attorney General
(Utica
office of the attorney general)
Address: Plattsburgh Regional Office of
the Attorney General
43 Durkee St., Suite 700
Plattsburgh, NY
12901-2958
Phone Number: 518-562-3282
Toll-free: 1-800-771-7755
TTY: 1-800-788-9898
- Poughkeepsie Regional Office of the Attorney General
(Utica
office of the attorney general)
Address: Poughkeepsie Regional Office of
the Attorney General
One Civic Center Plaza, Suite 401
Poughkeepsie,
NY 12601-3157
Phone Number: 845-485-3900
Toll-free: 1-800-771-7755
(Consumer Hotline)
TTY: 1-800-788-9898
- Rochester Regional Office of the
Attorney General
(Utica office of the attorney general)
Address:
Rochester Regional Office of the Attorney General
144 Exchange Blvd.,
Suite 200
Rochester, NY 14614-2176
Phone Number: 585-546-7430
Toll-free: 1-800-771-7755 (Consumer Hotline)
TTY: 1-800-788-9898
- Watertown
Regional Office of the Attorney General
(Utica office of the attorney
general)
Address: Watertown Regional Office of the Attorney General
Dulles State Office Building
317 Washington St.
Watertown, NY 13601
Phone Number: 315-785-2444
Toll-free: 1-800-771-7755 (Consumer Hotline)
TTY: 1-800-788-9898
- Westchester Regional Office of the Attorney General
(Utica
office of the attorney general)
Address: Westchester Regional Office of
the Attorney General
101 E. Post Rd.
White Plains, NY 10601-5008
Phone Number: 914-422-8794
Toll-free: 1-800-771-7755 (Consumer Helpline)
TTY: 1-800-788-9898
County Consumer Protection Offices
- Albany County
Department of Consumer Affairs
Email:
consumer_complaints@albanycounty.com
Address: Albany County Department of
Consumer Affairs
Consumer Affairs
112 State St., Suite 1207-08
Albany County Office Building
Albany, NY 12207
Phone Number:
518-447-7581
-
Ulster
County Consumer Fraud Bureau
Address: Ulster County Consumer Fraud Bureau
Consumer Fraud Bureau
20 Lucas Ave.
Kingston, NY 12401-3708
Phone
Number: 845-340-3260
- Nassau County Office of Consumer Affairs
Address: Nassau County Office of
Consumer Affairs
200 County Seat Dr.
Mineola, NY 11501
Phone
Number: 516-571-2600
- Orange County Department of Consumer Affairs
Address: Orange
County Department of Consumer Affairs
99 Main St.
Goshen, NY 10924
Phone Number: 845-360-6700
- Putnam County Department of Consumer Affairs
Email:
PutnamConsumerAffairs@putnamcountyny.gov.
Address: Putnam County
Department of Consumer Affairs
110 Old Route 6, Bldg. 3
Carmel, NY
10512
Phone Number: 845-808-1617
- Rockland County Office of Consumer Protection
Address: Rockland County Office of Consumer Protection
18 New Hempstead
Rd., 6th Floor
New City, NY 10956
Phone Number: 845-708-7600
- Schenectady County Department of Consumer Affairs/Bureau of Weights &
Measures
Address: Schenectady County
Department of Consumer Affairs/Bureau of Weights & Measures
64 Kellar
Ave.
Schenectady, NY 12306
Phone Number: 518-356-7473 (Consumer
Affairs) 518-356-6795 (Weights & Measures)
- Westchester County Department of
Consumer Protection
Email:
conpro@westchestergov.com.
Address:
Westchester County Department of Consumer Protection
148 Martine Ave.,
Room 407
White Plains, NY 10601
Phone Number: 914-995-2155
City Consumer Protection Offices
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.
- Banking Department
Address: Banking Department
Consumer
Help Unit
25 Beaver St.
New York, NY 10004
Phone Number:
212-480-6400
Toll-free: 1-800-342-3736 (NY)
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 Financial Services
Address: Department of
Financial Services
Insurance Department
Consumer Assistance Unit
One Commerce Plaza
Albany, NY 12257
Phone Number: 518-474-6600
Toll-free: 1-800-342-3736 (NY)
- Insurance Department
Address: Insurance Department
Insurance Division
Consumer Assistance Unit
25 Beaver St.
New York, NY 10004
Phone
Number: 212-480-6400
Toll-free: 1-800-342-3736 (NY)
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
(Utica office of the attorney general)
Address: Office of the Attorney
General
Investor Protection Bureau
120 Broadway, 23rd Floor
New
York, NY 10271
Phone Number: 212-416-8222
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.
- Department of Public Service
Address: Department
of Public Service
Office of Consumer Services
3 Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12223
Toll-free: 1-800-342-3377
1-800-342-3355
(Termination) 1-800-342-3355 (Termination)
TTY: 1-800-662-1220
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.