Reporting email fraud is not straightforward as most countries lack a central collection point for such cases. Contact law enforcement and the affected company, and recognize scams to prevent them. Some types of email fraud in the US are handled by the Department of Justice. The media may be interested in unusual cases.
Reporting fraud via email isn’t as simple as many people might think it should be. Most countries do not have a national clearing house or central collection point for email fraud cases. In many situations, reporting fraud depends on the type of fraud being perpetrated, what is alleged, and whether or not the identity is used to legitimize it. This identity can be personal or commercial.
There are many types of fraudulent email scams going on. Some of the more popular email fraud schemes involve credit card fraud or bank fraud. In these cases, the person trying to commit the crime will often send a very official looking email, which will actually take them to a shady site that looks like something they might be familiar with, in order to trick them into Enter Account Information. When this type of credit fraud or bank fraud occurs, your best bet is to contact not only a law enforcement agency, but also the company whose name is being used.
Most businesses will especially appreciate customers who provide them with email fraud examples. This will help them alert customers that they may also be getting something and provide guidance on how to handle that type of situation. However, this requires the ability to be able to recognize a scam and stop it before being victimized. Many people may only become aware of the scam after the fact.
Some types of email fraud, at least in the United States, are handled on a national level. This involves any email fraud involving international transactions, interstate commerce, or child exploitation. In these cases, the US Department of Justice has different departments that can accept this information. The Department of Justice website can provide more information.
The primary goal in an e-mail fraud reporting situation is to provide the greatest possible protection for consumers and for identity. The easiest time to stop a scam is before it happens. Once the criminal already has the knowledge to do the damage, making it all better can be a very difficult challenge, even for professionals who handle these situations on a regular basis.
In addition to the sites and agencies already listed, a final organization to report email fraud to might be the local press, especially if the scam is highly unusual or extreme in nature. While most news outlets won’t have time to be bothered by everyday scams, there are some so unusual that they garner enormous public interest. These are the kinds of cases the media would be interested in sharing.
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