News channels often report instances of people falling prey to various scams. Statistics indicate that people have reported a comprehensive loss of above 4 billion due to scams. With newer technology available to such scammers, this number is set to grow considerably. But with so many kinds of scams, figuring out how and where to report them can be confusing. So here’s all the information you need regarding reporting a scam.

Banking scams
The most common banking scams include overpayment fraud, phishing, automatic withdrawals, and unsolicited check fraud. Reporting a banking scam to the appropriate organization will depend on the type of scam you have experienced. Fake checks received by mail should be reported to the US Postal Inspection Service. A counterfeit check or phishing email should be communicated to the Federal Trade Commission on their website. You should contact your bank to report and stop the payment immediately if there are unauthorized automatic withdrawals from your account.

Telephone scams
People often receive calls from scammers who attempt to obtain personal information or money from unsuspecting people. These phone calls might come from real people, text messages, or robotic voices. The calls often make false claims and promises that lure customers into investing their money, buying products, or receiving free product trials. Sometimes scammers may also offer money through unrestricted grants and lotteries or threaten unsuspecting individuals with jail or lawsuits if certain amounts are not paid. One must report such calls to federal agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission, either online or on their helpline number. Robocalls and unwanted telemarketing calls can be reported to the Do Not Call Registry.

Census scans
In this type of scam, individuals pretend to work for the Census Bureau and attempt to collect a citizen’s personal information and use it to commit fraud or even steal identities. They may carry this out by sending letters that look like they’ve been sent by the Census Bureau, while others may approach one’s home to collect sensitive information. All suspected fraud should be reported at the Census Bureau’s regional office in your state. You can also forward scam emails to the agency through their official mail.

Lottery and sweepstakes scams
People are often amazed by the idea of winning the lottery. It is why scammers often create fake lotteries, sweepstakes, and other similar contests to steal money from unsuspecting customers. They may claim you have won a prize but need to pay a tiny fee to collect them. If the prize is collectible, they may ask the user to pay a delivery fee to have it shipped. Here’s where people enter their bank account information and lose money. If the scam uses U.S. mail, you should contact a postal inspector. At the same time, online or phone scams should be brought to the notice of the Federal Trade Commission. Automated voice calls that pitch lottery prizes should be directed to the Do Not Call Registry. Remember that while federal agencies may investigate scams and pursue criminal charges against scammers, they may not investigate your case in particular. If you need someone who pursues individual cases and investigates scams, you should contact the state consumer protection offices in your area.

Charity scams
People often donate to various types of charity – an area where several scammers take advantage of generosity and emotions. They pose as volunteers who work for a charity, especially those related to disasters and tragedies. You may even find a web page with details that make the organization look real. The state consumer protection office can investigate such fraudulent individuals. You could also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which can track charity fraud claims and sue companies on behalf of consumers. The National Center for Disaster Fraud usually investigates frauds related to natural disaster claims.

Pyramid schemes
A pyramid scheme requires a constant flow of new participants to keep the scam flowing perfectly. The strategy is marketed as multi-level marketing programs or other legitimate businesses. Moreover, the individuals who run pyramides schemes use fresh recruits to pay profit to other tenured individuals in the chain. While the scam is mathematically guaranteed, it fails because of the lack of recruits past a certain point. Therefore, you may lose much money if you invest in such a scheme. One must report such schemes to the state consumer protection office or the Federal Trade Commission.

Suspected tax fraud
Sometimes you may suspect tax fraud being conducted by a business. You can report such instances to the Internal Revenue Department (IRS), which will further investigate the issue. Moreover, you may even be eligible for a Whistleblower Informant Award for filing the report. State tax fraud can be directed to the revenue department or other tax authorities. Tax-related identity (ID) theft is another type of tax fraud that occurs when a scammer steals one’s Social Security number to claim tax refunds. If you fall prey to such instances, report it immediately to the IRS using form 14039 (an identity theft affidavit).